These players have got game.
The Howe Sound U15 Venom softball team is headed to the 2023 U15C Provincial Championships in Kelowna from July 7 to 9.
It is an exciting cap-off to a successful season for the Venom.
"This is the best record that a Squamish team has had in probably over 30 years," proud coach Carrie Aseltine told The Squamish Chief in an email.
The girls have garnered two gold, a silver, and a bronze in the four tournaments they attended so far.
Howe Sound Minor Ball regular season play starts May 1 and goes until June 21.
"It is a short season, so HSMBA encourages the teams to go to tournaments," Aseltine explained.
Most recently, Howe Sound Minor Ball hosted the 2023 U15C Sea to Sky Softball Series, on June 10 and 11, where teams from the Lower Mainland came up to Squamish to play. The Venom won gold, and fellow Howe Sound team, the Thunder took bronze.
But let's rewind to look at the whole season.
The team was golden in the Fleetwood U15C Fastpitch Tournament, April 28 to 30 in Surrey before the regular season even started.
They beat the Burnaby Oakeys in the final to take gold.
The Venom took home silver in the Delta Fastpitch U15C Spring Classic from May 5 to 7.
Aseltine said it was “a tough final game" against the Langley Bulldogs, but the Venom came away with the shiny hardware nonetheless.
Next up, at the Ridge Meadows Minor Softball Association (RMMSA) May Invite Tournament, the Venom had a tough draw and played four games on the Saturday, in 30 C heat no less. Plus more on Sunday in 34 C heat.
They battled hard and came away with the bronze against the Fleetwood Marvels. It was a back-and-forth game, with the Venom coming out on top winning 11 to 10, according to Aseltine.
Other news
The Venom aren’t the only players representing Squamish well on the ball field. There are 13 Howe Sound teams ranging from U9 to U17.
The Thunder also played the provincial playdowns and the U13 Bobby Joe's are at regionals this upcoming weekend, June 24 and 25.
Keep up with the action from Howe Sound Minor Baseball on its website or Facebook page.
