Softball sisters

Times Contributor  

 

Katie and Brianne Coulter have played softball since they were very young, their hard work paying off this year at their respective league finals. Katie plays on the Calgary Redsocks who won first place in their league final on July 31. Brianne, five years younger than Katie, played in her league final the same day winning second place. These finals were exciting for the Coulter family as the sisters were both competing at such a high level for their favorite sport. 

“It was pretty cool that we were both in the finals,” said Katie. 

“My tournament was in Calgary and hers was in Strathmore,” said Brianne, “all of our games were staggered, so I’d play one, and quickly drive back to Strathmore, get to watch hers, leave back for Calgary, play mine, come back to Strathmore watch hers. So I think I watched every single one of her games and she managed to get to two or three of mine.

For these girls softball is a way of life, and for their parents too, driving into Calgary twice a week for each of the girls’ league games. 

“They always love coming to watch us, [they] come to every single game, they’ve never missed. They just love it. They drive us every week because they just wouldn’t miss a game,” said Brianne. “There’s a lot of girls who don’t get the support. It’s really nice [for Katie and I], to have them up in the stands cheering.”

The sisters’ love for softball started when they were little girls, with influence from their dad. 

“Well my dad used to play so he got us started in it when we were really young,” said Katie. Both girls continued playing as they grew up and love playing together. 

“I guess I kind of helped [Brianne] out as she grew up as well, because there’s five years in between us so she’s quite a bit younger than I am,” said Katie.

“Usually we’ll go to the diamonds at Brentwood and stuff and hit a few balls and catch a few fly balls,” said Brianne.

“We just sort of grew up playing together and playing catch together and we’re very close so it was fun to always play together and watch each other kind of grow,” said Katie. 

“We always play catch on holidays and just wherever we can play, we play,” said Brianne. Now, because Brianne affiliates with Katie’s team, not only can the girls play catch together, but they can also play games together. 

“I do get to play a couple games with her which is pretty cool. (It’s) nice getting to play with your sister,” said Brianne. 

“That’s pretty cool when we’re on the diamond together,” said Katie. “It’s something we’re trying to get more permanent. Hopefully in the next couple years we’ll get to play on the same team together.”

The dedication from the whole Coulter family, parents and daughters has certainly contributed to the girls’ success in softball and to their success in the league playoffs.