The Quyon Flyers’ U15 girls team took their game to Laval, Que., over the weekend to face off against the top fast-pitch softball teams from across the province.
The trip marked the first time in years that the Pontiac has fielded a competitive girls’ team at a provincial level, and it was a big moment for coach and longtime Flyers player Lynn Kearns.
“I am incredibly proud of all the girls that joined our summer program. They worked hard every time they stepped on the field and became better ball players,” she told THE EQUITY following the tournament.
Twelve Pontiac girls who regularly play against each other on their respective minor ball teams in Quyon, Shawville and Campbell’s Bay joined forces to form the junior Flyers’ team.
Kearns, along with Nick Armitage and Stephen Rusenstrom, led the team through weekly practices, two exhibition games against Gatineau, and a tournament in Kinburn, all in preparation for provincials.
“Over the past few years we have seen a growing interest in fastball among girls in our area,” Kearns explained. “We wanted to help build on that and create an opportunity for them to play together, develop their skills, and hopefully build a deeper love for the game”
The team placed fifth in Laval, winning their first game but losing the second and third.
“We got to learn so much by watching the other teams and also by making mistakes,” said Flyers player Grace MacKechnie of the tournament. At 15 years old, she’s been playing fast pitch with Shawville since she was 10.
She said she joined the Flyers’ because she realized an opportunity to play on an all-girls team didn’t come around often in the Pontiac.
“The girls on our team this year, we cheered a lot, we were really loud,” she said. “[The team] was really fun. It was a great group of girls. We’re all friends, we drew closer, and we had amazing coaches, and it was just a really great learning experience.”
Armitage said both he and Kearns, who both played fastpitch at a high level for nearly 20 years, were invested in bringing high-level ball back to the area.
“Our goal is simple: bring high-level competitive fast-pitch back to the area and create opportunities for the next generation of players,” he said.
“And we’re not stopping with the girls! A group of us is already looking at starting U13 and U15 boys’ provincial teams for next season.”
For her part, MacKechnie said she is keen to continue at the competitive level if the option is there.
