The Autoflex Reds capped an incredible four-year run on the weekend, capturing their fourth consecutive crown at this year’s season-ending Orillia Girls Softball Tournament of Champions.
The Reds won their second consecutive senior division title Saturday, after winning back-to-back titles in the younger division.
“Seeing everyone root for each other and the family support given is extremely fresh to see,” said Reds coach Rob Winacott of the atmosphere at the Tournament of Champions.
The longtime coach said many of the Reds players have “played together and grown together through this program — some for as long as five years together.”
He noted many of them also play together for the Patrick Fogarrty Catholic School team.
“Many of these ladies have made a commitment to themselves to put in the effort, not to just get to OFFSA this year, but to win it all,” he said, referencing the provincial high school championship for high school students.
On Saturday, the Reds went 4-0 at the tournament to earn the senior division title in the games played at Kitchener Park, where more than 300 people were on hand to cheer on the athletes.
In the intermediate division, Team Yellow, sponsored by Beers Family Pharmacy, also went 4-0 to capture this year’s tournament title.
“The day was full of laughter, teamwork, and cheering which is what it’s all about,” said Team Yellow coach Mike Gammon.
“We had walk-up music for each batter to make it exciting as well as a team lunch provided by Orillia Men’s and Ladies Slo-Pitch and the City of Orillia. All this helped make the day a complete success full of excitement and fun for the players, their families and coaches,” said Gammon.
Both Gammon and Winacott expressed their appreciation for the sponsors, families and league convenors Blaire Gunnarson and Owen Gowsell, who look after the league for the City of Orillia.
The two coaches encourages local parents with young girls to check out the league, which features four teams in each of the junior (7 to 10), intermediate (11 to 13) and senior (14-17) divisions.
He said it’s about more than baseball.
“Team sports create an atmosphere where you have to give effort, try to get better and be able to socialize and be inclusive with everyone — as with life,” said Winacott.
“It’s very affordable and very well run,” he said of the league. “It would be great to have more players and more teams involved.”
Gammon agreed.
“This league has helped my girls, along with the rest of the girls on my team and I feel league-wide get out and try a new sport or continue working on skill development,” said Gammon.
“As a coach it’s rewarding to see the skill development over the season but even more so to see friendships develop and hear the laughter that goes with it,” the coach said.
“It creates connections within the community, and the local baseball community as many of these girls will go on and continue playing this sport with Orillia Slo-Pitch," he said.
“Overall this program helps young girls to develop so much more than just baseball skills it helps create lifelong memories that they will cherish. I would strongly encourage more girls to come out and have fun learning something new,” said Gammon.
