(Melfort U13A Spirit Softball/Facebook)

By Ben Tompkins

Western Canadian CHampionships

Melfort U13 Spirit reflect on season

Aug 19, 2025 | 4:50 PM

The Melfort U13A Spirit softball team is now a week removed from participating in the Western Canadian Championships, as they’ve had time to reflect on a historic season.

The group of 11 girls finished in fourth place at Westerns in Abbotsford, British Columbia, after winning the provincial championships last month.

“It was a really good tournament to have the honour and privilege of going to, our team played very well, and the competition was strong. We were up against some really good teams, and the girls battled really hard. I feel like our team was strong enough to finish higher, but that’s just sometimes the way it goes, and the girls had a lot of fun,” explained head coach Kevin Stoneman.

“In the moment, the loss feels pretty low, but we finished fourth and made the playoffs there, so everyone should be so proud of themselves and how they played all year. The amount these girls learned and developed this year is phenomenal, and they gained a lot of experience. Prior to Westerns, we only lost once all year, so the growth is immense, and although it may have ended on a down note, there were a lot of ups.”

Of the 11 girls part of the U13 roster this season, 10 of them will be moving up to the U15 ranks next season.

Seniors Scene

Christmas is Coming

5h ago

Grey Cup!!!

Everything you wanted and more

Nov 21, 2025

12 Best Tips to Spend Less at Christmas

Nov 18, 2025

Stoneman is confident in this significantly sized core of girls and their future, as he feels the interest and year-round dedication to the sport is really taking off.

“I think winter ball is really starting to catch wind. There will be at least six of our girls playing winter ball and practicing in Saskatoon, and going down to the States later this year to play in some tournaments. Maybe that was happening before, but it feels like softball is really taking off. Even the gym times that we have in Melfort for the local girls to get out and get some training in, it’s making our program stronger,” he added.

“Just the group of girls that I was able to coach this year was incredible, hats off to each and every one of them. It was an honour and a joy to coach them, the work, effort and sacrifices they made to make it a team, they just came to battle. We had fun and the intensity was high, and although it didn’t end the way we wanted, we have nothing to hang our heads about.”

–

Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8