SUBMITTED PHOTO BY KIM BRATVOLD
Maddison Perry, a member of the Thunder under-14 softball team, poses during team photo day earlier this year.
When it comes to being the only girl in the Grade 8/9 ball academy at Notre Dame School this fall, Madison Perry isn’t about to slow down.
Madison, who is 12 years old, states “I really enjoyed ball academy last year. It was fun and I wanted to get better at the sport. I improved a lot this past year and I have learned a lot about softball.” Madison started playing ball six years ago. Her mom and dad both play and she had been at the ball diamonds watching them since she was a toddler. Her younger sister Jorja also plays softball so in her family there is always someone willing to grab a glove and throw a ball around. Madison is working on being a strong catcher and Jorja a strong pitcher so they practice together in the backyard and have only broke one window so far.
When I asked how she feels about being the only girl registered for the academy this year she says “It makes me mad that there are not more girls. If more girls would register we could have more of a focus on softball. But I am happy that one of the academy coaches is female.” Amber Harnett along with head instructor Rob McDonnell provides instruction for baseball and softball academy students which includes mechanics of hitting, throwing, catching, pitching and fielding as well as skills and knowledge of the game.
“Amber has been a good mentor for me and has helped me in academy, get better at throwing and catching,” says Madison. “She even came to some of my games this spring to cheer me on which was great!”
Madison’s mom Randi says Amber’s mentorship has been one of the main reasons Madison is returning to the baseball academy. “Madison really appreciates the support she gets from Amber and she is developing life-long skills to play sports and be active when she gets older.”
Harnett was happy to hear Madison was returning to the academy program this year. “Madi is an absolutely fantastic role model for the younger girls to look up to in our community. I have no doubt she will continue to be a leader on and off the field, as she has such a positive spirit and encouraging good energy to her teammates and everyone around her. She is the type of individual who wants to continually improve her skills and knows that hard work and strong effort is what will take her to the top of her game.”
Three years ago when Madison played in the under-12 division there were only six or seven girls in that age group so the under-12 and under-14 divisions were combined so there could be three to four teams to play. This year in the under-14 age division they had enough girls registered to make three teams and the city of Brooks also had a team so they were able to play with four teams in the division.
“It’s exciting to see that slowly the sport is on a comeback and more girls are starting to play,” says Randi Perry. Highlights for Madison this year included hitting five home runs and playing rep summer ball with the Medicine Hat Thunder. They went to provincials in Lacombe and gained experience playing in a competitive provincial venue.
Creating opportunities and supporting young females to be active in physical activity and sport in the community is important. Last night the Medicine Hat Mavericks hosted a girl power night and featured two softball teams at the game and had two female athletes throwing the first pitches. It was a great opportunity to celebrate females in sport and female members of the Rattlers’ teams and Canada’s sledge hockey team were in attendance. You can bet Madison and her Thunder teammates were part of the night as well. Their team attended as a wrap up celebration to their great season.
As Madison says, “The best thing about softball is my teammates and how much fun we have!”
To learn more about FAME and how to become involved to advocate and support opportunities for females in sport and physical activity go to famemedicinehat.com.
Kimberlee Brooks is a Sport Dietitian with Alberta Sport Development Centre Southeast and is a Females in Action Moving and Empowering committee member. Email feedback to famemedicinehat@gmail.com or follow FAME on Facebook at FAME Medicine Hat.
