ESTEVAN — For the second straight year, talented softball players from the Prairie provinces will flock to Estevan for the Energy City Exposure Showcase at the Pleasantdale Softball Diamonds.
Event spokesperson Morgan Walter said this event is designed to provide athletes who play softball competitively, as well as players who are looking to advance to the collegiate level, the chance to play in front of coaches from universities within the U.S. and Canada.
This year the showcase has doubled in size with 10 teams in attendance from across Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta. The three-day event will begin on June 30 with numerous skills camps hosted by Michael Mook, who is a college coach from West Texas A&M University.
The day will wrap up with player metric testing to provide the college coaches with the most up-to-date statistics for each player in attendance.
July 1 will offer a youth skills camp in the morning with Mook, and the tournament play will start at noon. Games will run throughout that afternoon and all day on July 2.
Walter said there will be coaches present, looking to recruit players for their teams in the coming years.
The inaugural Energy City Exposure was held last year with the intent to provide talented softball players from the Prairie provinces an opportunity to play in front of college coaches. Hosting this event again provides a great opportunity to continue to build the sport of softball in the province and to bring support to businesses in Estevan, she said.
“This will be a great opportunity for the city of Estevan to get involved and show their support to the youth athletes who will be participating,” Walter said. “We will have a fully-stocked concession open all weekend with also a 50-50 draw each day. We encourage the community to come out to support.”
Two local softball teams will be participating in this event. The U15 and U17 South East Sun Devils will play four games each over the weekend.
The U15 Sun Devils will play July 1 against the Westman Magic from Manitoba at 4 p.m. and the Lumsden Cubs at 7:30 p.m. Then they play the Magic at 8:30 a.m. and the Cubs at 3:30 p.m. the following day.
The U17 Sun Devils face the Central Alberta Selects at 4 p.m. and Edmonton’s Rivercity Hornets Forsberg at 7:30 p.m. on July 1. Then on July 2 they play the Rivercity Hornets Labonte at noon and the Westman Magic at 3:30 p.m.
Walter said the Estevan Softball Association wants to thank the local businesses who helped bring this event to Estevan for another year. Their support contributes directly to the athletes participating and helps the organizers make this event run smoothly.
“We hope to make this event one to remember and plan to continue to host Energy City Exposure for years to come,” she said.
