The Estevan minor softball season started on April 29 with the first practice of the year, with players also gearing up for the Estevan Elite U15F provincial tryouts which will start this Friday. 

Shawn Madsen the head coach of the U15 provincial softball team said that they have seen interest in softball grow within the community.  

“We didn’t expect to have even three local house teams, and so the numbers came high. We had three squads of 12 on each, so that was phenomenal.”  

Athletes who are on the provincial team are also part of a house league said Madsen. He added that although there is a bit of an extra commitment, it is usually players who are already passionate about the sport. This also means the provincial softball season starts a couple of weeks after the house league starts. 

“We’ll have a few more practices but given the fact that all of these athletes will also be playing in house leagues, they are getting two and sometimes three practices a week with that,” said Madsen. “Then when you throw in provincials, which is typically on the weekends, the house ball is normally on the weekdays, it ends up being a pretty full schedule,” said Masden. “We wait till everybody gets a little bit of time on the field and throwing the ball around and swinging the bat so that they aren’t going into this super cold.”  

He added that there were only four or five local kids on the provincial team last year, and with the increase of new players in the league, he believes that number will be larger this year. Local players include those from Bienfait, Lampman, Macoun, and Midale. 

The house softball season lasts until the end of June, and the provincial season ends in mid-July. Masden said this is an extra commitment they seek from the provincial players. 

Players interested in trying out for the provincial U15 F softball team are encouraged to try out on May 3 or May 17 at 6 p.m. at the Estevan Softball Diamonds. No pre-registration is required.