The U17 Bandits softball team pictured here with their gold medals following their opening tournament in Moose Jaw. (Submitted photo/Battlefords Minor Softball)

By Martin Martinson

Win gold, silver

Bandits off to home run start this season

May 16, 2022 | 2:17 PM

The bats were working early and often for the Battlefords Bandits over the weekend, as the local softball program opened their season in Moose Jaw.

The defending provincial champion U17 girls took home a gold medal, while the U19s won silver as well, each in their first tournament of the spring.

Coming out swinging, the U17s won all five of their games on the way to the gold, including a 10-1 victory over Edam in the semi-finals and 10-3 win over Weyburn in the finals to clinch their spot atop the podium.

Coach of the U17s, Darren Russell said the key to the team’s success came down to their ability to really hit the ball well.

“It’s hard to find another team that hits the ball as well as we do and we put up runs in bunches,” Russell said. “We were down a few times, but the girls were able to turn it around, and next thing you know there’s one hit that sparks another and there’s runs in bunches.”

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The U19 Bandits softball team pictured here with their silver medals following their opening tournament in Moose Jaw. (Submitted photo/Battlefords Minor Softball)

The U19s also had a dominant showing on their way to the silver. The team won all three of their round robin games by a combined score of 39-3, followed by a commanding 10-2 victory over Lafleche in the semi-finals, before falling 5-1 to the Southeast Supernovas in the gold medal game.

Coach of the U19s, Regan Lavallee said she’s proud of what the team was able to accomplish in a strong opening weekend, and especially on the mound, led by strong pitching from Kaitlyn Epp and Kiana McNinch.

“Just getting things going again it was good to be back out there and the girls were really batting well and pitching well with some great defensive plays,” Lavallee said. “We were running on two pitchers this weekend and they just got stronger as the weekend went on, so we’re really happy with how the girls performed.”

In addition to the two teams at the Moose Jaw tournament, the Bandits minor softball program also saw their U13 and one of their U15 teams in action for the start of their Saskatchewan Softball League season.

The U17s will return to tournament play along with the U13s, June 3-5 in Saskatoon. The U19s will also play their next tournament in June in Saskatoon, following exhibition games against Macklin May 29.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1