The Lac La Biche Dodgers peewee baseball team won silver last weekend at the Alberta Indigenous Games in Edmonton. The Games ran from August 11-17 and featured events from archery and track and field to lacrosse, baseball, basketball and ball hockey. The Games draw young Indigenous athletes from across Alberta between the ages of 10 and 17.
The Dodgers are a team composed of young, peewee-aged indigenous players from the Lac La Biche area and across the region, with some from as far away as the Elizabeth Metis Settlement, just south of Cold Lake.
The Dodgers — a regional pickup team — came into the Games with a slight disadvantage, having only been together a month before the tournament. Many of the other teams had known each other for much longer, according to Dodgers manager Candace Walgren.
"The other teams have been playing together for months and some have been playing together for years. So taking that into consideration, our boys did exceptionally well. They meshed very well as a team," she said in a statement to the POST.
The Dodgers started their winning ways in round robin play with games against Calling Lake, Sucker Creek and Maskwacis. In their first game, the Dodgers beat Calling Lake 15-5, then lost to Sucker Creek 8-9, and beat Maskwacis 14 - 3 in the final game before playoffs in their four-team division. With two wins under their belt, the Dodgers advanced to the semi-finals, playing again against Calling Lake, and again beating them; this time 13-7.
They faced Sucker Creek in the finals, but lost in a close 10-12 battle.
Dodgers coach Michael Walgren knew his hard-playing team was disappointed they didn't get gold, but in their after-game huddle, he boosted their spirits.
"Remember boys, silver still shines" he told them, then telling the POST later that he was happy with how his team performed. "What a great team of young men. It was an honour to coach them."
The silver medal was not the only prize the boys brought home. Dodgers player Ethan Walgren received the Spirit of Belonging Award, one of four awards handed out by Games officials that encompass the Circle of Courage awards. The Spirit of Belonging award is awarded to players who are kind to others, cheer on their team and are easily able to make friends and make others feel welcome.
The other circle of courage awards include the Spirit of Mastery, the Spirit of Independence and the Spirit of Generosity awards.
