Women ready to build on experience for next year
14 Wing Greenwood’s men’s slo-pitch team are Atlantic region ’24 champs, heading to the Canadian Armed Forces’ nationals in September.
“Their ability to maintain focus and composure under pressure,” says team coach Sergeant Thomas Bertrand, was this team’s “standout quality.
“The team showcased outstanding strategic thinking and adaptability during the tournament, ensuring every player had an impact on the game. We constantly adjusted our game plan, analyzed our opponents’ strengths and weaknesses, and made tactical decisions that ultimately led to team success.”
The men opened their regional tournament in Shearwater July 23 against the Halifax Mariners, taking an 8-5 win. Player-of-the-game was Corporal Matt Gervais. They played two games July 24: the first was a 13-11 win over Gagetown – but not without a scary, starting 8-0 scoring run from Gagetown. Bertrand, playing at left centre fielder, threw out a Gagetown runner at third on a catch by Corporal Matt Gervais to end the Gagetown push, and Master Corporal Matt Martin hit a three-run inside-the-park home run to narrow the Gagetown lead to 8-7. Martin took MVP honours. In the day’s second game against 12 Wing Shearwater, Greenwood came out strong and kept going, with an early-ending, 17-1 win. MVP for Greenwood was pick-up Sergeant Larry Normore, with 9 Wing Gander’s 103 Squadron.
Greenwood finished the round robin 3-0, into the first vs second place semi as the first-place team. That game, July 25 against Gagetown, was an 18-3 win, with “massive contributions up and down the line-up,” Bertrand said: the entire roster was named game MVP.
“The team’s exceptional camaraderie and cohesion were instrumental in our success. We displayed a strong sense of unity, mutual support and trust in each other, which created a positive team dynamic and fostered a winning mentality. The players’ ability to rally around each other during tough times and lift each other up was key to victory.”
That all carried into the July 26 final, against the Halifax Mariners, which ended in a 10-1 win and the Atlantic region title. Greenwood’s Sergeant Trevor Parkes earned the final game’s MVP honours.
“The team demonstrated exceptional resilience, determination and teamwork throughout this year’s regionals,” Bertrand said. “Despite encountering numerous deficits in the opening game and the semi-finals, the team never lost sight of their goal, competing until the last out and going undefeated.”
Canadian Armed Forces nationals take place at CFB Borden September 22 to 27, with a practice day September 23, leading into opening ceremonies at 8:45 AST September 24. 14 Wing’s men are on the field against the Quebec regional winner at 11 a.m. AST and again at 3:30 p.m. AST, against the Ontario region winner. September 25, they open the day’s play with a 9:30 a.m. AST game against the regional winner of Canada West. Play-offs start that afternoon, leading into the 3 p.m. AST final September 26. CAF Sports will livestream the semi-finals and finals at youtube.com/channel/UCK-gT1gv388MILmhoZgeqGQ
Atlantic men’s roster
Greenwood – Sergeant Thomas Bertrand, coach; Warrant Officer Alain Chalifoux, coach; Sergeant Trevor Parkes, Warrant Officer Christopher Green, Sergeant Cory Lefort, Sergeant John Veitch, Sergeant Matthew MacKenzie, Corporal Matthew Gervais, Aviator Thomas Ralston, Corporal Micheal Vance, Sergeant Shannon Green, Corporal Marius Robichaud-Gallant
Gander – Sergeant Larry Normore
Gagetown – Warrant Officer Ghislain Vautour
Halifax – Sergeant Darren Bell
Enthusiasm to learn, grow, build carries women through regionals
14 Wing’s women’s team worked from the ground up this season, with the loss of a number of experience players, the unavailability of returning players – and the addition of several newcomers to the game. With word-of-mouth and a solid recruiting effort, coach Master Corporal Matt Martin says “12 incredibly dedicated and eager women” were ready to represent Greenwood.
The women opened July 23 with a 20-0 learning-curve match-up against the combined Formation team (CFB Halifax and 12 Wing Shearwater). Greenwood MVP was shortstop Corporal Megan Desmarais. In a same-day afternoon game, Greenwood put seven runs on the board in a 24-7 loss to Gagetown. Greenwood MVP was second base’s Aviator Sarah Bradfield.
After a day off, the women were back on the field July 25 in a must-win rematch against Gagetown. They did a lot of work through the game, not fully reflected in the 23-8 final score, knocking them out of contention. MVP was the entire team, for guts and game improvement.
“Although we may have lacked experience, the team’s enthusiasm to learn and improve every day more than made up for it,” said Martin. “While the scoreboard may not reflect it, the team’s performance and growth were truly impressive.
“We look forward to building on this valuable experience and hitting the field ready and hungry to compete in 2025.”
