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By Ashley Lavallee-Koenig

AUGUST 7-11 IN BLACKFALDS

Women’s Fast Pitch championship returns to Alberta for first time since 1999

Aug 6, 2024 | 11:02 AM

For the first time in 25 years, Alberta will host the 2024 Women’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship.

“I’m very excited to offer the teams from across Canada to see what Alberta is, because it hasn’t been here in so long, to come and explore; not just to play ball but to see our diverse tourism here, beautiful scenery. It’s just very exciting,” says Trudy Haraldson, president of the Red Deer Ladies Fastball Association and host chair of the 2024 championship.

The tournament takes place in Blackfalds from August 7-11 at the Sterling Industries Sports Park thanks to a bid by the Red Deer Ladies Fastball League.

“Blackfalds has the state-of-the-art diamond facilities for central alberta. A little town, but a lot of punch. We’ve hosted many tournaments out there; the facility is great with four diamonds right on site, there’s a campground on site, playground, concession.” says Haraldson, “They’ve taken really good care of their park. The maintenance people out there do an excellent job grooming; they just upgraded their backstops, their dugout, they just put some new shale down. They’re continuing to always put time and effort into their facility.”

In addition to Red Deer’s N. Jensen’s Bandits, there will be teams from Calgary, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick.

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“Softball Canada is very excited for the Women’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship to return to Alberta for the first time since 1999. Trudy Haraldson and her local organizing committee have done a tremendous job preparing for this event, and we are looking forward to a fantastic event in a few short weeks,” says Gilles LeBlanc, operations manager with Softball Canada.

He says there is no particular reason the event has not returned to Alberta until now.

Haraldson adds, that while this is an important moment for Alberta, it’s important for women’s sports as a whole as well.

“Women’s sport is growing and the community needs to realize that females can play sport just as well as a male; we need to recognize that throughout the world. I just want the young girls to know that you can keep playing at any age as long as your body allows you to,” she says.

The public is welcome to attend the event, and tickets are available at the gates. Children 12 and under are free.

• One-week pass: $60 regular price, $40 for teens and seniors.
• Day pass: $20 regular price, $15 for teens and seniors.
• Weekend pass: $30 regular price, $25 for teens and seniors.

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