“Going down there and winning it all is our game plan,” says 100 Mile N’ Hour U16 fastball coach Reg Hooper.
After plowing through the competition and winning gold at the Surrey Fastball Championship on July 2-3, the team is ready to make its first ever outing to the BC Summer Games on July 21-24.
“The team put on a stellar performance,” says Hooper.
The first four round-robin games against Cloverdale, Kamloops, Surrey and Smithers all ended with resounding victories for 100 Mile House.
Three of those games ended in mercy victories.
Most Valuable Players for 100 Mile House were Logan Parent, Warren McNabb, Hayden Prodnuk and Ryan Allen.
The intensity continued into the playoff games with a 15-0 win over Surrey, a 5-3 loss to Richmond and a 15-8 victory against Fleetwood.
The final game against Richmond ended in an 8-1 mercy with 100 Mile House taking home the gold.
Despite this achievement, the players are still focused on improving their game leading up to the Summer Games.
Hooper attributes playing in 100 Mile House Men’s Fastball League as a key in how the team has grown and improved as a whole.
“It has been a good building experience. Playing in the Men’s League has helped [the team] with its development.”
The U16 squad won its first Men’s League game on June 2 against Exeter Sporting Goods, 7-6.
They went on to win four games in a row. The team finished fourth in the Men’s League standings.
The U16 team also competed in a double header against the U19 Big Guy League Blazers from Prince George on May 29.
While U16 lost both games, the experience the players gained was invaluable, says Hooper. Their performance was even commended by the U19 coaching staff.
“They were a tough team with a good pitcher,” assistant coach Mike Sutton noted. “They played a good game of ball.”
The U16 team has competed in several tournaments across the British Columbia Interior with the latest being the Surrey Provincials last weekend.
Another achievement the team can add to its accolades was scoring 45 combined runs against the Kamloops Summer Games team on June 18 in 100 Mile House.
The double header exhibition ended with two resounding victories for 100 Mile, with the scores being 17-1 and 28-2.
“Our team is pretty strong now,” says U16 player Warren McNabb.
“We did well against the Kamloops team, so I’m looking forward to seeing how we do at the Summer Games.”
After the Summer Games, the Westerns await in Saint Albert, Alberta on July 29.
For some players, such as Spencer Edle, the excitement of playing in the Summer Games is above anything else.
“I’m really excited. It’s something [the team] hasn’t experienced before. I’m nervous as well, so we need to be prepared.”
Being prepared is at the top of Hooper’s priority list. Never one to shy away from helping his players improve, Hooper says he is committed to making his team stronger and more efficient.
“It all depends on how we come together as a team. We want to improve our hitting before we go. It’s key to our performance. It has to be contagious by the time we get there.”
Amongst necessary skill-building and practices, team morale is another aspect Hooper says is vital to the team’s performance.
“Our team attitude is something that needs to be at its prime. This is a mental game and we always want to stay on the positive side of the spectrum.”
While Hooper wants the team to be at its peak, he is also acknowledges his players have shown great progress since the beginning of the season.
“[The team] is well rounded. Our offence and speed are our strongest assets.”
With the Summer Games one week away, the U16 team will continue to improve in anticipation for the coming competition.
Above all, the players are grateful to be a part of the event and eagerly await it.
“I’m excited,” says U16 player Lane Paddison.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
