The opportunity of a lifetime has come knocking for two young local athletes who have been selected to compete amongst some of softball’s best company. The top women’s fastpitch softball athletes in the world will be gathering in Surrey, B.C., July 9-17 to compete in the 2011 Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championships.
St. Paul athletes, Jenelle Collins and Shelbi Roy grew up playing the sport of softball, which evolved to become a central focus in each of their lives.
Both girls made the transition from a local team to a more competitive league in St. Albert as bantam players. Now in the midget A division, both 17-year-olds play for the St. Albert Angels team.
Jenell and Shelbi were in action with the St. Albert Angels on Monday when they played their first game of the tournament against a British Columbia team.
The girls are competing in the futures gold U19 division of the tournament, which is open to elite Canadian midget A teams and USA U18 Gold Girls teams, as well as national and international youth teams.
Shelbi began playing softball when she was just four years old, when her mother Cynthia Roy got her involved with the sport.
“Basically this tournament is for them to see the highest level of softball in the world,” said Roy. “It really is a wonderful opportunity.”
Once Shelbi got started with the sport she was hooked and it became more than just a pastime.
“I continued with it because I love it more than anything else in the world,” Shelbi said. “I love the way it makes me feel when I’m on the field, it’s like nothing else matters when you are in a game.”
As she got older Shelbi played on a recreational softball team in St. Paul and was soon recommended to the coach of the St. Albert Angels, who invited her out to a tryout for the team. Both Shelbi and Jenelle successfully attended the tryout and have been members of the Angels for the past two years.
“In St. Albert it was really intense for sure, it was a whole new world,” Shelbi said. “There are a lot of girls who are very competitive and a lot trying to get scholarships.”
Shelbi said she enjoys the increased intensity level of the game, with her favorite aspects being sliding and close plays whether it is on offence of defence. She added that she is excited to see the level of skill and intensity the international tournament will offer.
“It was an eye opener when I started with the Angels, it’s a whole different type of game play,” Jenelle said. “It’s very competitive and it opens you up to scholarships and more opportunities.”
Jenelle also started the sport of softball at the young age of four years old when her parents got her involved in the game. After that there was no looking back and the young athlete fell in love with the sport.
“It’s tough, it gets pretty hectic when you are always on the go and there is no stopping all summer,” Jenelle said. Although the girls have had to make sacrifices they both said it was worth it because of how much they love the game.
“I taught myself social studies and chemistry in the back of vehicle, so it can be tough sometimes,” said Shelbi, who did a lot of her Grade 11 assignments through correspondence workbooks.
All the hard work and dedication of these two young players has given them the opportunity to play the game at its highest level against some of the most skilled players who have graced the diamond.
The international competition will feature teams from around the world including the Peru national youth team, who is matched up with the St. Albert Angels in first round competition play. Other teams taking part in the same competition division include teams from Brazil, Great Britain, the United States and Canadian teams from Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
“I am looking forward to seeing really good athletes from around the world,” Shelbi said. Shelbi added she is also looking forward to seeing both the Canadian and American national teams in action, in particular American pitcher Jennie Finch.
Finch has been a role model to Shelbi, who said, “She is just awesome at softball” and described her as an inspiring competitor.
The tournament gives the girls and their team members the opportunity to play in front of hundreds of college and university scouts, which could mean the chance to be considered for some of the best schools in North America.
In addition to having the opportunity to play in front of scouts, both Shelbi and Jenelle are looking forward to competing alongside some of the most talented softball players in the world and seeing what it takes to compete at such an elite level.
“I am just looking forward to playing in an international tournament,” Jenelle said, “and seeing teams from around the world.”
