Warkentine set to join Kihn at Valley City

Another softball player from the region is heading south to pursue a post-secondary career.

Landmark’s Kelsey Warkentine will be playing for the Valley City Vikings beginning next season. The graduating player was named the Jean Mayne Memorial Award Winner as the top female softball player in the province for 2025, helping the U17 Eastman Wildcats to a provincial championship.

La Broquerie’s Pascale Kihn joined Valley City last year, so Warkentine had the inside scoop on what the program was like.

“It’s a very small school, their coaches are very nice, it’s the right level for me I feel like,” Warkentine said.

“Pascale’s there and we’ve been playing forever together.”

It’s a huge leap for a player who thought her playing days might be behind her.

“Before this year I would have said, ‘I’m not going to the states, I’m not going to play softball, I’m going to move on and go to school here at (the University of Manitoba) and go from there,’” Warkentine said.

“Pascale’s coach texted me and I got an offer. I was like ‘hey, this could be a good goal for me.’”

Warkentine credits her parents for keeping her motivated through her career.

“When I wouldn’t want to pitch, they would tell me to go pitch,” she said, laughing.

“Softball has always been the sport. It’s always been the one that I liked. I played volleyball, I played hockey, I had my own little stretch of badminton, but softball has always been the thing. I can control (the game) from the mound and it’s just such a mentality… It’s just so much fun and I just never want it to stop.”

Warkentine will be playing U19 this year, with the Eastman Wildcats fielding a co-op team with the Manitoba Angels this season for the age group.

The late decision meant a potentially relaxing off-season was turned on its head for Warkentine, who spent her winter training on the family farm. She’ll be taking agri-business at Valley City.

“I’m working way harder now,” Warkentine said.

“U19 is a lot less commitment, but I actually have to try (now)… I’ve been too comfortable, now I have to get out of that zone and work even harder.”

Jean Mayne worked in softball in Manitoba for over 30 years, serving as the province’s minor chairperson for six years before getting voted in as president in 1984. She represented Manitoba at many national meetings over the years and was given a lifetime membership before her death in 1987.