The U15 Aces prepare to hit the field before playing a game at Nationals in Saskatoon this past summer. (PAMSA/Facebook)

By Logan Lehmann

Softball Nationals

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As 2022 draws to a close, paNOW is taking a look back on the most important and impactful stories of the year, as selected by our reporters and editorial staff.

The success that came from minor softball in Prince Albert this past year is hard to ignore.

This past summer, ball diamonds across the province were busy with teams and players of all ages competing for a chance to be named provincial champion.

Luckily for some of those who played on the Aces or Astros, the success came often with seven different minor softball teams finishing on the podium, the second most from any community in Saskatchewan. The only place that had more was Saskatoon which had ten teams finishing in the top three.

Among those teams from PA who brought home some hardware were the U11 A and B Aces, U15 A Aces, U11 A Astros, U13 A Astros, U15 A Astros, and U17 A Astros.

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But for the U15 Aces, U15 Astros, and the U17 Astros, their seasons would go much farther than just provincials. The three teams managed to qualify for Nationals in their respective age group.

The Aces didn’t need to travel far for their shot at a National Championship, heading just 130km south to Saskatoon.

The U15 Aces at Nationals in Saskatoon. (PAMSA/Facebook)

The tournament saw 22 teams from across the country, which included four from Saskatchewan, five from British Columbia, three from Manitoba and Ontario, two from Alberta, and one each from Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Prince Edward Island. When it was all said and done, the girls placed 15^th with a 3-4 record while Cloverdale Fury from BC took home the gold.

As for the boys, the U15 Astros had to trek nearly 3,000 kms to Wilmot, Ontario where they didn’t just represent the province, they represented the entirety of Western Canada. PA was joined by seven other teams at the tournament which included five teams from Ontario and one each from Quebec and Newfoundland. The ‘Stros managed a record of 3-5 which was enough to tie for sixth, while Ontario’s Napanee Express ended up winning it all.

The U15 Astros at Nationals in Wilmot, ON. (PAMSA/Facebook)

The third and final team to go to Nat’s this year was the U17 Astros who, like the Aces, made the hour drive south to the City of Bridges. Alongside PA were seven other teams including one other team from Saskatchewan, one from Manitoba, one from New Brunswick, and four from Ontario. The Blue and Orange finished 2-6 at the end of the tournament while the Chatsworth Longhorns of Ontario took home the gold.

The U17 Astros at Nationals in Saskatoon. (PAMSA/Facebook)

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logan.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @lloganlehmann