In March, with the grip of a relentless winter still firmly in place, a group of 16 dedicated female fastball players came together each week to work on their skills in preparation for a sophomore season in the U12 Squirt division of the predominantly all male Tri County League. As the only youth fastball team in our community, this local team continues to strongly be supported by the
Goderich Minor Baseball Association. Another organization which has been instrumental in helping to build this program is the
Old Deckhands Hockey Club who have committed to sponsoring the team for their first two seasons. With this community support, youth fastball has a pulse once again in the Town of Goderich.
Returning Coaches Niki Kovats, Rhonda Hodges, and Dan Ridsdale are thrilled to have been able to add the youthful skill and experience of Sierra Lamb to round out the coaching duties as they prepare the club for their first game on May 26 when they will host Benmiller at 7 pm. Said Ridsdale, “The players on this team are very fortunate to have a role model like Sierra to work with each week.”
With just one league game under their belt, the Deckhands will then participate a few days later in the 95 team Mitchell Fastballfest Tournament where they will experience their first taste of all female competition in a pool with Exeter, Camlachie, and Hagersville. Noting the timing of this first tournament, Hodges offered that "there is no time like the present to expose this hard working group to the talented female Squirt teams throughout Southwestern Ontario.
This team will be the youngest Squirt team in the Tri County league as half of the sixteen players are still eligible for U10 competition. Regardless, this group have been making great strides already with their commitment to skill development and are planning to continue to improve moving forward throughout the 2014 season.
If you enjoy the quick paced game of youth fastball, be sure to plan your Monday evenings at 7pm around this exciting group of local players which will wind up with our town playing host to the Tri County League Tournament on August 8 and 9.
U12 SQUIRT FASTBALL SCHEDULE
May 26 vs. Benmiller
June 2 vs. Ethel
June 3 @ Crediton
June 9 @ Londesboro
June 16 vs. Benmiller
June 19 @ Seaforth
June 23 vs. Londesboro
June 30 vs. Lucknow
July 7 vs. Crediton
July 14 @ Ethel
July 21 @ Benmiller
July 23 @ Lucknow
July 28 vs. Seaforth