The U15 Cochrane Fusion are heading to the softball provincial championships after going undefeated in their qualifier over the weekend.
Fresh off their Division 3 Calgary City Championship win, the Fusion battled through a double knockout regional tournament, defeating Sundre and Drumheller to punch their ticket to provincials.
They’ll compete in a 12-team field in Wainwright from July 11 to 13. Teams are split into two pools, with each team playing four round-robin games. The top two teams from each pool advance to the gold medal game on July 13.
The Fusion also had to dig deep to claim the city title. After an early loss in the double knockout tournament, they fought their way back to defeat the Airdrie Angels in the final—momentum that carried into regionals.
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Head coach Melissa O’Reilly says the team’s transformation from a quiet group at the start of the season to a tight-knit, confident squad has been key.
“Now everybody’s welcoming, we’re all very supportive,” she said. “It’s important for me as their coach that we have a well-respected team and that everybody appreciates each other, because everyone brings a dynamic to the team.”
“Win or lose, this is a fantastic experience, and I’ll be proud of them no matter the outcome. They’ve really fought to get here.”