Before we begin, a side note: remember how I wrote that no one could remember the last time a team from Yellowknife had won a provincial softball championship in Alberta? Well, someone did answer that question. A very reliable source has confirmed SA国际影视传媒� with photographic evidence SA国际影视传媒� that the Yellowknife Junior Merchants won gold in the 2006 U17 boys provincial B tournament that year. Mystery solved and ISA国际影视传媒檓 removing my calf from my throat.
Now, on with why weSA国际影视传媒檙e here today:
So as we revel in what was the biggest softball triumph for the city in quite some time, it bears wondering: where do we go from here?
WomenSA国际影视传媒檚 fastball in Yellowknife hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 been a thing since the 1990s. There have been women who have played in the Yellowknife Fastball League in the years since SA国际影视传媒� that I can remember SA国际影视传媒� but no stand-alone league for around three decades. It hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 been for a lack of trying SA国际影视传媒� there have been many people who have tried to bring it back in some form, but to no avail.
Which is why the Yellowknife Wolverines winning in Blackfalds, Alta., last weekend gives me hope that there just may be a push to get womenSA国际影视传媒檚 fastball on the road to happening again.
Yellowknife, and the NWT, for that matter, has sort of gone against the grain when it comes to fastpitch softball in Canada. The menSA国际影视传媒檚 game has been struggling around the country, yet the womenSA国际影视传媒檚 game has stayed relatively healthy. But not in the capital. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 a menSA国际影视传媒檚 fastball league in Yellowknife (yes, I know women sometimes play in it but for all intents and purposes, it is a menSA国际影视传媒檚 league), but womenSA国际影视传媒檚 fastball is non-existent.
The one thing success breeds is interest. The Wolverines winning generated plenty of interest SA国际影视传媒� all you have to do is see how the story was received when it was published. Many people were quite excited and itSA国际影视传媒檚 been the talk of the town since Sunday evening. The job now is harnessing that interest and turning it into something tangible, something long-term. ISA国际影视传媒檓 not suggesting itSA国际影视传媒檚 going to happen overnight because itSA国际影视传媒檚 going to take some time to make it a reality. But the seed has hopefully been planted.
And thatSA国际影视传媒檚 where the grassroots comes in.
Without grassroots, you donSA国际影视传媒檛 have a future in your sport and I donSA国际影视传媒檛 care what sport it is. Those who are playing right now wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be around forever and you need players coming through the pipeline to keep your sport strong. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 why ISA国际影视传媒檓 hopeful because I can see players like Kali Skauge, Erika Pollard, Morgan Stabel and Raine Mingo sticking with fastball long-term. Look in Hay River and youSA国际影视传媒檒l find Keira and Danika Coakwell. Both of those young ladies were on the victorious Wolverines side and the win has been just as popular there as it was here.
ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 just one part of the equation, though. Players need coaches and there are some who have played a huge role in getting the Wolverines to where they are now. Right off the bat, I can think of Jenn Lukas and Steve Thomas, both of whom have played such an integral role in the Wolverines program getting off the ground. Both of them love the sport and have spent many an hour at Tommy Forrest Ball Park working with the minor ball program. TheySA国际影视传媒檝e hosted clinics, theySA国际影视传媒檝e coached teams and theySA国际影视传媒檙e pretty decent players themselves.
ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 Greg Skauge, who was one of the coaches of the winning Wolverines side. HeSA国际影视传媒檚 a former player who has transitioned nicely to being a bench boss. Both of his daughters played on that winning team and ISA国际影视传媒檓 sure there was a bit of a twinkle when that last out was made. Stacey Lymer also served as a coach and brought plenty of past playing experience along, which would only serve the girls well.
If I forget about Wendy Malkin, sheSA国际影视传媒檇 let me know about it, so I wonSA国际影视传媒檛. Wendy has worked behind the scenes to help fundraise to get these girls out on the road and has coached several of these girls on the house league side. Stacey Stabel, Maurice Helyar SA国际影视传媒� I could go on. Suffice it to say, there have been a lot of people who made sure this happened.
Coach Skauge told me that the plan is to go back and try to win it all again, but it will probably be in a different division. If you think Softball Alberta will allow the Wolverines to enter the D division again, youSA国际影视传媒檇 be sadly mistaken. Fool them twice, shame on them, so watch for the Wolverines to try and win it all again next year in at least the C division.
For now, letSA国际影视传媒檚 just savour whatSA国际影视传媒檚 happened and hope that there may be a future for womenSA国际影视传媒檚 fastball in Yellowknife after all.
