Photo courtesy of Scott Roblin

By Scott Roblin

Play Ball

VIDEO: House league softball makes triumphant return to Medicine Hat

Jun 11, 2021 | 5:38 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The weather may have been grey and cloudy on Thursday night, but the atmosphere at the Moose Community Ball Complex was anything but.

After years of waiting, it was all smiles with house league softball returning to Medicine Hat for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

“We haven’t had real games in about two years because last year it was only like with one or two teams,” said Crescent Heights High Vikings pitcher Berlin Mastel. “So, it’s really fun to be back and more normal than it has been in a few years.”

U19 girls from Crescent Heights, Medicine Hat High School, Monsignor McCoy High, and Eagle Butte High took to the diamonds with provincial restrictions on sport lifted.

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It wasn’t for the usual practices that players have become accustomed to though, but the chance to actually put those skills to use.

“Practices are great, but being out playing the game just makes life so much better after quite a few hard months,” said Hawks infielder Hailey Hudson. “At the end of the day we’re all girls who love softball. It’s just wonderful to get back to playing a sport that we all love.”

For newcomers to the high school level like Vikings infielder Keyarah Tofin, Thursday’s games were a chance to enjoy the social part of the game that’s been missing for many months.

“It actually really brings out your personality in a way,” said Tofin. “It helps you socialize more, it helps you meet new people. If you feel alone at school, you have sports so you don’t feel alone at sports.”

Along with the girls returning to the field, eager parents and supporters also made their way out to cheer on the high school clubs.

“It actually really brings out your personality in a way,” said Tofin. “It helps you socialize more, it helps you meet new people. If you feel alone at school, you have sports so you don’t feel alone at sports.”

Hawks coach Scott Kelly said the turnout was extremely impressive considering the amount of time between house league games for the local association.

“A lot of times if you get this break, you end up not coming back,” said Kelly. “But, we’ve had all 60 of our high school girls, all the other teams are full, the rep teams are going strong here next weekend. So, it’s pretty awesome actually.”

Thursday’s games also marked a turning point for Medicine Hat softball.

After years of searching for quality diamonds within city limits that fit the needs of softball players, they finally received approval to play at the Moose.

“Fielding in the infield now is so much better than on the bad fields before,” said Hudson. “So, it makes the game so much better for us as players.”

Even more exciting, players found out this week that Medicine Hat will be hosting U14 and U19 ‘B’ level provincials this summer.

News that is helping to provide some hope that these dark days might be coming to an end.

“It’s really the start of an exciting new chapter because it really shows that our world is kind of going back to normal and that we’re going to have normal softball soon,” said Mastel.