The Bandits 2021 provincial championship team. Back Row: coach Regan Lavallee, Kalyna Bahler, Evynn Belanger, Hunter Pewapsconias, Meadow Nordell, Brooklynne Francon, Ava Cole, coach Cliff Lavallee. Front Row: Jasmine Cole, Mya Lavallee, Danae Shein, Brea Grzybowski, Chloe Lavallee. Missing from team picture: assistant coach Tracy George.

By Martin Martinson

A Weekend to Remember

U19 Bandits take provincial gold in Regina

Aug 9, 2021 | 4:14 PM

The Battlefords Bandits U19 softball team are provincial champions.

The Bandits took home the gold at the 2021 U19 ‘OPEN’ Women’s provincials in Regina, Aug. 6 to 8.

However, the weekend road to the championship wasn’t without its obstacles and share of adversity.

After falling 5-4 in a hard-fought opener versus Kindersley, things looked to be going from bad to worse in the team’s second game, as the Bandits fell behind 12-0 to Melville by the bottom of the third inning.

Rather than accept defeat though, the team battled back to register nine consecutive runs of their own. And while they did still ultimately fall 18-14 to start the weekend 0-2, head coach Regan Lavallee said that resiliency set the tone for what was to come the rest of the weekend.

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“The girls always kept their heads up and knew what they needed to do, and when they hit that field Saturday they were unstoppable,” Lavallee said. “There was nothing in their path that was going to stop them, and they left it all out on the field.”

Almost like they were shot out of a cannon, the Bandits went on to take back-to-back wins over Saskatoon 6-2, and Humboldt 7-5 respectively, to snag the final playoff spot in their pool and advance to the championship rounds Sunday as the fourth seed.

Pictured left to right: Turtleford’s Brooklynne Francon, Meadow Nordell and Ava Cole, joined the Bandits for provincials and played a pivotal role in the teams success, gelling with the group from the start. (Submitted photo/Regan Lavallee)

In the playoffs, the Bandits then continued to roll, defeating Melville 12-5 in the quarterfinals, and Kindersley 11-10 in the semis, on their way to the gold medal final.

Facing the same Humboldt team they had played earlier, the Bandits dominated from the outset taking a 10-3 final for gold medal honours.

Lavallee, who coaches the team alongside her husband Cliff, and assistant coach Tracy George, said they couldn’t be more proud of the character and positive belief in one another the players showcased on their way to provincial gold.

“The way the team came together and encouraged each other and played as a team and not individuals was something as a coach you just dream of,” Lavallee said. “It was amazing and truly what you hope to see when you get into coaching in the first place. I could not have asked for a more perfect weekend of ball, and I wouldn’t change a thing.”

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1