Opening Ceremonies Information

2024 WESTERN CANADIAN U13 CHAMPIONSHIP

OPENING CEREMONY AGENDA

Thursday August 1, 2024 @ 6:30 pm

Ashley Neufeld Softball Complex (Boston Pizza Diamond)

805 Parker Blvd, Brandon MB

DIGNITARIES LINED UP ON 3^RD BASE LINE: enter thru 3^rd base dugout of BP diamond

Emcee: Mike Brolund

Anthem Singer: Stephanie Bessant

?MP Brandon-Souris Larry Maguire?

Minister of Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism and Brandon East MLA Glen Simard

Brandon-West MLA Wayne Balcaen

Sprucewoods MLA Grant Jackson

Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett

Western Canadian Softball Association Representative Marc Lyver

Softball Manitoba President Larry Giesbrecht

Westerns Host Committee Chair Bruce Luebke

Welcome to the inaugural 2024 U13 Western Canadian Softball Championship. We are excited to welcome all athletes, coaches, umpires, families, volunteers and fans of softball to our Wheat City!

These athletes, coaches and umpires have put in a lot of hard work to get here, and these 4 days of competition are sure to be a great watch!

Please join me in welcoming this year’s competing teams:

*Bag Piper (Don Taylor) begins playing*

*Navy League Cadet Corps #4 Stan Hewitt, with: Canada Flag, MB Flag, City of Brandon Flag, Treaty 2 Flag

*Followed by Bagpiper

SASKATCHEWAN BOYS: (2 Flag Bearers: Tenley Figol & Brynn Keller)

SK1: Prince Albert Astros

SK2: Parkland Wildcats

MANITOBA BOYS: (2 Flag Bearers: Briar Small & Piper Figol)

MB1: Cross Lake Red Sox

MB2: Cross Lake Warriors

MB3: Pimicikamak Wolves

BRITISH COLUMBIA GIRLS: (2 Flag Bearers: Surie Small & Emily Gillespie)

BC1: Tri-City Titans

BC2: Langley Extreme

BC3: Pride 2011

SASKATCHEWAN GIRLS: (2 Flag Bearers: Kinsley Robertson & Ava McAdam)

SK1: Moose Jaw Ice

SK2: Saskatoon Hustlers

SK3: Southeast Sun Devils

MANITOBA GIRLS: (2 Flag Bearers: Paisley Haggarty & Kaycelyn DeVlieger)

MB1: Interlake Phillies

MB2: Eastman Wildcats

HOST TEAM: WESTMAN MAGIC

And we can’t forget the Blue Crew, who will be keeping the games running and ensuring all rules are followed.

UMPIRES ENTER - line up on 1^st base line

Please welcome Stephanie Bessant, to begin our National Anthem.

Reading of the Treaty Land Acknowledgement: (by Emcee Mike Brolund)

The city of Brandon is built on the ancestral lands of the Dakota, Anishinaabe, Cree and Red River Metis and is within the bounds of Treaty 2 Territory. Today, Brandon is home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples.

Reading of the Softball Oaths:

Player’s Oath - Haleigh Cuvelier from Host Team, Westman Magic:

“On behalf of all the players, I vow to take part in the 2024 U13 Western Canadian Fastpitch Championship in accordance with its rules, accepting all decisions made by the umpires and officials and in competing with all our strength to win through sportsmanship for the glory of Canadian Softball and the honor of our teams.”

Coach’s Oath - coach Felix Casavant from Prince Albert Astros:

“On behalf of all the coaches, I vow to take part in the 2024 U13 Western Canadian Fastpitch Championship in accordance with its rules, accepting all decisions made by the umpires and officials and in competing with all our strength to win through sportsmanship for the glory of Canadian Softball and the honor of our teams.”

Umpire’s Oath - umpire Mason Twordik from Brandon, MB:

”In the name of all the umpires and officials, I swear that we shall officiate in the 2024 U13 Western Canadian Championship in Brandon, Manitoba with complete impartiality, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern it in the true spirit of sportsmanship."

Greetings from (3 min max each):

?MP for Brandon-Souris: Larry Maguire?

MLA for Brandon East and the Minister of Sport: Glen Simard

MLA for Brandon West: Wayne Balcaen

MLA for Spruce Woods: Grant Jackson

City of Brandon Mayor: Jeff Fawcett

WCSA Event Supervisor: Marc Lyver

Softball Manitoba President: Larry Giesbrecht

Westerns Host Committee Rep: Bruce Luebke

The Westman Magic AAA Softball Organization represents the southwest corner of Manitoba, with their home here, the Ashley Neufeld Softball Complex.

Last year, the decision was made to split off the Magic program from Softball Brandon - something that is common for AAA programs in Manitoba.

2024 marked the first year under the new system, and the four Magic teams are having an outstanding 2024 season.

The U19 Magic combined with the Winnipeg Lightning to form a single team. The team finished second at the Softball Manitoba U19 AAA Girls’ Championship in Winkler and are competing at the Softball Canada U19 Women’s Championship in Saskatoon this Week.

The U17 Magic finished 4^th at the Softball Manitoba U17 AAA Girls’ Championship, qualifying for next week’s Western Canadian U17 Girls’ Softball Championship in Port Alberni, British Columbia.

The U15 Magic captured the Softball Manitoba U15 AAA Girls’ Championship and will be heading to the Softball Canada U15 Girls’ Championships in Chateauguay & Ile-Perrot, Quebec from August 14-18.

And the U13 Magic are the Host Team for this inaugural Western Canadian U13 Championship after placing 5^th at last weekend’s Softball Manitoba U13 AAA Girls’ Championship.

Here to perform tonight’s ceremonial opening pitch, please welcome the Most Outstanding Player from the Softball Manitoba U15 AAA Girls’ Championship, Paige Rampton, and the first president of the Westman Magic Softball Organization, Robin Rampton…

Let’s play ball!

(Teams will leave diamond in reversed order)

Game featuring host team, Westman Magic vs. Saskatoon Hustlers to follow

Order of procession into BP Diamond: