By Lisa Parent

A softball podium finish ten years in the making

Aug 18, 2023 | 4:39 PM

BRANDON, MB – The U15 Canadian National Softball Championships took place last week in Brandon Manitoba. For the first time in ten years in any minor age category, Alberta got on the podium.

Two southern Alberta players helped drive that team to a bronze medal. Medicine Hat athlete Reece Kobelsky was a last minute pick-up for Calgary Adrenaline, one of two teams headed to nationals. This meant Reece had to quickly adapt to a new team with new coaches.

She says, “I was a little nervous at first, but they were all really nice to me and welcoming.”

What helped her adjust was a familiar face on the team. First baseman Miley Donaldson from Brooks played with Adrenaline all season, and wasn’t upset with her old teammate being the pickup.

“I think it was a big help of us playing together growing up, ’cause yeah, we built a great bond. And then when we got split up when I decided to switch teams. I feel like it was just really good to get back together and play together for another time,” says Donaldson.

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The two girls started the season on different teams, meaning they had some friendly competition at first.

“We actually had to play Reese’s team the weekend before, we had a big loss from them. So going into it, having to push ourselves to place high enough so that we would be in the final four was a great experience,” Donaldson explains.

Both girls had a similar hurdle to face all season, with their national team being based hours away in Calgary. Reece’s father Kurtis Kobelsky says the extra travel is worth it.

“It’s tough in Medicine Hat. We’re kind of isolated a little bit. We’re traveling for competitive teams, we’re going to Calgary and Edmonton, down to the States,” says Kurtis.

He adds, “so it’s a lot of traveling to find the higher end competitive teams. But you know, it’s what you do for the girls to excel and do what they love.”

While both Miley and Reece are proud to add a bronze medal at nationals to their list of accomplishments in life, the dream was always just to play more of the sport they love.

“I love so much about it, probably meeting new girls and just playing the game and just like the fun of it and building bonds with girls from across Canada,” Donaldson says, talking about softball.

Reece adds, “I’m hoping I get the opportunity to go further and play college in the states.”

Both girls will be trying out for the U17 Calgary Adrenaline team, and the 222’s fastpitch winter travel team for the upcoming season. The 222’s fastpitch is a highly competitve team that often travels to the states for tournaments.