For the Okanagan Elite U17 girls softball team, playing for each other mattered more than the trophy, but they got both.
The team乌鸦传媒檚 motto, stronger together, is a mindset that carried them through months of tryouts, training, travel, and competition to capture a Canada Cup title earlier this month.
As far as head coach Leanne Spanza could determine, the international title is the first ever for an Okanagan team in the tournament乌鸦传媒檚 30-year history.
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 just so proud of them,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檝e worked hard throughout the years乌鸦传媒e乌鸦传媒檝e always been stronger together. That includes not just our players乌鸦传媒攖hat includes our parents.乌鸦传媒�
The Canada Cup featured 119 teams from all over the world playing in five different brackets. The Okanagan Elite U17 squad competed in the 37-team Showcase Select division with teams from B.C., Alberta, Washington, and Oregon.
It was held at Softball City on the Lower Mainland from July 4-8.
The Okanagan squad played nine games over the four days, with scores ranging from nerve-wracking 1-0 and 8-7 wins, and finally, an 8-3 victory over the Langley Xtreme 09 in the final.
Spanza said the girls came into the tournament focused not just on winning, but on playing for each other.
乌鸦传媒淭hat乌鸦传媒檚 our line乌鸦传媒攚e play for each other. It乌鸦传媒檚 not something that we knew was going to happen, we just knew we were going to play hard and compete.乌鸦传媒�
Most of the team has been together since playing U15 ball. The road to the Canada Cup started in September with tryouts. A few new players joined the roster, and by Thanksgiving the team was training indoors three times a week, all the way through March. From April on, it was tournament season.
乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e a predominantly travel team,乌鸦传媒� said Spanza. 乌鸦传媒淲e went to the Lower Mainland, the Seattle area down to Portland, and hosted our own tournament in Lake Country.乌鸦传媒�
But their win was more than just a team effort, it was a club-wide celebration.
The younger U15 Elite team, which trains alongside the U17s through the winter, had two of its pitchers join as pickups for the tournament.
乌鸦传媒淭hey were phenomenal,乌鸦传媒� Spanza said. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 about both teams. It乌鸦传媒檚 about Elite as a whole. It乌鸦传媒檚 about coming together and competing, and having fun.乌鸦传媒�
Spanza noted that players from both teams come from up and down the Okanagan Valley.
乌鸦传媒淔rom Enderby to Penticton乌鸦传媒t乌鸦传媒檚 sportsmanship, mentorship, and community.乌鸦传媒�
Now, the U17 team is preparing for the provincial champions, taking place July 18乌鸦传媒�20 at High Noon Park in Kelowna.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 potentially the last tournament of the season,乌鸦传媒� Spanza said. 乌鸦传媒淪o you乌鸦传媒檝e got to give it your all, have fun, and trust your teammates.乌鸦传媒�
She encouraged local fans to come out and support the girls.
乌鸦传媒淚f you乌鸦传媒檝e got kids that are interested in playing ball, that are currently playing ball, it乌鸦传媒檚 a great sport to watch. The girls are loud. It乌鸦传媒檚 entertaining.乌鸦传媒�
Spanza said it all comes back to the bond these players share.
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 just really proud of the girls,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 a major accomplishment to win the Canada Cup, and they did it together."
