Being selected to play in one national championship this summer would be thrilling for most ball players.
So, you could imagine the joy experienced by talented Cochrane ball player Maeve Maguire when she travelled to Quebec City to compete in one national championship, then less than 24 hours later headed to Saskatoon to begin practicing with Team Alberta for another.
Add to that picture another major Western Canada championship in early August.
The whirlwind tour began in Irma, AB. in early August, where she played for Calgary's South Bow River Rockies in the U19B Western Canadian Softball Championship. From there, they drove to Spruce Grove for a women's national championship training event, then flew to Quebec City for the tournament. Back again in Alberta, they had less than a 24-hour turnaround to head to Saskatoon to practice with Team Alberta for the U16 national championship.
"It was a good experience all around," says Maeve, still glowing from the dream summer of ball. "I really enjoyed traveling, being with the girls, and playing the sport I love."
The 17-year-old was the only overage player on the Alberta U16 team, which went on to win silver. The year previous they had won bronze.
A thriller of a semifinal saw them rebound against a tough Team Ontario squad. Down 7-3 in the early goings, they rallied to tie the game, 7-7, then won 12-7 in extra innings to advance to the gold medal game.
"It was amazing once it was all over, but during the game, it was very stressful. We worked very hard, and we never gave up. We were down 7-3, we came back and were all cheering and supporting everybody, so it was good."
While Quebec won the gold medal with a 6-1 win, the Alberta team has good reason to hold their heads up high.
"Quebec's a very, very strong team. They train year-round, so it's great for us to be able to compete with them up until the 6th inning, where it basically got taken away. We battled very hard."
One of her most memorable moments of the U16 championship came in the first game against Newfoundland & Labrador.
On her second pitch of the game, she crushed the ball over the fence for a home run that brought in three runs. Alberta went on to win 11-0, and Maeve was named the game's MVP.
Earlier, she gained a wealth of experience while playing with the women's team in Quebec City.
MORE: Maguire hits diamond today for first of two national championships
"I got a lot of exposure to what it's like playing with older girls. I played third and pitched the whole time, so it was good to see how it will be for the next few years if I continue to play."
Maeve isn't certain where she'll play next.
"I tried out softball this year, so I'm trying to play a higher level of softball and then hopefully get a scholarship. We're looking at a few schools down the States, like Juco's, but right now, it's up in the air, because it all depends on what team I make this year for softball."
Maeve climbed through the ranks in Cochrane Minor Ball and was part of several winning teams before joining girls baseball in Calgary. She's also no stranger to playing for Alberta in major championships.
MORE: Maeve Maguire returns with bronze from national championship
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Maeve Maguire returns with bronze from the national championship
Now entering grade 12 at St. Timothy High School, Maeve is a skilled track and field and wrestling athlete. She won bronze at the ASAA wrestling championship in the spring and gold the season before.
MORE: Two provincial wrestling gold medals for St. Tim's
In shotput, she won silver at provincials after finishing fourth the year previous.
"I am hoping to just keep going up and hopefully get a gold in my final year."