Thunder expect stiff competition at Westerns

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

The Strathmore Thunder U21 girls fast pitch team will have to pay attention to the little details on the field if they hope to medal in the eight-team Western Junior Canadian Championships in Surrey, B.C. Aug. 6-9.
Head coach Lanky Johnson knows that what they got away with in provincials a couple of weeks ago will not work out in the Western Championships.
“The biggest difference is that it’s going to be another level up,” said Johnson. “Even the few mistakes that were created here, that we got away with, we won’t be able to make them out there the same way.”
Whether it’s at the plate or out on the field, Johnson could not emphasize enough how the players will have to communicate on the field and always be aware what is happening during the plays.
“When they go to bat, knowing what the job is and where the runners are,” said Johnson. “Infield again, focusing on defense and anticipating the two or three options before each pitch, what the play might be depending on how the ball is hit. The more mentally prepared you are and relaxed doing it, the better success you’ll have.”
For most of the roster, it will be their third to fifth time at a post-provincial tournament, either at Westerns or Nationals, and those players will be relied on to provide a leadership role.
“There is some experience there and we hope to use that to our advantage a little bit to help the ones that haven’t been there before,” said Johnson.
He added that being a youthful squad and sticking together is where the girls will see results, but cautioned that it will be tough with most teams there being in the 20-21-age range throughout their line ups.
This will be centre fielder Jordan Mitchell’s first time at a tournament of this calibre and she said she really doesn’t know what to expect, but with the team’s success as of late, expects them to be fine.
“We play better as a team when we’re all playing together and talking lots,” said Mitchell.
Having won her second provincials this year, she really enjoyed the experience and is looking forward to the opportunity at Westerns.
“I’m really excited, lots of hype,” said Mitchell.
Veteran pitcher Kristyn Johnson feels that the team made a lot of progression from the thought of not playing this season to winning a provincial title, and it would be special to cap it off with a Western Crown.
“For a lot of the girls, a lot of us didn’t think we were going to be playing this season,” said Johnson. “To come together again after all these years and play together one more time, and win a provincial and go to a Western (Championship), it’s really exciting, proves we’ve put in some hard work.”
She added that this team will be able to rise to the level of play that will be presented at Westerns.
“We usually do that, we usually match our competitors really well,” said Johnson,
She thinks the key to settling in will be to get to the fields, get rid of the nerves and prove that they are deserving of a spot in this championships.