Girls softball is in the spotlight this weekend
St. Catharines Storm hosting 30-team Ontario championships, plus concession fundraiser
A storm is in the forecast this weekend in Niagara, but there is no need to run for cover.
Instead, head to Joseph McCaffery and Lancaster parks in St. Catharines for the Ontario Select Softball Association under-12 provincial championships taking place Saturday and Sunday.
Thirty squirt teams from as far east as Kingston and as far west as Windsor will be competing in a two-day event hosted by the St. Catharines Ladies Softball League.
Hoping to make the most of home-field advantage and improve on their ninth-place finish at the provincial championships last year are the St. Catharines Storm.
Coached by Rob Holt, Tony D’Amico, Steve Beaver and Christine McPherson, the select team is made up of 12 house league players who participate at weekend tournaments throughout Ontario.
The Storm are coming off two third-place finishes and a gold.
St. Catharines players will also be keeping busy off the diamond, trying to raise funds this weekend.
Proceeds from a concession stand the Storm will be operating will defray the cost of competing at tournaments next summer. Money also will be used for equipment and uniform purchases and to rent gymnasiums for practices and tryouts over the winter months.
The team also will be having a penny sale, raffle and a 50/50 draw Saturday. Among prizes up for grabs are Canada’s Wonderland tickets and an autographed baseball signed by members of the Toronto Blue Jays.