Medicine Hat Thunder pitcher Mia Kelly delivers a strikeout pitch during her team's Softball Alberta U19B championship tournament game against the River City Hornets on Friday at the Moose Community Ball Complex. -- NEWS PHOTO RYAN MCCRACKEN
rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com@MHNMcCracken
The Medicine Hat Thunder came up just short in their bid for provincial glory on Saturday night at the Moose Community Ball Complex.
After rallying for three straight victories to force their way into a playoff tiebreaker, the Thunder fell shy of the Softball Alberta U19B championship’s final four with a 7-4 loss to the Central Alberta Extreme.
“The team played hard and almost completed the comeback,” Thunder coach Scott Kelly said in a message to the News. “Kenny King was game MVP and had two key RBI in the game. Jade Forsyth and Mia Kelly had huge defensive plays keeping the home squad in reach of the win.”
The Thunder opened their tournament with a 17-2 loss to the Elnora Eagles Pennock on Friday before rebounding with a 14-4 win over the River City Hornets that evening, then a 6-4 victory over Calgary Westhill and an 8-6 win over the Edmonton Warriors Saturday.
Kelly added a nod to the team’s five graduating players – Kenny, Brooke and Maddy King, Kennedy Lanigan and Makayla Clarke – who played a key role in the team’s success over the better part of a decade.
“This age group wouldn’t have created the memories or inspired the younger age groups without their dedication and great representation of the Thunder jerseys,” said Kelly. “Thanks to players, families and the associations for their efforts over the years, and especially through this provincials experience. In two weeks, we’ll be cheering on the U14 Thunder.”
The Eagles went on to win the provincial U19B championship with a 14-8 victory over the Irma Tigers in Sunday’s final. The Eagles went an undefeated 6-0 at the tournament, outscoring opponents 87-19 in the process.
The action returns with the Softball Alberta U14B championships, Aug. 13-15 at the Moose Community Ball Complex.
