After going undefeated at their year-end tournament, the Bonnyville U12 B Angels are headed to provincials.
”The girls were playing the best ball we played all year,” exclaimed head coach Real Bourbeau.
Winning their first two games at the Cassidy Cup in Saskatchewan last weekend, the softball team’s weekend was cut short.
The remainder of the games were called due to weather, but that left Bonnyville in the top spot with two wins.
”They tried to make things up on Sunday, the semi-finals, and we had to cancel our last game at the last minute. We never got to finish our weekend,” noted Bourbeau.
Left-fielder Camdyn Bouchard, 11, said, “It was a lot of fun. It was kind of upsetting because we were at our semi-finals, and then it got cancelled because it started raining, but we had lots of fun.”
Regardless of not having a proper end to their final league tournament of the season, the girls proved they were a force to be reckoned with during the games.
”It’s just been a work-in-progress over the year to get them where they are now, and everything finally clicked that weekend. It was fun to watch,” Bourbeau said.
He added, “Their intensity, their level to compete (stood out), and the biggest thing was they were having fun. I guess it all comes hand-in-hand and it worked.”
Nine-year-old Reese Bourbeau, the Angels’ catcher, agreed with her coach.
”We played really well. Everyone was ready, and they were in the game.”
Bouchard described it as “one of our best tournaments we played in” all season.
”Our pitchers were doing really good, and we were batting really well,” she continued.
After beating the top team in the league, Bourbeau said “good things will happen” if they keep playing that way.
”The couches were pretty proud of everything they accomplished, and (we encouraged) them to continue what they were doing.”
The U12 B team is part of the Girls’ Prairie Softball League, an organization that hopes to grow softball and provide the highest level of play for participants.
For their debut season, Bourbeau was proud of how well they’ve done so far.
”For everybody, this is our first competitive softball (team) in Bonnyville (for U12). It’s a new experience for everybody,” he exclaimed.
Now, the Angels turn their focus to provincials in Edmonton from Friday, July 5 to Sunday, July 7. Bourbeau is looking forward to it, and hopes the girls will bring the same level of competition.
Reese said she hopes they “do as good as we did last weekend, if not better” with their first appearance at the tournament.
For some players, the experience is going to be a new one.
”This is my first year playing, and I’ve never been to provincials in any sport, so I’m really excited,” expressed Bouchard.
Along with practices, Bourbeau said they’re hoping to organize a few exhibition games with local teams to get the girls onto the field and prepped for the provincial stage.
