Slithering success: Squamish's Venom team bites back at softball provincials

Members of Squamish's Howe Sound Venom softball team are back home after a solid showing at the Softball BC Under-15 C Girls Provincial Championship this past weekend in Kelowna.

The team, coached by Carrie Aseltine, Chris McLaren, Ken Hall and Casey Armstrong, placed 7th overall. 

The Venom was among the top 17 teams across the province that competed at High Noon Park from July 7 to 9.

Aseltine tells The Squamish Chief that it was a hard-fought and nail-biting series. 

The Venom won their first game against Victoria's Lake Hill 12-3.  

After the game, Kelowna hosted the opening ceremony, followed by a skills competition. 

The Venom won the "Base Race Relay." 

Rylee MacDonald, Riley Armstrong, Danika Hutchinson and Olivia Sanchez were able to run the race — four laps around the bases — in 50.29 seconds, which was five seconds faster than the second-place team, Aseltine said. 

In their second game that day, the Venom came up just short against the Ladysmith Lightning, losing 7-10. 

But Aseltine said the Venom hit well as Kelsi Hall hit a triple and Avery Lang laid down a great bunt, but it wasn't quite enough.

 "It was a back-and-forth game, but the Lightning were able to hold back the ever-battling Venom," she said. 

The Quesnel Terrors were up next on Saturday morning. Venom players gave them a good battle but again came up short.   

The Terrors scored five runs in the last inning to beat Venom 10-17.

"Aliya Day was solid at the plate, Kiley McLaren made some excellent plays at third base and Rylee Dolmage pitched very well," Aseltine said. 

Next, the Venom played the Penticton Power under the sun and in 34 C temperatures. 

The Venom were able to get ahead and stay ahead for a 9-8 win.

Penticton scored three runs in the first inning and held Venom at bay until the third inning when Emma Morrisey got on base and started Venom on a roll, Aseltine recalled. 

After that, Venom kept picking away and scoring in each remaining inning. 

With the round-robin games complete, the Venom finished in 7th place. 

Next, the Venom played the second-place team, Kelowna Heat. Unfortunately, Venom lost 6-8.

"It was a nail-biter of a game,"  Aseltine said.

Kelowna scored first. The Venom answered back right away.

"The Venom fought hard and never gave up. Riley Armstrong pitched excellent. Sarah Dancy was great at second base too ... It was exciting,"  Aseltine said. 

Venom had one more chance to move on in the playoff round; they played Sunday against the Cache Creek Chaos, but came up a bit short, losing 9-8.

The Venom scored two runs in the first inning and stayed ahead of the strong-hitting Chaos, Aseltine said. 

 "Zoey Verloop and Emma Morrisey made some key catches in the outfield. Venom just couldn't hold the ever-attacking Chaos off,"

Looking back over the season, Aseltine was proud of the team. 

"Howe Sound Venom had an epic season. They played in four tournaments [and] won two gold medals, one silver and a bronze. Beat Northshore in the Provincial Playdowns to qualify for the provincials and came 7th in the U15C girls softball provincials. They had a season that won't soon be forgotten."