ABBOTSFORD, British Columbia – Effort. Passion. Commitment. Integrity. Equality. The Abbotsford Minor Fastball Association has created a culture that is unlike any other local association. Winning Association of the Year from Softball BC in 2019 only solidified the knowledge that this program is building different, building better. Even whilst navigating the Covid-19 pandemic, AMFA was one of only a small number of associations whose registration numbers actually increased.

Amongst this chaos and the success of the Association, emerged a scrappy Abbotsford Outlaws U12 Rep B team comprised of players from Chilliwack, Mission, and Abbotsford. These players are young, inexperienced, and had never played together before. So how did this team find itself finishing in the top 16 in the province and representing the AMFA alongside well-established and older rep teams in the U12B provincial championships in Richmond? Head Coach Josh Dyck says the team’s success was all about attitude and being steadfast.

“Our young girls had never played this level of ball before,” Dyck said. “Although they didn’t always know what to expect, they never quit. It didn’t matter what the score was, they were going to fight you all the way, with everything they had.”

And fight they did. Although the team started out with some devastating losses, by the end of the season, they were going toe to toe with some of the top teams in the province.

 “We scared quite a few teams this year; it was pretty cool,” Coach Dyck said proudly. 

Coming in third at this year’s Districts was a sad disappointment that their season was ending, but to their joy, the Outlaws’ hard work paid off and they were awarded a wildcard bid to the provincial championships in Richmond.

“I almost didn’t believe it when they told me, but I was thrilled our team wasn’t going unnoticed in how much they’d improved,” said Coach Dyck.

The provincials came quickly and the team found themselves 2-2 after the round-robin, one run shy of finishing in the top 8. The medal round was a single knockout so the Outlaws had to keep winning. It started with what one could only call “a bang”. Ridge Meadows Rage brought out their big guns and nearly ousted the Outlaws. Double over time, however, proved to be more than exciting for the entire park as many spectators from other teams made their way over to investigate all the noise and cheering. The Outlaws won 7-6 and were guaranteed two more games and possibly a medal. Unfortunately, having put everything they had into this exhausting first game, this young team found themselves coming up short and finally losing in the bronze medal game to the LFA Thunder 5-2. Coach Dyck, despite the heartbreaking losses, was beaming at his team’s success.

“This was truly an exciting and incredible experience that these girls—and I—won’t soon forget,” Dyck said. “We look forward to digging deeper and fighting even harder next season.”

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