Pictured here, local softball player Katelyn Russell takes to the plate. (Submitted photo/Darren Russell)

By Martin Martinson

Home Run Fun

Battlefords Minor Softball swings into action in community

May 14, 2021 | 4:00 PM

The Battlefords Minor Softball Association threw out their first pitch of the season last week and officially cracked the bat on a new spring season.

This year marks a return to the regular May-June schedule after last year’s start was delayed until the summer through July and August due to uncertainty surrounding the pandemic.

President of the Battlefords Minor Softball Association, Darren Russell said it’s been really great to see the turnout for the local softball program bounce back in a big way across the board this season.

“Registration this year really surprised us. We did it completely online, and we have 163 kids registered for Battlefords Minor Softball this year, which is on par with years before,” he said.

“Last year, obviously our numbers were way down as we only had a few teams going, and it was during the summer not the spring, so we lost a lot of [players] to the lake for the summer, and the pandemic uncertainty, so this year’s been great.”

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Due to current government health regulations, minor softball has been unable to play games to open the season, so the focus remains purely on skill development through practices in pods of eight to this point.

However, much like last season, Russell said they remain hopeful to be able to return to game play later in the spring should restrictions ease to allow it.

Regardless of how things develop in the coming months though, Russell said even with the current restrictions in place, it’s been great just to see the children and youth in the community have an outlet to get outdoors, socialize, and enjoy some physical activity.

“These kids have been cooped up in their houses and unable to see their friends [in a lot of cases], so just to go out and have a bit of fun and a bit of normalcy, it’s been awesome to see,” he said. “The smiles on their faces just make all the extra time you put in worth it because you know that they’re having fun.”

Russell added that the association is grateful for the ‘unbelievable community support’ again this year, and the work of many who have helped make a return to the diamond possible this spring.

“From great members on our board to the coaches who have come out this year to volunteer and the former players who have aged out of our system and come back to offer to help out as well, we have a great group of volunteers helping to make the season happen,” he said.

“Everyone is just really banding together to make sure these kids can get out on the diamond together and it’s been awesome to see.”

For all the latest on the minor softball season, visit the Battlefords Minor Softball Association website, or find them on Facebook.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1