The under 19 (U19) Women’s Fast Pitch National Championship is happening for the first time on Vancouver Island this week.
This national competition comes to Vancouver Island at a time when a newly formed local team known as ‘Beacon Hill Glory’ is playing hard to make their mark within the league.
Maddie Kulmala, a player with Beacon Hill Glory, was excited to be a part of this high-level tournament so close to home.
“It means a lot because it means, you know, I have never been to a national championship before and just being able to compete against the best people in Canada with the best coaches means a lot,” said Kulmala.
She added that being able to share this special competitive moment with her colleagues is a great way to send her off to her professional college fast pitch career, thanks to a scholarship at a college in Nebraska.
Beacon Hill Glory has been trying to change the coaching landscape for young women who want to compete in a higher level of fast pitch. The team currently consists of an all female coaching staff, something that that hasn’t been done at this level of competition in B.C. before.
Allie Pellizzaro is a highly decorated fast pitch player who decided to join Glory when the organization became official. Pellizzaro is hopeful that having an all female coaching lineup will truly inspire the younger generation.
“Just having that representation for these young girls on the Island to have somewhere to play that has some female leadership is a big deal and something that made me want to be a part of the Glory program,” said Pellizzaro.
The national championship is taking place at the Centennial Park in Langford until Aug. 6.
Tchadas Leo
