The Aces meet with the Saskatoon Hustlers at U15 Provincials in Prince Albert on July 8th. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW Staff)

By Logan Lehmann

Softball national championships

U15A Softball: Aces, Astros ready for National tournaments

Aug 1, 2022 | 9:00 AM

It’s been nearly a month since the U15A boys and girls’ softball provincials were held in Prince Albert, which saw the Astros win it all and the Aces fall just short.

Regardless of how either team finished in provincials, the two clubs have found their way onto the national stage with the Astros heading east to Wilmot, Ontario, while the Aces are making the trek south to Saskatoon.

For the Astros, they are not just the only team from Saskatchewan in the tournament, they are also the only team in Western Canada to qualify as the seven other teams are from out east, including five teams from Ontario and one each from Quebec and Newfoundland.

Seeing that Prince Albert hasn’t played any of those teams before, head coach Jordan Ambrose said that the game plan isn’t changing from what it has been all season.

“We’re treating everything from here on out as a bonus,” he said. “Our goal at the beginning of the year was to win provincials and so with that, we’re going to be doing what we have been all year. We’re not going to change a thing.”

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As for the Aces, they’ll be heading to Saskatoon under the title of ‘Team Saskatchewan 2’ as they came second in provincials.

They won’t be the only team from Saskatchewan there either, as the Melfort Spirit and Regina Lazers are also making the trip to the City of Bridges while the host Saskatoon Hustlers will also be present.

Along with them are 18 other teams from across the nation, including five teams from British Columbia, three from Manitoba and Ontario, two from Alberta, and one each from Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Prince Edward Island.

Unlike the Astros, the Aces have seen some of their competition in league play, something that head coach Scott Reed said doesn’t matter in a tournament like this.

“It doesn’t matter where all these teams come from,” he said. “They’re still U15 girls that have all the same strength and abilities. They’ve overcome challenges like we have all season.”

Reed added that with the name of ‘Team Sask. 2’, he thinks it will give his team an element of surprise.

“Anytime a team has the title of champion beside them, it tells (the opponent) that (the champion) are a big deal,” he said. “I think that all the teams there are going to be very competitive and with that, I think that some teams will overlook us and we’ll be able to make some noise once we’re down there.”

The two coaches also took time to thank their sponsors from this season as their trips to Nationals wouldn’t have been possible without them.

Both teams get their national title runs underway on August 3rd with the Astros facing off against the Ontario champion, Napanee Express at 8:00 AM CST, while the Aces begin at 8:30 AM versus the Alberta champion, St. Albert Angels.

Champions for both tournaments will be crowned on August 7th.

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logan.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @lloganlehmann