The Canada Summer Games are set for August 6-22 in Niagara, Ontario and a softball player from Boissevain is ready to represent her province.

Danika Nell is a 16 year old pitcher and one of three pitchers on Team Toba. She says the team was picked two years ago but the games in Niagara were postponed to this year so she says they’ve had lots of time to prepare.

“We kicked it into to high gear this year. Over this past winter we had a program where we were working out in Winnipeg. We had lots of training sessions for fielding, hitting and pitching and over the summer we’ve been going to the United States and playing in competitive tournaments and that’s really helped us bond as a team and come together.”

Nell who also hopes to contribute with her bat says they have a really solid line up and they’ll be one of the most prepared teams there.

“I’m one of three pitchers and obviously whatever the coaches want to do I’ll go in whenever they want and I’ll do the best I can. At the plate I’ll be hitting I hope” Nell said with a chuckle.

Danika Nell usually plays U17 ball so this will be a jump to the older age group. “It’s a big jump from club ball because this is U19 and lots of the girls I’ll be facing at Niagara some are in college already and lots have scholarships and these girls train all year. Club ball here is fun but it’s definitely different and we went to the states for that reason because those girls play year round there.”

Team Manitoba players know what teams to watch out for based on past success. The goal is to finish in the top two spots in your pool because then you go into double elimination in the play-off round and not just single.

Danika Nell says it’s a pretty cool thing going to the Canada Games and she’s looking forward to it but she’s also working to control her nerves. “I’m very nervous but really excited. I’ve trained hard and so has our whole team.”

“I’m ready to see what we can do out there.”

 

Manitoba's opening game is a tough one right off the start as they take on British Columbia Sunday morning.