Softball isn’t an official sport yet, but students and coaches from 14 schools are working on that
Avery Inkster didn’t want to lose steam after seeing how many girls wanted to play on A.B. Lucas High School’s first-ever girls softball team.
The 16-year-old, who started last year’s team with her friend Amelia Baragar, didn’t give up. Not only did she get a full 20-member girls softball team for the Lucas Vikings, but their work inspired 13 other London high schools to start their own teams.
She said, “It was one of those fights where we said, ‘We’re not giving up.'” “We want this sport at our high school, and if other schools have it, why can’t we? If the boys can have a baseball team, so should we be able to play fastball.
The only problem is that the Thames Valley Regional Athletics (TVRA) council hasn’t officially recognized them as a sport yet. So, the girls didn’t get any money for gear, tournament fees, or team uniforms.
They took matters into their own hands and held a bake sale to raise money to help pay for things. They made more than $500, which paid for everything they needed for the season.
Not surprisingly, about 40 young women tried out for the team in March, and Inkster was able to find two coaches who set up seven tournaments against teams from other schools.
The sport is becoming more popular, says the coach
Lexi Webster, who is in the 9th grade, is one of the youngest people on the team. She played the sport in elementary school, and Webster was thrilled when she found out she could keep doing it in high school.
Webster said, “This is a huge deal.” “There are a lot of girls from my elementary school who are really excited to keep playing ball, and it’s so inspiring to be around girls who are older than me who are so encouraging.”
When the students asked math teacher Tara Wade and parent volunteer Cory Claypole to coach the teams, Wade said that the two couldn’t say no after seeing how hard the girls worked.
She said, “Just the girls’ determination—they really wanted this, and I could see that there was a need.”
This year, more girls are signing up to play fastball across the province. I think the sport is becoming more popular, and I think it will only get more popular in the years to come.”
Watch: A home run is hit by the Lucas girls softball team.
Claypole and Wade are working with coaches from other schools to get the TVRA to recognize softball. Wade said that if students keep showing interest in the sport, it won’t be long before it’s officially recognized.
“I think we have to jump through a few hoops, but I don’t think they’re any different from what boys baseball had to do a few years ago. “We’re trying to do things the right way because we want to be known,” she said.
Danika Eden, 16, joined the team because of how friendly everyone was. Eden said that she hopes the team will become known and grow over time.
“It’s the year 2023, and I think we should be recognized because we’ve all worked so hard,” Eden said.
Webster added, “We come here every day with smiles and energy, ready to go out there and give it our all.”
At their last tournament on June 7 in Woodstock, the Vikings will play East Elgin Secondary School and Lord Dorchester Secondary School.