YORKTON - For Saskatchewan softball fans Saskatoon will be the place to be Aug. 2-6.
Mark those dates on the calendar as the Delisle Pride host the Canadian Men’s U23 Championship.
For the Pride this will be their last shot at a national title with the current core of players, most having been together for several years, and having had previous shots at a Canadian crown but always falling just a tad short, explained Pride manager Wade Harris.
The group finished with a silver as a U16 team in 2016, another in 2019, and then brought home bronze last year.
The bronze last year in Carp, Ont., was particularly tough, losing a semi final contest to get into the gold medal game in a six hour and 10 minute, oft rain-delayed marathon, that finally ended when the opposition shortstop “made an unbelievable play,” to squash a Pride rally.
“We’ve been right there all the time. . . It’s the elusive gold we’re after this year,” said Harris.
The Pride are a team made up of players from a number of towns, with about half the general roster of 13 from Delisle, with others from Maymont, Plenty, Lashburn and Prince Albert.
For nationals the Pride will expand the roster to 17, including being allowed one player from outside Saskatchewan.
“We’ve picked up one out of B.C. who plays men’s ball out there,” said Harris.
Ethan Lans is a third basemen, the Pride hope packs some offence when he heads to Saskatoon.
“I think he’ll be a really good bat for us,” offered Harris.
Wadena’s Colby Faubert will join the Pride for the event as well.
The other additions are younger players who will get some valuable experience, said the manager.
The core of the team though will be long time Pride players such as the middle infield duo of Will Major at second base and Brant Wiebe at shortstop.
“They’ve played together since they were probably eight-years-old,” said Harris, adding he’d put the Delisle defence up against even the best senior men’s team in the country.
The bulk of the pitching will be handled by Brayden Harris and Troy Preymack, with Oakley Durham and Troy Kosminka adding depth.
So is this the Pride’s year?
Harris said he thinks so, in part because it’s the last chance for the team’s core, and that in itself should be motivation.
“This is it for most of our guys, their last shot, so hopefully there’s motivation in that,” he said.
Having a home crowd can help too.
“We’ve never had that before. I think it could make a difference,” said Harris.
But, in the end, Harris said the competition will be keen, and things need to fall just right to win it all.
“A lot of things have to go your way – a timely hit or strikeout -- a break, or two going your way,” he said.
It will come down to performing when it matters most.
“It’s just getting out and performing when it’s all on the line,” said Harris.
The championship is being held in Saskatoon largely because Delisle does not have lights on its diamonds, a requirement in hosting a national event, said Harris. So the Saskatoon Amateur Softball Association stepped up to host.
The Pride play in the Association’s top division which features seven teams.
“We basically just show up and play ball,” offered Harris, adding they are only about 25 kilometres from the Saskatoon diamonds.
The event will feature seven teams vying for gold; four coming out of Ontario, one from Nova Scotia, another from New Brunswick, and the host Pride.
The Pride kick-off their championship hopes Aug. 2 with two games, facing Tavistock and defending champion Owen Sound, both out of Ontario.
If you can’t make the games in-person Harris said they are to be live-streamed through www.softball.ca
