While their upcoming schedule may have a lot more pressure on it in coming weeks, The UTM 2K7 Southwest U15 Tier One softball team’s practice on Thursday night in Aberforyle was business as usual. A heavy focus on skill development and team play, something that the coaching staff and players have bought into all season and has helped them achieve some great successes on the ball diamond so far this summer.

 

“We have a special group of girls who have been committed and driven to reach their goals. We’ve had a pretty special year up to now” said head coach Darryl O’Reilly when speaking on the success of his club so far.

 

A stellar start to U15 ball club’s season has helped them qualify for the national championships. After finishing in the top three at a regional qualifier event held in Waterloo, the team has punched their ticket to the Canadian National U15 Championships in Saskatoon from August 3-7. A team comprised of mostly girls born in 2007, O’Reilly is proud of his teams’ accomplishments to this point.

 

“It’s a group of girls that love to compete, and it’s that willingness to compete that has driven this team to become better. The girls love spending time together which makes them a special group to be around.”

 

While the team has girls coming from all over the province to play, the group has really built its roots around playing together and winning the right way. A tournament-based team, UTM has had some great success to start their season including participating in U17 Tier 1 tournaments and winning gold in their first U17 tournament they played back in May in Brampton. The team also had a fantastic result winning Gold in a 38-team tournament in Columbus, Ohio in early June and are returning there next week to play in the 15U World Series which will host over 150 teams. 

 

“Every tournament we enter we are going looking to win. The experiences the girls will gain will be ones that will last a lifetime” said O’Reilly.

 

Sierra Roy, a key contributor in the infield for UTM spoke highly about the team’s culture and day to day approach towards the big tournament, emphasizing the importance of how the group has grown to lean on one another when things get tough. 

 

“From day one our coaches have given us the confidence and the mindset towards working hard and working together, the team is always going to back you up and together we will get stronger.”

 

Roy, a native of Georgetown, Ontario and member of Team Ontario this year, says that each girl brings a unique dynamic to the team and that she will look to lead by example throughout the tournament, stating that their leadership comes in a variety of different ways.

 

“Whether it is being a vocal leader and letting my team know the plays or by bringing the energy when someone makes a play I think I do a great job bringing our girls together.”  

 

While from the outside looking in it may have seemed like another normal practice for this UTM squad, Catcher Georgia Willsie spoke humbly about how the excitement is building within the team leading up to the tournament.

 

“This is what we have been working for all season and everyone is super excited”

 

The Waterloo, Ontario native says that while the team is looking forward to playing against the top teams in the nation and seeing what different styles of softball get played across the nation, the team still has one goal in mind and that is to bring home the gold medal.

 

“That is one thing we all have in common; we are all super determined to win.”

 

Other members of the qualifying team include Cara Skye, Julianna Merritt, Tess Squire, Abigail Post, Pyper Morley, Chloe Jones, Kendall Rainey, Keira O’Reilly, Senera D’Amico, Madigan Butcher, as well as assistant coaches Denise Roy and Derek Morley. To see how you can tune in and support the team at the nation championships, check out https://softball.ca/u15girls/event/schedule for more information.