Left to right: Shaye's father Stan, sister Rhyan, and mother Mel. (Jaryn Vecchio/paNOW Staff)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Softball Competition

Amundson family recognized during P.A. Memorial Softball Tournament

Jun 3, 2023 | 12:50 PM

The Shaye Amundson Softball Tournament is underway in Prince Albert and it included a special moment on opening day.

Before a round-robin game, the parents and sister of the former Prince Albert Aces player, who was killed in a car accident in 2016, were recognized on the diamond and given gifts.

They were also surrounded by the five P.A. teams playing at this year’s competition.

“For us, sport is family. It was nice to be surrounded by family, new members, and members that were playing when Shaye and Camryn (Shaye’s other sister) were playing,” said Mel Amundson, Shaye’s mother.

She is an assistant coach for the Aces U17 team, while her sister Rhyan plays for the team. Mel said it’s easy to picture Shaye here coaching, cheering on the local teams, and giving her sister a tough time if she wasn’t playing well.

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“Probably all of the above,” she joked. “She definitely wouldn’t sugarcoat anything for sister, I’m sure, but she’d be her biggest supporter and we still see her as a big supporter, just from above.”

None of Shaye’s family threw out the first pitch. Instead, that honour was given to her former teammate McKenzie Acton.

McKenzie Acton throwing put the first pitch. (Jaryn Vecchio/paNOW Staff)

She explained it’s a moment she’ll remember for the rest of her life.

“I’ve played on many teams over the years and Shaye was just one of those people… she was just the best teammate I’ve ever had and that’s not an over exaggeration.”

Meanwhile, this is the first time the tournament has had 32 teams competing in four different divisions: U11, U13, U15, and U17.

While P.A. is the most represented community, there are several teams coming from Saskatoon, Regina, Melfort, Tisdale, and Meadow Lake. There’s also one team that’s traveled all the way from St. Albert, Alta.

Mel believes this just further proves that P.A. is a legit softball community.

The tournament will wrap up Sunday at the Max Power Ball Parks with the playoffs taking place throughout the day.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow