WEYBURN – Weyburn softball player Jorde Chartrand, 19, is proud to represent Saskatchewan on Softball Canada’s National Women’s Team, and they will be playing at the World Softball Championships running on July 9-13.
She is a pitcher, the daughter of Russ and Caroline Chartrand, and has been training with the team since being selected for the roster of Team Canada late last year.
“It’s special that I get to represent not only my country, but my province, because Saskatchewan isn’t always represented on national teams, as high level competition is lacking in Saskatchewan, and it’s my home where I grew up,” said Jorde.
“We are very excited to begin this journey as a new team and build from these experiences. As a really young team we are building a foundation and culture amongst the girls and look forward to competing at the highest level together,” she added.
Jorde had attended an ID camp for the junior team last summer, and she later received a phone call to attend a national team camp in December. With COVID issues, this got pushed back, but eventually they were able to meet and start practices.
Most recently the team had been training in Florida, playing exhibition games, and flew out on Wednesday to Birmingham, Ala., where the Worlds will be played from July 9-13.
Just before flying out, they played the Czech Republic, sweeping them in a doubleheader, and Jorde pitched two scoreless innings in those games.
She has been playing softball since she was four years old, and her mom was the one who started her with pitching, and she “taught me how much work it takes to play at an elite level.”
“My family played a huge role in my interest in the sport, and my competitive nature, but coaches Dean Holoein, Keith Macintosh and Ryan Ray all played a major role in my development in softball, and where I found more of a love for the sport,” she said.
Jorde admits she didn’t always enjoy the grind of training and practices, and the time that was required, “but looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. All the time spent practicing my sport, specifically pitching, has taught me work ethic, accountability and commitment. I love the mental grind it takes to be a pitcher, and diving deeper into the mental aspect of the game on the mound.”
In their initial round of games, Team Canada plays Chinese Taipei on July 9, then will face Italy on July 10 and the United States on July 11.
