The Bandits U17s (top), U15s (bottom left), and U13s (bottom right) are all three in Regina this weekend for provincials. (Submitted photos/Battlefords Minor Softball)

By Martin Martinson

Busy weekend for ball

Bandits at-bat in Regina for softball provincials

Jul 14, 2023 | 4:54 PM

It’s another big weekend on the ball diamond for the Battlefords Bandits softball program, as three teams from the community are in Regina this weekend competing at provincials.

The U17, U15, and U13 Bandits are all three in the Queen City, something president of Battlefords Minor Softball Darren Russell called a unique opportunity.

“We’re all in the same hotel, we’re all there to support each other and it’s going to be really nice that way,” he said. “We’ve got three strong teams down here and I think all three should be playing on Sunday and hopefully have a chance to medal. I’m very excited, there’s lots of talented players in our town and it’s going to be awesome to showcase them all this weekend.”

U17 Bandits

Russell, who also serves as head coach of the U17s, said the team is feeling good about their game heading into the weekend, having been at their best in recent weeks.

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“The team’s looking really good, we’ve had a lot of success on the diamond and the girls have really bonded this year from the start of the season to now,” he said. “I feel like we’re playing our best ball right now going into provincials.”

The U17s are coming off another strong season, which saw the team make the semi-finals of their league play in the Girls Prairie League Softball (GPLS) season, only falling to the eventual champion, Irma Tigers.

Russell said the key to a strong showing this weekend is for the team to just play to their strengths.

“We definitely have four strong pitchers this year, and Bandits’ baseball starts with our bats,” he said. “I feel like right from our lead-off batter right to our number-nine batter, anybody is a threat to hit the ball hard. I don’t think there’s another team in Saskatchewan right now that’s as deep as we are with our bats.”

The U17s will play their first game of provincials Friday at 6:30 p.m. Should the team finish top-two at the end of the weekend, they will advance to Westerns in Winkler, MB., Aug. 17-20.

U15 Bandits

The U15s were the first of the Bandits’ teams to take to the diamond this weekend, coming away with a victory in their opening game Friday against the Unity Panthers at 12 Noon. It was a 12-11 thriller head coach Chris Metlewsky called ‘a bit of a whirlwind game.’

“We came out really strong to a 9-0 lead and then ended up giving up a few to make it 9-8, but the team came together to come out with a win so that was pretty exciting… and not stressful at all,” he said with a laugh.

“It’s tough to come back like that, but the girls really pulled together and kept each other pumped up and it was pretty exciting to come out with that win.”

The U15 Bandits at provincials. (Submitted photo/Chris Metlewsky)

The U15s are coming off a strong season in their own right, which saw the team finish their GPLS season 8-2 in league play, also taking silver at a late-season tournament in Lloydminster.

The U15s returned to action this afternoon at 4 p.m. against the South Central Venom, based out of Moose Jaw. Should the team finish top-two at the end of the weekend, they will advance to Westerns in Richmond, BC., Aug. 10-13.

U13 Bandits

The U13s just opened their provincial tournament at 4:30 p.m. Friday afternoon, as a different team from the start of the year.

Entering the season as a young group overall, the U13s experienced some growing pains early with a 1-9 record to start the year, before turning things around in a big way at the Battle at the Boarder Tournament, which they won midway through the year.

From there the team would also go on a run to the semis of the GPLS playoffs, only falling to the eventual champions from Blackfalds, AB.

“We’re pretty happy with where we’re at right now, and we’re looking forward to provincials,” head coach, Ryan Shepherd said, speaking to his team’s progress this season.

“We had a fairly new group coming up this year, so our first years were kind of getting their feet wet in U13 ball and that was a big development point, and we have some core girls from last year who really stepped up and held us in some big games, so our crew from last year’s been really good and we’ve got some good help from others as the season’s gone along.”

For all the latest on provincials, follow along at the Softball Saskatchewan website, and keep up to date with the local teams through the Bandits’ Facebook page.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1