Local teen takes part in Championship games

Times Reporter

 

The PeeWee Western Canadian Softball Championships took place in Strathmore from August 5 to 8. The games were held at the agricultural grounds and there were 16 teams competing.  One Strathmore teen was a part of the host team, Calgary Kaizen, and also sang ‘Oh Canada’ at the opening ceremonies. 

Kirstyn Johnson, 14, was the only Strathmore teen that was a member of the host team playing pitcher and left field. Johnson plays on the Bantam Thunder team, but softball isn’t the only game she plays. 

“I’m split between sports and music. I’m in a band, I play volleyball, basketball and track and field in school and fastball in the summer,” said Johnson. 

Her band Flipside performs classic rock and Johnson writes many of the original songs they play. She also sings and plays the piano.  Recently Johnson had been benched after spraining her knee and ankle but things looked good over the weekend and she had no issues during the championships. 

The Calgary Kaizen did well over the weekend despite not winning any of their games. 

“We’ve been doing really well. We haven’t won yet but we’re holding our own,” said Johnson on August 7. 

There were two teams each from, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba in the tournament and Alberta had three teams. Rocky’s Bakery catered a dinner for the teams and their families on August 6. Johnson said the dinner was fun and it was great to have a chance to sit with the other teams. Johnson had only played with her team once before the championships began, at a tournament in Red Deer during the regular season. Her favourite game this season was “when Thunder beat Kaizen,” said Johnson with a smile. 

Her dad is a big part of her baseball life. He is her coach and he still plays ball. While she may be split between music and sports, Johnson is sure of one thing. 

“I’m hoping to get a scholarship to a University or something,” said Johnson. She doesn’t know where she wants to go yet, but as she said, she’s still young and has time to figure it out.