Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Napanee’s U15 Express took home bronze on home turf this weekend at the Provincial Women’s Softball Association qualifier, held at the Napanee Fairgrounds.
Their third place finish earns them the right to play among Ontario’s best at the Grand Championships, which will be held Aug. 5-7 in Stratford.
The U15 Napanee Express earned bronze at the PWSA Qualifier. Submitted photo.
Napanee entered the tournament vying for a top four finish, which would place them in the top tier of next month’s Grand Championships. They answered the call, going undefeated in their first three games, defeating Port Perry 12-2, Whitby 9-3 and a second Port Perry team 4-3. A 6-3 loss dropped them to the semifinals where they battled hard, coming up just short in a 10-9 defeat. The third place finish was still more than enough for them to reach their goal and will mark the first time this team will play within the province’s elite bracket.
“We ended up making it to the semifinals and we lost by one run so it was a good weekend all around,” said Express coach Shawn Hutcheson. “The team is quite happy.”
All weekend long the Express had everyone chipping in.
Karly Guandin of the Napanee Express connects on a pitch. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
“It was top to bottom everyone was contributing,” said Hutcheson. “Defensively and at the bat, I wouldn’t want to pick out one person on this team because the whole team contributed.”
A strong showing against the top teams from the eastern part of the province figures to be a great confidence boost for the young team heading into the last major tournament of the season.
“They know now that they can compete with them,” Hutcheson said of the province’s best. “They know what the top teams will be like. We’re hoping to get through the round robin and into the playoff rounds and a medal would be awesome. Anything can happen when you get into that playoff game.”
Isabella Baker delivers a pitch. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
The team has improved with each tournament and they hope to continue that trend in Stratford.
“Just keep going up, that’s all I’ve asked them all year,” said Hutcheson. “We start here and we just keep climbing.”
Hutcheson made special note of Dave Kerr, who stepped up to help coach this weekend when the regular coaching staff was unable to attend.