Midget Girls' Canadian Fast Pitch Championships
July 29 - August 5, 2001
Lashburn, Saskatchewan, Canada
The Party is Over
After approximately 14, 000 pitches in 68 games during the eight summer days in Lashburn, Saskatchewan, our tournament is officially closed.  We have talked to so many spectators attending our event this past week and they have told us there has never been a Canadian Championship like this one before and there likely will never be one again.  Time and again, visitors to our town told us that they appreciated the hospitality they experienced here.  Any doubts that a town of 700 or so could host a national event such as this were quickly erased.  In fact, Lashburn has raised the bar of excellence to a height that may be unrealistic for future hosts to meet.  (Good luck, Burnaby in 2002.)

How do we begin to thank the 400 volunteers who were responsible for the overwhelming success of this national tournament?  Under David Kerr and the rest of the National Hosting Committe's direction, the army of volunteers performed beyond the call of duty and did a job that cannot be adequately described.  From the gate people to the concession and food tent workers to the bat girls and boys and team hosts to the 50/50 sellers and ball runners to the security team and medical staff to field maintenance and office staff and those responsible for constructing the dugouts and scorer's booths to flag bearers and the banquet group and those responsible for preparing the diamonds and the grounds crew to the announcers and scorers and statisticians... congratulations on a job very well done and thanks very, very much.

As it turns out this was much more than a national ball tournament.  The Bluebird faithful were given a grand opportunity to gather together during the week to rehash old stories, to share a beverage with good friends and cherish and relive those memorable games of days gone by (including the 21 inning marathon).  Having this national event in Lashburn has rewarded in a sense, all of the Bluebird fans of yesterday who travelled across the country following their team year after year as tehy pursued a national championship.

Despite a rainy sky, the Opening Ceremonies produced golden moments when Doug Abrosimoff threw the traditional first pitch to Brenda Staniforth.  And as fate would have it, Brenda spotted Alf and Doris Bexfield (both instrumental in founding the original Bluebirds) behind home plate in the stands and asked if they would come forward and accept the game ball.  Those kinds of things happen for a reason.

The Bluebird game on Monday night against White Rock, B. C. produced more moments of magic that will never be forgotten by the players and coaches and every Bluebird fan in the crowd.  That victory was a gold medal performance and rekindled for those in attendance what Bluebird pride is all about.  The 2001 Bluebirds battled tenaciously all week and narrowly missed an opportunity to advance to the playoff round, but they will always cherish the magic of Monday night under the lights at the ball park in Lashburn.

The current edition of the Bluebirds should be proud as well.  The coaching staff shaped this team to be contenders.  They fought through adversity and the pressure of wanting to play well in front of their home fans.  Kristin Hildebrandt suffered an unfortunate accident only weeks prior to the national event and Shannon Weiman broke a bone in her foot during the tournament.  Kristin's story truly tugs at the heart because of her tremendous committment over the last two years, travelling hundreds of kilometres from Swift Current.  Despite her misfortune, she and Michelle Donald were the loudest cheerleaders on the Bluebird bench.  Tami Duhaime and Nicole Windsor have been back and forth from their respective home towns a countless number of times over the past five or six years or so.  This exemplifies the dedication of the Bluebirds.  We admired Lori Lypkie's athleticism and Holly Tarleton's determined work ethic.  Recent newcomers Thera Sullivan, Becky Reiber and Mandy Loy provided the added spark to propel this team.  Jolene Forbes thrilled the crowd this week with her towering home run.  The coaching staff did a masterful job of bringing in three players to compliment the roster.  Cherie Shoenberger, Susan Bobbitt and Carrie Simpson were exactly what the team needed to compete with the best in Canada.

Now that the tournament is over, Mike Donald can rest her cheering voice, Garv Fesyk can visit the golf course more often and Doug Abrosimoff can further contemplate his retirement.  Theresa Windsor won't have to worry about hits and errors in her scorebook for awhile.  Kay Tarleton, who has managed the Bluebirds in a professional manner over the past seven years, can relax and be a spectator at the Canada Games.  Thanks, Bluebirds, from all of us for a great year.

This past week has been much more than a ball tournament.  It has been a gathering of our community in so many different ways.  To be a part of this event has been tremendous.  Laughter was heard, tears of joy shared, old friendships revisited, and new memories made.  Who could ask for anything more.
The sun sets on The Midget Nationals 2001
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