Summer brings the sounds of kids playing in the local parks where we hear the call of “safe or out” by the many umpires that are a huge part to the game.
We have Delta fast-pitch teams hit the diamond’s at Softball City take part in the world renown Women’s Championship at Softball City adjacent to the South Surrey Arena, home for the BCHL Surrey Eagles.
One event finishes and it seems like another starts and with Delta teams involved, it’s like they play all year long making it an extended season.
I am hearing that some players, but not all traveled to Port Hardy located on the northern tip of Vancouver Island to enhance the level of the game, possibly find hidden talent with some of First Nations youngsters living in and around Port Hardy.
With sports growing in all areas of the Province let’s not forget that pro level players come from small-town Canada and one from Northern
Vancouver Island is former Canuck player Willie Mitchell.
The Delta players were part of the team that were fortunate enough to win a U-16 Canadian Championship last year ago as well as managing to have a third place finish this year at the U-19 National Championship.
Head Coach Fred Wells and hockey player is in charge of the 140 Sports Association and is joined by both Doug Harris and Dave Rally.
These three individuals have been coaches in the community for several years and understood the importance to establish this not-for-profit organization.
The concept was derived from the YES (Youth Empowerment Skills) program they previously ran that had several of the 2001 Heat attended those clinics about a decade ago.
Currently have 140 mentors for the program who gives a younger or less experienced individual help and advice over a specific time period who will be running September sessions at the South Delta Recreation Centre.
They have been fortunate to have some younger players sign up to help get the word out to those willing to listen to the message.
Coach Fred Wells mentions “Both my daughters suffered from depression and anxiety and both played high level sports fortunate enough to have played on teams where the girls were popular.”
The trip to Port Hardy was planned after the initial 140 project donated equipment and old uniforms to which Fred had recently been made aware of two recent teen suicides in the area causing him to reach out to the Gwa’sala-Nakwaxda’xw Band Manager.
If you’ve never been to Port Hardy, it’s quite different and unique from the local Delta experience and to the shock of many they quickly learned that life in Port Hardy was without any reception for their cell phones.
In addition to this shock organization in small town Canada quite often goes with no community organized teams, so the baseball season basically consists of kids and parents joining to to play a combined slo-pitch game.
Not too surprisingly as organized as they were their very first session failed to get off the ground until hours later when they managed to round-up enough and it wasn’t just for the young as age had no bounds, nor did gender.
The bonding trip was an experience that managed to bring 140 mentors closer that included 11-year-old Katie Barczi.
The Gwa’sala-Nakwaxda’xw Band showed their overall appreciation and held a potlatch for their the group from Delta that featured dancing and lot’s of food.
It’s reported that another trip could be planned as they have their sights set on a trip to the Merritt area next year, with no timeline set at press time.
We wish them all the best and for many this is an experience they will never forget!!
