U16 Stittsville Competitive Girls Tryouts - November 1 and 8

The Stittsville 56ers have announced their tryouts for their U16 (athletes born prior to 2004) girls bantam II Fastball team. The team will compete in the Provincial Women’s Softball Association qualifier tournament (July 26-28) and the provincial championships (August 8-11).

Tryouts are November 1 and 8 from 8 to 10 pm at Stittsville Public School. Athletes need to register and pay the $10 try out fee (to cover gym costs and insurance) online with the Stittsville organization here (http://www.stittsvillesoftball.org/site/ClientSite/article/826492) and complete the athlete information form online here (https://goo.gl/forms/XPXV34HiD0w0qBEC3). 

The team has a dedicated coaching staff that is committed to maximizing local competitive opportunities for female athletes and improving individual athlete skills. The coaching staff is a dedicated team of volunteers - none of whom have children who will be trying out for the team. We welcome all athletes who are willing to travel to west Ottawa for practices and games to try out for the team. Any questions about the team or tryouts can be directed to Erin Durant at edurant@blg.com.

The 2019 coaching staff bios can be found below:

Erin Durant, Head Coach

Erin is an accomplished softball athlete who has competed in the women’s division of the PWSA and has attended a number of Softball Canada National Championships at the Junior and Women’s division. She is also a former university athlete who competed for the University of Ottawa Gee Gees and the Queen’s University Golden Gaels. Erin was a member of the last Ottawa-area women’s team to win a medal at the women’s Softball Canada National Championships with the Orleans Rebels in 2009 where the team earned bronze. Erin was also named to the Softball Canada All-Canadian team in 2016 at the Senior Women’s Canadians as an all-star outfielder. Erin retired from competitive softball after the 2018 season where the Bytown Belles placed third at the PWSA women’s provincial championships. She has been an occasional coach with the University of Ottawa Gee Gees since 2016 and has previously coached with the Kanata Pirates organization. When she is not at a softball diamond, she is a lawyer at Canada’s largest law firm.

Brad Pender, Assistant Coach

Brad is both an accomplished baseball and softball athlete. Brad played elite-level baseball as an outfielder and catcher with the Ottawa-Nepean Canadians where he competed throughout Ontario and the United States. Brad also played college baseball with the Academy of Baseball Canada, an elite baseball program in Montreal, and with the Trois-Rivières Saints in the Canadian Baseball League. More recently, Brad has competed on the competitive softball circuit where he has attended the International Softball Congress World Tournament with the Micksburg Twins, Broker4Tickets and the Kingston Axemen where he has been named to ISC II All World Team as an outfielder. Brad has experience coaching both male and female baseball and softball players.

Dale Aiken, Assistant Coach

Dale has been involved in softball and baseball most of his life. Dale has been coaching male and female athletes for twenty years. Dale has served in head coach and assistant coach positions for the Kanata Pirates, Ottawa University Gee Gee’s and the Stittsville 56’ers competitive programs. Dale was the president of Kanata Minor Softball for over a decade and was the director of competitive programs for that organization. Dale received certification as a facilitator and instructor with Softball Ontario in 2008 along with his level 3 coaching certification.

Carolyn Harman, Assistant Coach

Carolyn is an accomplished athlete, with over 30 years of playing competitive softball in and around Ottawa. She is a former Kanata Pirate pitcher / shortstop who was personally trained by Gil Read and went on to win multiple golden glove competitions, and was the first woman since 1978 to hit a home run over the fence in the GCLSL. Carolyn has been a competitive coach and board member with the Stittsville Minor Softball Association for the past 3 years - with her teams placing 3rd in the province in 2016 (Bantam Selects) and 2017 (Midget Selects). Since 2015 she worked alongside Kevin Daize, coaching the competitive Bantam/Midget winter ball and pitching programs. She has her Level 1 Umpire training, Level 1 NCCP Coaching training completed and is working towards her certification. On top of her elite softball experience, she brings 10 years of personal development and life coaching experience that helps develop the athletes mental game, confidence and improve mindfulness on and off the field.