Central Energy - 2017 Softball Manitoba Provincial U14 A silver medalists

Front row: Abbi Conrad, Zoey Pearce, Alexa Guilford, Kylyn Shindle, Jolyne Leclair
Back row: Jason Leclair, Keith Doerksen, Olivia Goderis, Lexi Nelson, Kyra Penner, Mackenzie Couling, Brooklyn MacDonald, Payton Doerksen, Quinn McLaren, Al Couling


Central Energy will compete at Softball Canada's National U14 Championship which begins Wednesday in Brampton, Ontario.

Energy coach Keith Doerksen says it's been a great summer for the players on his ball team.

“They played great all season long. We achieved our goal as far as qualifying for Nationals and came very close of achieving our goal of winning gold at Provincials. I'm super proud of them all and looking forward to hitting Nationals.”

Central recorded six wins and two losses last month at the Provincial U14 A girls championship in Brandon.

Doerksen wasn't concerned about having to play eight games in three days.

“It was a lot of ball but we've been conditioned to that all season long. We played in a few tournament where he had to bear down and play three-games-a-day and sometimes four. That's just the way it plays out. Sometimes you're playing in the rain and sometimes you're playing in the sun.”

Energy's only loss in the round robin was a 7-2 decision to Winnipeg Lightning.

They defeated Smitty's Terminators 7-2 in their final round robin game which forced the two teams to play a one game showdown to determine the provincial champion.

Smitty's scored five runs in the first inning and beat Central Energy 8-3.

“It was just a tough start in that last game,” said Doerksen. “Playing the best team in our league, you weren't going to get away with too many mistakes. It's not the fact that we made mistakes. They just played well.”

19 teams will be competing in Brampton.

Central will meet the Prince Albert Aces & Halton Hawks on Wednesday; the Mississauga North Tigers & the Fraser Valley Fusion on Thursday and the host Brampton Blazers Gold & LaSalle Athletics on Friday.

The playoffs begin Saturday.

“I'm really hoping for a top 10 finish,” said Doerksen. “Four of our girls played at the Nationals last year and I think with their experience going in, hopefully they can talk the younger girls into not being so nervous and just going out and playing ball. If we can play ball the way we can – we can compete with anybody.”

“I really want to thank the parents,” added Doerksen. “If it wasn't for all their support over the season, this never could have happened. It takes a big commitment to be part of this ball team.”