Two North Okanagan teams will take on the province's best as the Vernon Minor Fastball association hosts the B.C. U20C girls championships July 4-6, with all tournament games being played at Grahame Park (Fulton Secondary School).
There will be 15 teams competing for the provincial championship, including the Enderby Storm and the host Vernon Vortex.
"Games start Friday at 8 a.m. The round-robin wraps up Saturday, and the playoffs begin Saturday at 6:30 p.m.," said Kara Blazek, Vernon Minor Fastball president.
The gold-medal game will take place Sunday, July 6, at 6 p.m.
The Vortex and Storm are the only two U20 teams in District 9, so each were given automatic berths to the provincials, as was the Kamloops Khaos, the only U20 squad in District 11.
The other teams competing are the North Langley Red Sox; Abbotsford Tsunami; New Westminster Royals; West Kootenay Rebels (Trail-Rossland-Castlegar-Salmo-Fruitvale-Montrose); North Shore Bears (North/West Vancouver); Fleetwood Rebels (Surrey); Fleetwood Lightning (Surrey); Langley Flames; Alberni Valley Blazers (Port Alberni); RMMSA Chaos (Ridge Meadows Minor Softball Association); RMMSA Dynamite (Ridge Meadows); and Coquitlam Cyclones.
Vernon is coached by John Blazek (head coach) and Scott Flood (assistant). Players include Madison Blazek, McKayla Bonneau, Riley Brisson, Lila Daniels, Eva Gallo, Shia Linford, Lucy McKenzie, Shaefer Moorlag, Charlie Movold, Reanne Muller, Taylor Palm, Lily Roberts, Lexi Thiessen, and Aryanna Wilson.
Enderby has only two players who are at the U20 age level. The rest of the team is made up of U17 players, based on birth year. The team roster includes Victoria Bixby, Zoe Crocker, Shyla Dale, Teagan Deneault, Nevaeh Drake, Peyton Golz, Isabella Haak, Averi Johnston, Sydney Lee, Rachel Scott, Savannah Siemens, Aubrie Smith, Mikayla Wiebe, and Erica Williamson.
Michael Haak is Enderby's head coach, with James Michalchuk and Kate McCune serving as assistants.
The Storm hope to continue Enderby Minor Fastball's recent run of medals at provincial finals.
Enderby won back-to-back provincial championships at the U15 level in 2023 and 2024 (Kamloops won gold in 2022 at U15).
The U17 squad hosted the 2024 provincials in Enderby, and won silver.
