The girls U16B team, The Sooke Sox, hosted and represented Vancouver Island on August 7 to 10 in Duncan B.C. It had been over 30 years since a girls’ team from Sooke had gone to the Western Championships let alone host it here on the island! There were two teams from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia for a grand total of nine teams in the Championships.
The girls practiced hard and the excitement grew as August 7 was just around the corner. The team played a six-game round robin, playing against every team other than B.C. Their first game was against Manitoba at nine in the morning, which meant early rising for the team as they made their way to Duncan. The girls pulled off a win with the final score being 16-12 after going into international tie-breaker rules.
It was a very proud and emotional moment for the team and parents to make a comeback and win the game. With only winning one game the girls ended the Championships in seventh place and ending their six-month season with a total of 66 games (or so), many tournaments, Provincials, and Western Championships. What a way to represent Sooke!
As a player from the Sooke Sox, I would like to thank the team, coaches, and parents for making this the best and most rewarding ball season I have ever experienced. It is such an honour to have been a part of such a hardworking and dedicated team!