Photo by Annalee Grant
GOING FOR A SAVE – Blake Troyer from Matheson Oil Burner Services reaches out for the ball during Sunday morning's Minor Softball Territorial Championships final between Matheson and M&M Meats. M&M won the game 11-8 for first place in the Mite division (top). SAFE – A player from M&M Meats slides in safe at home, following in the footsteps of a teammate for a two-run single, as the umpire looks on.
The Whitehorse Minor Softball League finished up for the season this weekend with the Minor Softball Territorial Championships.
The Whitehorse Minor Softball League finished up for the season this weekend with the Minor Softball Territorial Championships.
During Sunday's tournament finals, it was easy to see the growth in the youth players, some of whom had never even played at the beginning of the season.
"It totally improved over the weekend,” said Jean Poulin, coordinator for minor softball. "Some of them have never played before.”
That was not evident during the mite division final between M&M Meats and Matheson Oil Burner Services, where one play saw a sure home-run hit caught by a small girl in the outfield. Both coaches were excited about the play, and both players emerged heroes for their team.
"They've really stepped up,” Poulin said.
The championships mark the end of the short softball season, and Poulin said it's because the teams get too thin to keep up with during the summer.
"(It's) hard to keep them around during holidays,” she said.
Poulin said the territorial championships really raises the stakes for the kids.
This year there were 20 teams, which included 320 kids.
Poulin said this year they are up by about 30 players.
At the championships, one team from Watson Lake traveled down for the mite division and one from Dawson City participated in the peewee and squirt divisions.
– – –
2010 Minor Softball Territorial Championships
Mite division
Gold: M&M Meats
Silver: Matheson Oil Burner
Bronze: Archbould Photography
– – –
Peewee division
Gold: Boston Pizza
Silver: Dave's Cleaning
Bronze: EMCO
– – –
Squirt division
Gold: Quest Engineering
Silver: Marsh Lake Tents and Events
Bronze: CKRW
– – –
Whitehorse Minor Softball League results
June 9
Learn to play division
Pepsi 8, Elks Lodge #306 8
Olson Fencing 10, Office Supply Centre 10
Peanut division
Northwest Vacuum Service Ltd. 10, Whitehorse Star 10
Fountain Tire 8, Arctic Backhoe Services Ltd. 8
Mite division
MacPherson Rentals 8, M&M Meats 1
Bantam division
Home Hardware 12, Pepsi 12
June 8
Squirt division
March Lake Tents and Events 12, Quest Engineering 5
CKRW 10, Coates Services Ltd. 3
Peewee division
Boston Pizza 21, Canadian Tire 13
EMCO 12, Dave's Cleaning 5
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Parent on Jun 16, 2010 at 6:10 am
Note to Jean Poulin:
The Mites division tourney was a blast.
Having a seasoned umpire made all the difference. I didn't catch his name but he was amazing at teaching the kids the game, offering pointers and making it fun all the while. Please bring him back next year.