Brought on to join the U15 Eastman Wildcats for the run at nationals, Brandon's Kasia Baranyk helped the team to a top four finish, and in the process, she was named the tournaments top infielder.
"I was nervous, but I was also very excited," Baranyk says about jumping onto the Wildcats team for the big tournament. "It's a great opportunity to have, and I took it."
Wearing another teams jersey, Baranyk admits it took a little getting used to. "I felt like a traitor for the first couple of days," she says laughing. "My teammates from home, they gave me a bit of a hard time, but they were excited for me."
Joining the Wildcats, Baranyk says was made a little less intimidating because she knew a couple of the girls that were on the team. "I knew one or two of the girls, which was helpful, absolutely."
Being brought in as a kind of hired gun, Baranyk says it took a bit of time to kind of mesh with the existing group. "The first couple days were a little more quiet, just getting to know the girls. By the end of the weekend, it was like I have always been on the team. They were very welcoming."
Another part about jumping onto a team for Baranyk, was molding her game to fit their system. "I just had to adjust to their plays, and how they run the infield. They really helped me through it, and I picked it up quickly."
Baranyk says it was a big boost to her confidence, having the Wildcats who were national bound, believe she could be a part of helping the team be successful. "I was honoured to get to play with them."
Looking back over the national tournament that was held in Winkler and Morden, Baranyk details what stood out to her about her teams performance early on at the event. "Just how much of a team they are. They bond so well together, and it pays off during the game."
It wasn't just about bonding on the field, Baranyk was treated like a Wildcat off the field as well, which she says made the whole experience even better. "I got to know them on a deeper level. I never knew some of these girls before, so getting to meet them, they were a very nice, caring group of people that made me feel a part of the team."
Softball in Manitoba is continuing to grow, something Baranyk is encouraged by, and knows there's opportunities for her. "National team is my dream, that's for sure."
Once nationals had wrapped up, Baranyk got the news that she was awarded quite the individual honour. "I was awarded top infielder, and my batting average was top 5. I felt like I had a strong tournament, but you always feel like there are girls that a better than you, and I was just honoured to be in that category."
"It gives me a lot more confidence," Baranyk says about her performance at nationals and how it'll help going forward. "I have my own team tryouts in a couple weeks, and I just feel so ready for it."