Power gets bronzed

Penticton Power girls under-16 fastball team takes third at provincials

THERE WAS REASON  to smile for the Penticton Power under-16 girls fastball team. They earned a bronze medal during provincials in Chilliwack July 7.

THERE WAS REASON to smile for the Penticton Power under-16 girls fastball team. They earned a bronze medal during provincials in Chilliwack July 7.

Winning bronze for Penticton Power catcher Emma Reiter felt great.

It’s the first provincial medal in any sport for the member of the under-16 girls fastball team.

ā€œIt felt good to know we’re the third best team in the province,ā€ said Reiter of their feat in Chilliwack July 5 to 7. ā€œWe’ve never made it to provincials before. A really nice way to finish off the season.ā€

Head coach Jeff Korven, who was assisted by Ron Huston and Paul Kindel, said he’s happy with the finish considering where they started. Before the Power won the District 9 championship, they were a seventh-place team. The Power won all four round-robin games in Chilliwack to earn the top seed going into playoffs. They knocked off White Rock in their first game then faced the Kelowna Homers, who they beat to win the District 9 championship. The Homers were still added to the provincial championship as a 17th team, and bested the Power 5-1.

ā€œWe didn’t play well, we played OK,ā€ said Korven. ā€œThe whole tournament bats were silent and pitching kept us in, except the last two games.ā€

After losing to the Homers, the Power won their next three games.

ā€œThat’s really hard on your pitching staff,ā€ he said of playing consecutive games so close.

The Power then lost to the Gibson Crushers 14-10 to earn the bronze medal. The Crushers faced the Homers and edged them 6-5 for the gold medal.

When talking about the bronze medal game, Korven praised the efforts of pitcherĀ Tatiana Brazinha.

ā€œTatiana receives 10 gold stars,ā€ he said. ā€œThis girl, she pitched at 10 a.m. and went six innings, pitched at noon and 2 p.m.ā€

Between the 2 and 4 p.m. game Korven talked to her saying he felt she had done enough. It was time to leave it to the other girls but she still wanted to play. He was also impressed with Reiter, who played every inning except one.

ā€œThat’s a grinding position. I tried to pull her out,ā€ said Korven, who would have given Reiter the award for heart-and-soul player if one existed. ā€œShe is just a trooper. She just brings so much to the table.ā€

The Power coach said his group showed guts and courage for battling back the way they did.

ā€œGood pitching will beat good hitting every time,ā€ he said. ā€œI was very impressed with the way they played.ā€

The Power also participated in a skills challenge with Reiter,Ā Rebecca Livesey, Paisley Anderson, Dana Ingram and Madison Foster working together to take home a bronze inĀ an infield relay.

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