Two Ponoka sisters helped their fast pitch team win silver at this year’s North American Indigenous Games (NAIG).
The two proud, First Nations athletes, Sarah (18) and Camryn (15) were able to be part of Team Alberta and represent the province in Toronto, Ont. recently for NAIG 2017.
Apart from the memories, the two gained valuable experience from the trip. Camryn, who is a catcher, had some trepidation considering she is quite a bit younger than the other athletes.
However, Sarah says she is more than capable at competing at this level.
“It was life changing to be completely honest,” added Sarah of the experience, who is a pitcher.
The team they lost to was Team Saskatchewan, who also defeated Team Alberta in the round robin prior to getting to finals.
The score ended at a 6-2 loss. Sarah says their opponents capitalized on bases loaded early on in the first half of the game. Once Team Alberta started to rally, it was too late to make any headway.
Sarah pitched the round robin game against Saskatchewan and then was on base in the final game. For the latter, Sarah says she just did her best to support the pitcher.
The other two teams that Alberta played were Ontario and Nova Scotia where they easily won.
For both athletes, being able to take part in the NAIG 2017 games, where Indigenous athletes from all over North America compete, was eye-opening and something they are both proud of.
“It was just great to meet other people who shared the same interest and background as you,” added Camryn.
She hopes to be able to return for the 2020 games with her younger sister Olivia. All the siblings have a strong love of the game of fast pitch.
Sarah is taking her fast pitch skills and has earned an athletic scholarship to a college in Nebraska. Camryn offered her goal is to follow in her sister’s footsteps.
