The St. Paul baseball diamonds was the backdrop for a great weekend of solid slo-pitch baseball, laughs and tremendous sportsmanship.
A total of nine teams from across Alberta and Saskatchewan, featuring the athletic talents of Special Olympics athletes, came to participate in the Conrad Jean Slo-Pitch tournament on Saturday and Sunday. The participation rate in 2015 was not as good as it was in previous years, but Conrad Jean says that did not hinder this past weekend from being a success.
“It is a smaller event than we had in the past. For our 20th anniversary we had 20 teams, but some of our teams are getting older and the costs are higher to travel out to this tournament. But overall the event was a success and the atmosphere was terrific.”
The competitive field was made up of nine teams. There were three teams from Regina, two from Edmonton, two from St. Albert and two from St. Paul.
A majority of the players on the St. Paul tournament have been taking part in this tournament for a few years.
Lise Lefebvre, a player on one of the two St. Paul teams, says she enjoys playing in this tournament because “she loves baseball” and likes to “play as part of a team.”
The players are not the only ones on the St. Paul team that appreciates the camaraderie experience.
Anna Pshyk, the coach of the St. Paul green division team, says “it is a lot of fun to work with these athletes” and she considers the players on her team “as distant relations.”
While none of the St. Paul teams were able to earn top-three placement in either the green or yellow division, St. Paul pitcher Cyndal Christensen earned tournament MVP honours.
In addition to the ball action, the annual supper and dance celebration took place on Saturday night to honour the volunteers that contributed to help make the tournament run smoothly. Conrad Jean credits the St. Paul community for doing a good job getting behind this tournament year after year. The bleachers were filled with spectators throughout the entirety of the tournament.
The 30th Conrad Jean Slo-Pitch Tournament is scheduled to return next year on the weekend of Aug. 27 and 28.
Results:
Green Division:
Edmonton
St. Albert
Regina
Yellow Division
Edmonton
St. Albert
Regina
Most Sportsmanlike Team: Regina
