For the Okanagan Elite U17 girls softball team, playing for each other mattered more than the trophy, but they got both.
The team鈥檚 motto, stronger together, is a mindset that carried them through months of tryouts, training, travel, and competition to capture a Canada Cup title earlier this month.
As far as head coach Leanne Spanza could determine, the international title is the first ever for an Okanagan team in the tournament鈥檚 30-year history.
鈥淚鈥檓 just so proud of them,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e worked hard throughout the years鈥e鈥檝e always been stronger together. That includes not just our players鈥攖hat includes our parents.鈥�
The Canada Cup featured 119 teams from all over the world playing in five different brackets. The Okanagan Elite U17 squad competed in the 37-team Showcase Select division with teams from B.C., Alberta, Washington, and Oregon.
It was held at Softball City on the Lower Mainland from July 4-8.
The Okanagan squad played nine games over the four days, with scores ranging from nerve-wracking 1-0 and 8-7 wins, and finally, an 8-3 victory over the Langley Xtreme 09 in the final.
Spanza said the girls came into the tournament focused not just on winning, but on playing for each other.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 our line鈥攚e play for each other. It鈥檚 not something that we knew was going to happen, we just knew we were going to play hard and compete.鈥�
Most of the team has been together since playing U15 ball. The road to the Canada Cup started in September with tryouts. A few new players joined the roster, and by Thanksgiving the team was training indoors three times a week, all the way through March. From April on, it was tournament season.
鈥淲e鈥檙e a predominantly travel team,鈥� said Spanza. 鈥淲e went to the Lower Mainland, the Seattle area down to Portland, and hosted our own tournament in Lake Country.鈥�
But their win was more than just a team effort, it was a club-wide celebration.
The younger U15 Elite team, which trains alongside the U17s through the winter, had two of its pitchers join as pickups for the tournament.
鈥淭hey were phenomenal,鈥� Spanza said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about both teams. It鈥檚 about Elite as a whole. It鈥檚 about coming together and competing, and having fun.鈥�
Spanza noted that players from both teams come from up and down the Okanagan Valley.
鈥淔rom Enderby to Penticton鈥t鈥檚 sportsmanship, mentorship, and community.鈥�
Now, the U17 team is preparing for the provincial champions, taking place July 18鈥�20 at High Noon Park in 琉璃神社.
鈥淚t鈥檚 potentially the last tournament of the season,鈥� Spanza said. 鈥淪o you鈥檝e got to give it your all, have fun, and trust your teammates.鈥�
She encouraged local fans to come out and support the girls.
鈥淚f you鈥檝e got kids that are interested in playing ball, that are currently playing ball, it鈥檚 a great sport to watch. The girls are loud. It鈥檚 entertaining.鈥�
Spanza said it all comes back to the bond these players share.
鈥淚鈥檓 just really proud of the girls,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a major accomplishment to win the Canada Cup, and they did it together."
