Braves strike early to claim Zone 13 softball title
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St-Joachim/Réal-Bérard Braves are the 2025 AA Varsity Girls Softball Zone Champions and will be heading into provincials.
“Let’s not get shut down,” a Landmark player said from their bench before the game started.
The Braves won against the Landmark 96ers 11-1 on Wednesday, May 21.
The Braves have an all-Kihn batter, with sisters Lola (pitcher) and Pascale (catcher) setting the pace early. All three 96ers batters struck out in the first inning.
“We got on them right away,” said Pascale. “Coming in we knew we had a strong team, and we could win, but it’s still a surreal moment.”
Pascale, grade 12, plays with her younger sister, Lola, grade nine.
“It’s fun because we know each other better than anybody else pretty much because we’re sisters, so that dynamic of bringing that in the field is pretty cool,” said Pascale. “It works really well in the diamond.”
Pascale and Lola were born three years apart, meaning this is the only season where they will be playing together for their school.
“It’s awesome that we finally get to play. It just sucks that it can only be for one year. It’s bittersweet,” said Pascale. “But the fact that it’s only one year makes it so much better because you can savour it and enjoy the moment.”
With the zone title secured, Pascale is set on what’s next — provincials.
“Going in (to provincials) I’m feeling confident,” said Pascale “I think we can definitely do some damage.”
The Braves’ were zone champions in 2022, 2024 and now 2025.
“We’ve had a softball team for four years and we’ve won it three times,” said Lola. “It’s special for us. It’s something that we work for.”
Pat Tétrault has been coaching the team for three years.
“We are going in with a little bit of confidence in the provincials. Obviously we’ll probably be an underdog,” said Tétrault, Braves’ head coach.
He said their goal is to win a medal in the provincials or at least to be competitive while playing against the province’s top teams.
“Let’s shut them down,” said Tétrault to the team during the game.
The Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association provincial softball championships are on May 30-31 at Stonewall.