It was Altona vs. Altona as two of the Angels U13 softball teams took to the club's new diamond for the first time Tuesday night.
The first pitch was thrown on the community's newest softball diamond last night, just over a year after the Angels softball club cast a vision for improved facilities. Over the fall and spring, volunteers worked tirelessly to relocate a diamond to the northwest corner of Ecole West Park School's property and convert it into a full clay facility in time for the 2025 season.
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"It's really exciting," said President Derek Sawatzky. "It's great that all of the time that we spent planning and looking forward to this day, is finally here."
According to Sawatzky, this new diamond, and the other improvements planned for the rest of the club's facilities, are a great source of pride for the girls.
"As people are chalking the diamond and getting it ready, we know that we take a lot of pride in the things we do in this community and we do things as best we are able, as best as we know how. I'm really proud of our organization (and) I'm really proud of our girls. I'm looking forward to a great season."
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Since Spring 2024, the Angels have raised about $81,000 of its $250,000 goal towards further improvements of the local softball facilities.
"That's a huge response from the business community and from the donors that have stepped forward," said Sawatzky, adding the support also rolled in from parents and the community at-large. "It takes a lot of effort every parent, auntie, uncle and the kids. We're proud of the efforts - the financial effort and the actual physical effort that goes into every game day."
The girls were also bursting with excitement to break in the new diamond during their first game of the season.
Click here to learn more about how you can further support the Angels diamond improvement projects.