Central Energy competed at the 2024 Western Canadian U15 Softball Championships last week in Battlefords, Saskatchewan.
The team went 2-2 in round robin play, good enough for 3rd place in their pool and a chance at the playoff round.
Central’s first game was a 10-1 loss to the eventual champion Lacombe Selects. The Energy battled back to win both games on Saturday, 21-0 vs Yukon Sundogs and 3-1 vs Ridge Meadow Pride from BC. Their last round robin game was a tight 2-1 loss to a tough Twin City Angels team from Saskatchewan.
Game one of the playoff round was a matchup against the Prince Albert Aces. Both teams were strong in the circle on Sunday, but Central Energy defeated the Aces 3-0. Addison Nikkel pitched the complete game for Central and recorded 21 outs. Central was first to get on the board in the fourth when Shyanne Goertzen singled, scoring one run. Nikkel earned the win for Central, allowing only two hits and zero runs over seven innings, striking out seven and walking one. Taryn Toews and Bree Pearce each collected two hits for Central. Pearce and Goertzen each drove in one run. The Energy defense was sure-handed and did not commit a single error.
Central’s tournament ended on Sunday with a 5-4 loss to the Twin City Angels. A double by Carlee Wright put the Angels on the board in the bottom of the second. In the top of the third inning, Central went into the lead after the Angels committed an error, and Goertzen hit a sacrifice fly, each scoring one run. Twin City took the lead in the bottom of the third. Kendyl Murton doubled, scoring two runs, to give the Angels the advantage, 3-2. Mya Richard singled, which helped Central tie the game at three in the top of the fourth. Twin City took the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Jordan Zazula singled, scoring two runs, to give the Angels the advantage, 5-3. Bree Pearce would later single and score on a wild pitch to cut the lead to 5-4, but the comeback ended there. Nikkel stepped in the circle first for Central. The left-handed pitcher gave up three hits and one run over one inning, striking out one and walking none. Kennedy Funk came in to pitch and went two and one-third inning, allowing three hits and four runs (two earned), striking out two and walking none. Taylor Wall also pitched and went two and two-thirds innings, giving up zero runs on two hits, striking out three and walking two. Nikkel set the tone at the top of the lineup, leading Central with two hits in four at bats. Becca Anderson, Funk, Pearce, Richard, and Wall added singles. Richard and Goertzen each drove in one run.