ESTEVAN - Two softball players from the southeast region have been chosen to play for Team Saskatchewan in the upcoming Canada Summer Games.
Raegan Walter of Lampman and Raivyn Millions of Oxbow will represent Saskatchewan at the multi-sport athletic showcase in Niagara, Ont., in August.
Walter, who plays catcher, and Millions, an outfielder, said it was a lengthy process to be chosen for the team. The first tryouts were in August 2021, with about 100 hopefuls present.
“It was two days of tryouts, and then on the last day, they made cuts to about 40 girls,” said Walter.
Then in September, they were trimmed to the top 21 players. They trained together during the winter, and then earlier this month, the 15-player roster was revealed.
Millions noted there was an exhibition game last September to showcase their abilities.
“It feels really good,” said Millions. “It feels like an accomplishment after working towards this goal for quite some time. Being able to finally get the result I wanted was a great feeling,“ said Millions.
Walter was told she was picked because of her commitment to the game, her leadership and her abilities as a catcher. She can also play a corner infield position or in the outfield.
“I believe my biggest strengths as a player are my ability to be a leader and also my way of staying calm behind the plate in order to help my pitchers play the best that they can,” she said.
Millions said she will be playing in centre field or left field, but she is willing to contribute wherever she is asked.
She expects her performance in different playing situations factored into their decision to add her to the team.
“I feel like I have developed some great skill in the outfield. I have also been a leadoff batter for many teams that I played on, so I feel like that was also helping me,” said Millions.
Walter expects the experience will not only make her a stronger softball player, but it will also add to her love of the game and open the doors for opportunities in college and perhaps even the national team.
Millions has committed to play softball for Spoon River College in Canton, Ill., an NCAA Division 2 program.
Walter loves softball because of the teamwork involved and the family atmosphere. Many of her closest friends played the sport, too.
She started playing in Lampman, but eventually shifted to Estevan Girls Softball.
“My first year of 14U, I played with Estevan, and then I went and played for the Carlyle Super Novas,” said Walter.
She is in her second year with the South East Sun Devils program.
All the years playing softball in the southeast have helped with her development.
“I learned how to love the game, to then improve into knowing the game, and just being able to be taught all the basic skills,” said Walter.
Millions started playing softball for the Oxbow Angels program. She has played for the Southeast Hawks provincial team, which worked its way up to the A level at provincials.
Then she played with the Southeast Supernovas for two seasons, and now she is playing for the Saskatoon Selects.
Her time in the southeast helped her find a love for the game.
“Starting out, back at home, when just my family and all my friends played with me, has just been a huge help,” said Millions.
She is also grateful to her family for all of their contributions.
Both predicted the Summer Games will be a completely different experience from anything they have faced previously. Millions has already been part of the 222s, which has players from across Canada, but most are from the Prairies. They have travelled in the U.S. for games.
The members of Team Saskatchewan will travel to B.C. this week for a Canada Cup tournament, and they will have practices in Saskatoon and Davidson before heading to the Canada Games. Walter expects a couple of the teams will be competing in B.C. as well, so it will be nice to see them play before the Canada Games.
