Thunder takes bronze

Andrea Roberts
Times Intern

 

The Strathmore Thunder U21B girls fastpitch team finished their season after they took home the bronze medal during the 2016 Junior Western Canadian Finals. The event ran July 29-Aug. 1 at Unity, Sask.
The team went into the second place game with a 4-2 record but lost out during that game.
“Playoff round, as it happens in ball, comes the day when nothing goes your way,” said Lanky Johnson, the team’s coach. “We suffered two losses and settled for bronze, but it is still a happy final result for the team.”
Johnson was proud of his team; he said each game was a victory and they utilized all the players during the game. He also felt they represented Alberta well.
During the round robin section of the event, they took on two teams during the first day and finished with a win and loss. During the second day, they played three games, defeating the Saskatoon Lady Diamondbacks and the Moose Creek Jays, but losing a game to the Regina Earl Grey. The third day they took on the UK Royals who were the 2015 winners of the Western Canadian Championship and are current Saskatchewan provincial winners. While it was a close game, the Thunder Jr. managed to win 6-3.
During the weekend, the team had a 10-year-old batgirl who was assigned to them by the host committee. The team helped to teach her some skills, and because of her dedication to her job and the team, the Thunder decided to buy her a new baseball glove.
“It was a special moment seeing her eyes go big and smiling when the team gave it to her prior to our last game,” noted Johnson.