Ridge Meadows peewee A Pride girls’ softball team were in Geulph, Ontario for the national fastpitch championships earlier this month, making it through to the tournament play-offs, and earning an all-star selection.

Although the Pride did not earn themselves a medal, the group of 13- to 15-year-olds representing the Ridge Meadows Minor Softball Association knocked off the eventual gold and silver medal-winners, proving they can compete with any softball team in the country.

The Pride opened the tournament on Wednesday, Aug. 12 with a 1-0 loss to Quebec, followed by at 7-5 loss to Ontario 1. The Pride were up 5-4 in the final inning when Ontario 1 hit a three-run homer to take the game.

The third game of the day came against Ontario 2. The Pride, still unable to find their rhythm, fell 4-0.

Thursday morning saw the Pride take on arch-rivals Fraser Valley Fusion, to whom they lost 3-1.

That dropped the local squad to 0-4 at the tournament.

“I can’t say panic was setting in, but the next word down from that could be used,” said coach Mike Martin.

The Pride were far from out of the tournament, however, and responded with two critical wins, beating the White Rock Renegades 5-3 and tournament host Guelph 5-1 in front of the hometown crowd. Both teams would eventually finish first and second, respectively.

A 4-3 loss to Manitoba, followed by a 3-0 win against Ontario 3 left the Pride with a 3-5 record in the round robin, earning them a berth in the tournament play-offs.

However, Ontario 2 again bested the Pride in the first round of the play-offs on Saturday, beating them by a score of 4-0 and knocking them out of the tournament.

Pride team members include Kira Quinnell, Cydney Quinnell, Amber Hansen, Amanda Olson, Tara Martin, Brooke Anderson, Maddy Ebner, Kaitlin Farkas, Emily Jude, Rachelle Gold, Brianna McDole, Kimberly Connolly, and Devin Smith.

Jude, a first baseman, received all-star honours at the tournament.

“Emily is one of those silent warriors,” said Martin. “A great kid [that] deserved every moment of praise.”