EAST CENTRAL — The East Central Riverdogs are seeking a provincial championship at home this weekend.
The squad, which is made up of players from five different communities, hosts the Saskatoon Red Selects in the U19 B Softball Provincials in Humboldt. The first two contests of the best-of-three championship series will be played at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on July 16. If needed game three will be July 17 at 1 p.m.
“The girls are looking forward to hosting provincials this year and hopefully winning it at home,” Riverdogs coach Tara Hofmann said. “For most it has been a few years of settling for the silver but think they can reach for that gold medal this year.”
The Riverdogs and Red Selects have not yet played this season. Asked about what the East Central squad does well, Coach Hofmann said:
“A huge strength with this group is their hitting. It also helps that this group all mesh and get along well. It is really a great group to coach.”
Last year Softball Canada unveiled new age categories, which went into effect for this season. The U19 age group went from a three-year category to two years. The effect of this move was shown by only the Riverdogs and Red Selects registering for the U19 B provincials.
“With only a two-year age group, it’s tough to get enough together sometimes to make a team,” Hofmann said. “I was in contact with the Tisdale coach who also was having this same struggle, so we thought let’s put this group together that want to play and go with it. Then a couple Watrous girls contacted me looking for a place to play also.”
The squad features five senior girls who would like to cap off their minor ball careers in style: Kaylee Hofmann, Ashlyn Simoneau, Emma Abrey, Nicole Girolami, and Kalli Stegmann. Kaylee Hofmann, Emma Abrey, Nicole Girolami, and Jaeden Simpson all helped the Humboldt U19 Thunder win silver at their age category’s open provincials last season.
“This U19 team of girls are so fun to coach,” Coach Hofmann said.
She praised the group for being dedicated. The Riverdogs did not have a league to compete in so played exhibition contests and tournaments.
“They got their eyes opened at the Red Deer ladies tournament they attended where they faced a team of ladies in their 40s with a lot of ball experience and were very good,” Coach Hofmann said. “Just shows you can play some good ball when you are older too.”
Riverdogs Roster:
- Arianne Pollon - Tisdale
- Ashlyn Simoneau - Tisdale
- Keeley Becker - Tisdale
- Cadence Logan - Porcupine Plain
- Kalli Stegemann - Porcupine Plain
- Emma Abrey - Humboldt
- Jaeden Simpson - Humboldt
- Nicole Girolami - Humboldt
- Kaylee Hofmann - Muenster
- Erika Oakes - Watrous
- Kennedy Rheaume - Watrous
Coaches
- Tara Hofmann - Muenster
- Rob Pollon - Tisdale
- Marcel Simpson - Humboldt
