The U15 Prince Albert Astros. (Submitted/Nicole Finch)

By Logan Lehmann

Softball Nationals

‘We’re ready’: U15 Astros set to host National tournament

Aug 3, 2023 | 12:25 PM

In less than a week, Prime Ministers Park in Prince Albert will be turned into one of the country’s softball hotspots as the U15 Boy’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship gets underway on Aug. 9.

A total of 10 teams from across the country will compete in the tournament, including four from Saskatchewan, four from Ontario, and one each from Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

Head coach of the host Prince Albert Astros Neil Finch said that his team is ready for battle.

“The boys are super excited,” he said. “We just had a practice last night and we’re ready, that’s the place we want to be at. Inviting teams from across the country to come and join us is an exciting thing not only for our team but for the community of Prince Albert.”

The five-day-long tournament will feature the Astros in six round-robin games in the first three days, which includes one matchup against another Saskatchewan team, the Ochapowace Loud Voice.

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P.A. squared off with Ochapowace in the provincial tournament where the Astros dominated the Loud Voice 12-1. Finch said that their game is one that’s circled on the calendar.

“They were missing quite a few players [at provincials] because of the [North American Indigenous Games] tournament out in Halifax,” he explained. “We’re looking forward to playing their whole squad, we think it’s going be a really good game – a close one for sure.”

Additionally, Finch highlighted the ways that home-field advantage will play into their favour come first pitch.

“Familiarity is a big piece,” he said. “We know the diamonds, we’re comfortable here, you’re even used to what the scoreboard looks like. There’s lots of pieces that will come with just having consistency for us and we won’t have our eyes wide open with the facility, it will be more learning about playing against these different teams.”

The Prince Albert Astros kick the tournament off on Wednesday morning at 10:00 am against the Tara Longhorns (Ontario 3). A full tournament schedule can be found by clicking here.

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @lloganlehmann