By Ashley Thompson
THE HANTS JOURNAL
NovaNewsNow.com
The West Hants Thunder peewee team managed to qualify for the Eastern Canadian Fastpitch Championships in Quebec on their own, but they need your help to get there.
“You don’t really think about fundraising because you don’t really know if you’ll get there or not. And then, all of a sudden, it’s ‘holy cow, we can go,’” said team manager, Tony Meehan. “We knew the potential was there, but (at provincials) it really shone through.”
The West Hants Thunder slid into second place, bagging silver medals at provincials in Sheet Harbour, Aug. 7-8, and earning a spot to compete in the Eastern Canadian Fastpitch Championships at the end of the month. The team beat out the Sheet Harbour Rockets and Trenton, but folded to East Hants in the championship game.
“Like a lot of ball teams, you find a way to win and pull it together. Having to play three huge games, they just ran out of gas on the end,” Meehan explained.
The 12 players competing in the tournament, coach Andrew Harvey, Meehan and Thunder fans were thrilled to learn that the first – and second – placed provincial teams would advance to Easterns.
Now, the players are looking to team up with local businesses and community members to raise enough money to join East Hants’ peewee team in Quebec, Aug. 27-29.
Meehan’s wife, Darlene, says parents and coaches are collaborating to initiate last-minute fundraising efforts – a bottle drive, donation stands and a car wash – and gain corporate sponsorship from business owners. She estimates the team will need $6,000 to cover travel costs for the tournament.
The Meehans say the 13 and 14-year-old players fought too hard to miss out on what, for some, may be their once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play in the well-lit grand stands.
When they’re not busy fundraising, team members will be at the ball field squeezing in extra practice time and potential exhibition games against East Hants to prepare for, what could be, their time under the lights.
Rhonda Kelly, one of three East Hants coaches, says her team hopes to see their friendly rivals, West Hants, at the championships.
“It’d be nice for Hants County and Nova Scotia to be represented by both East and West Hants.”
Kelly says all 13 players for East Hants are planning to compete in the Easterns, three of whom attended last year.
“We hope to be competitive with the other provinces. It’s hard to know what to expect from Quebec and Ontario,” she admits.
Even if her team does not bring home the gold, Kelly promises, all will not be lost.
“They’re a very good group of young boys; they’ve worked very hard and well together. It’s been a fun season for them.”
Individuals or companies interested in helping the West Hants Thunder make it to Quebec can contact Tony and Darlene Meehan at 757-1996.
