They Are in Calgary. The Banquet Is Done. Wednesday Afternoon They Open Against the Best Team in BC. The Haldimand Heat Are Ready.
The Haldimand Heat 09 are in Calgary.
The plane has landed. The banquet is done. The final practices are complete. And in a matter of hours, one of the most decorated U17 programs in British Columbia is standing between them and the start of what could be the greatest week in Haldimand County softball history.
Later this afternoon at 3:00 PM Eastern, 1:00 PM Calgary time, the Heat open pool play at Shouldice Athletic Park against BC1 Central Saanich Extreme. The top ranked team from British Columbia. A program that just went 7-0 at the BC Provincial Championship, scored 61 runs, allowed only 13, hit 14 home runs, and won their title with a walk-off grand slam.
That is who Haldimand County is sending the Heat out to face first.
Good. This team would not want it any other way.
The Road That Brought Them Here
The path to Calgary was not a straight line and it was not clean. It was earned over a long summer of competition, setbacks, and moments that revealed exactly what this group is made of.
The Canadian Qualifier opened in Windsor on July 3rd with a 13-4 loss to the Vikings. It was not the first time those two teams had met. The Vikings had beaten the Heat earlier in the season too. They had the Heat's number and they showed it.
But the Heat went 3-1 the rest of the way in Windsor and when the tournament was rained out on Sunday and the weekend left unresolved, they went home, stayed sharp, and waited for the call.
Tuesday night in Guelph they beat the Gators 10-0. Clinical. Dominant. Ready.
Wednesday night in Vaughan they walked back onto the diamond to face the Vikings. The same team that beat them 13-4 just five days earlier. The Heat jumped out 10-2 and held on for a 10-7 victory when Vaughan tried to climb back.
A team that had beaten them by nine runs on a Friday. The Heat beat them in Vaughan on a Wednesday when everything was on the line.
That is what this team is built on. They learn. They adjust. They deliver.
What the Coach Knows
Greg Courneyea has watched this group grow all season. He knows exactly what they are capable of and he knows exactly what it will take this week in Calgary.
"We have prepared by staying true to what has gotten us here. The players have put in the work, embraced the details, and continued to grow as a group. We know we are going up against some outstanding programs from across the country but we also know we have earned the opportunity to be here."
That phrase is worth sitting with. They have earned the opportunity to be here. Not given it. Not stumbled into it. Earned it over 48 games and an entire summer of competition.
When you ask Coach Courneyea what gives him confidence heading into pool play, his answer says everything about what makes this group different.
"What gives me confidence is this group's resilience, their commitment to each other, and their willingness to compete every pitch and every at bat. If we play our game, stay disciplined, and trust the process, we believe we can challenge anyone in our pool."
On what it will take to advance out of a pool that features teams from British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Alberta, he is equally clear.
"At this stage of the season every team has earned the right to be here so we expect every game to be a challenge. Each province brings a different style of play and that is what makes a national championship so exciting. We have done our homework but our biggest focus is on ourselves. If we stay disciplined, compete for 7 innings, and execute our game we will give ourselves a chance in every game. To advance we will need a consistent effort from everyone on the lineup card, disciplined at bats and the ability to handle momentum swings. If we stick together and play the way we are capable of we will put ourselves in a position to move on."
The Pitcher Who Sets the Tone
Ella Courneyea is on the mound for the Heat this week and the mindset she carries into every start could not be clearer.
"Everything is earned, not given. We know every team at Nationals has worked hard to get here but at the same time we trust the work we have put in all year. My mindset going into that first game is to stay present, compete one pitch at a time, and earn every out, every inning, and every win. I am not focused on the name on the back of the jersey but on playing softball for the name on the front."
Not the name on the back. The name on the front.
When she steps onto that mound Wednesday afternoon in Calgary representing Haldimand County on the national stage, she knows exactly what she is there for.
"Standing on the mound representing Haldimand County at Nationals is something I am really proud of. In that moment I am thinking about trusting my preparation and attacking every hitter with confidence. My focus is on competing for the girls behind me, giving my team the best chance to win, and controlling what I can control. Every game is an opportunity to lead by example, stay composed under pressure, and help set the tone for my team."
The Bond That Makes Them Dangerous
Maggie Gibson has been in the middle of this team all season and when you ask her what it means to be in Calgary right now, the answer goes well beyond softball.
"I think to be on this plane heading out west is crazy to me. We worked so hard throughout winter, spring, and summer to get here. We have battled all season. Every single player on our team has contributed by staying up on the bench or getting their moment when they get called to pinch hit and getting the job done."
Every player. Not just the starters. Not just the top of the order. Every person in that dugout has had a moment this season where they were called on and delivered.
"Every person on our team plays a special role and consistently proves to everyone why we should be going to Calgary."
And what is this team going out there to do?
"This team can do amazing things. We are such a close team. The bond we have with one another is something like no other. We are going there to compete, gas pedal down, playing every game like it is our last. We have some tough competition but if we go out there having fun I know for a fact we can make something happen for us down there."
A close team that trusts each other completely. A team that has been through Windsor and Guelph and Vaughan together and come out the other side stronger every time. That is the hardest kind of team in the world to beat when the stakes are highest.
The Community Behind Them
Getting a team to a national championship takes more than players and coaches. It takes an entire community.
Coach Courneyea made sure that did not go unacknowledged.
"This trip truly has been a community effort. We would not be heading to Calgary without the incredible support we have received from our families, volunteers, local businesses, sponsors, and service clubs throughout Haldimand County and surrounding area."
He singled out one person by name.
"I would especially like to recognize Joe Feeney, whose support, generosity, and commitment to our program have played a significant role in helping make this trip possible."
For those who follow Hometown Sports Network, Joe Feeney is a familiar name. A volunteer with the Jarvis Lions Club who maintains the diamonds, supports the umpires, and gives back to local sport in ways most people never see. His fingerprints are on this team's journey whether anyone in Calgary knows it or not.
Coach Courneyea was not done.
"Along with Joe, everyone who has contributed through fundraising, donations, or simply showing up to cheer us on has meant the world to our players and staff. I would also like to thank all of the volunteers who have given their time behind the scenes. Those contributions often go unnoticed but they are a huge part of why we are here. We are proud to represent Haldimand County on the national stage and we hope we can make everyone back home proud of the way we compete and carry ourselves throughout the tournament."
The way they carry themselves. Not just how they play. How they carry themselves.
That is a program that has built something beyond wins and losses.
The Schedule
Pool play runs through Friday July 31 at Shouldice Athletic Park in Calgary. Championship Sunday is August 2nd.
Wednesday July 29: BC1 Central Saanich Extreme at 3:00 PM Eastern, SK3 at 8:15 PM Eastern
Thursday July 30: QC1 Équipe Québec U17 at 4:30 PM Eastern, NB Selects at 9:00 PM Eastern
Friday July 31: BC3 RM Pride at 2:30 PM Eastern, AB3 Camrose Crossfire at 7:00 PM Eastern
Follow along on GameChanger for live scoring and stats. Hometown Sports Network will be sharing any live stream links we are tagged in on our Facebook and Instagram pages as they become available.
Haldimand County, this is your team. They are 35-11-2 on the season. They earned every one of those wins. They beat a team that had beaten them twice when everything was on the line just to get here. They flew to Calgary as Ontario 3 with something to prove and a community behind them that made the trip possible.
They open this afternoon against the best team in British Columbia.
They are ready.
Gas pedal down.
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