Elite fastpitch players still on a mission at the Canada Games

Among the 15 elite players who make up the Quebec U19 team, no less than a dozen are residents of Vaudreuil-Soulanges and Salaberry-de-Valleyfield. The young women led by head coach Brad Pelletier are on a mission for the second time in a few weeks because they have just taken part in the Canadian Championship (U19) of fast pitch in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

At the Canada Games, there are four athletes from Saint-Lazare in women’s softball: Léa Chevrier, star pitcher at the Canadian Championship, Olivia-May Giguère (1^is goal), Alexia Chevrier (receiver) and Naomi Cohen (2^e goal) as well as two residents of Vaudreuil-Dorion, Jessica Mallette (pitcher) and Naomi Pelletier (shortstop).

Team Quebec U19 can also count on the talent of three young Campivallensiennes: Estelle Audette (outfielder, shortstop), Emma Duncan (pitcher) and Laurianne Lecavalier (outfielder). The Quebec roster also includes two players from Kahnawake, Émily Meloche (receiver) and Bonnie Zachary (outfielder), as well as Léa Fréchette (outfielder, Mercier), Annabelle Guay (1^is goal, Terrebonne), Maxim Provost (utility, Saint-Eustache) and Valérie Sigouin (3^e but, Laval).

The 18-year-old girls are aiming high in Niagara after having a great tournament at the Canadian Championship, finishing the competition with an impressive record of 7 wins and two losses. In addition, the young Quebecers only allowed 10 points in their journey in Fredericton (NB).

Team Quebec was eliminated in the quarterfinals in a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Calgary (Alberta 1) on a home run in the 6th^e sleeve. “We finished 6^e out of 17 teams, which does not reflect the quality of our performance. The girls excelled on defense and our pitchers shone on the mound, allowing just one point per game on average. Léa Chevrier was elected to the Canadian championship all-star team,” summed up coach Brad Pelletier.

The “coach” is now hoping for an even better result at the Canada Games, relying on his pitchers Léa Chevrier, who had 76 strikeouts in 27 innings of work in Fredericton, Emma Duncan and Jessica Mallette. Brad Pelletier still wants an improved offensive production from his troops.

“We played against the other provinces at the Canadian Championship and we can beat them. We won 1-0 against the team from British Columbia who eventually won. It is played on the field, it is a question of managing our stress well, ”to mean the head coach.

Unfortunately, Team Quebec didn’t get off to a good start Sunday at Southward Community Park in Grimsby, losing 5-1 to Alberta. The Quebecers will be able to recover tonight (Monday, 6:30 p.m.) against Ontario and they will play two other matches on Tuesday against New Brunswick (11 a.m.) and Newfoundland/Labrador (2 p.m.). The elimination round is scheduled for Wednesday and the medal round on Thursday, August 11.