Two Portage la Prairie softball players are taking part in the 2017 Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg next week.

Former Portage Collegiate Institute Saints' pitchers Emily Smith and Sara Thomson will both be taking the field for Team Manitoba. Smith is back in Portage after playing her first year with Valley City State University Vikings in North Dakota. She didn't actually get an invite to the team until recently when she faced off against Team Manitoba.

"I got invited pretty late, actually, I found out about a month ago right after we played them in a Superleague Tournament. They said they needed an extra pitcher, called me and asked me to join the team. It was exciting."

Smith and Thomson both played for the Smitty's Jr. Terminators, and have had several practices with team Manitoba since Smith joined a month ago. Also joining them are MacGregor's Tamara McVanel, and Alexis Huggart of Treherne.

"We had a big pep rally already, and we'll be staying in the Athlete's Village, I'm really looking forward to having a great time and taking it all in," adds Smith.

Qualification
Match 6 - Monday, August 7, 2017 - Team PEI vs Team Manitoba, 3 p.m.
Match 10 - Monday, August 7, 2017 - Team Manitoba vs Team Saskatchewan, 7 p.m.
Match 16 - Tuesday, August 8, 2017- Team Manitoba vs Team Nova Scotia, 3 p.m.
Match 20 - Tuesday, August 8, 2017 - Team Manitoba vs Team Quebec, 7 p.m.
Match 27 - Wednesday, August 9, 2017 - Team Manitoba vs Team Newfoundland and Labrador, 4 p.m.
Match 30 - Wednesday, August 9, 2017 - Team British Columbia vs Team Manitoba, 7 p.m.
Match 36 - Thursday, August 10, 2017 - Team Alberta vs Team Manitoba, 3 p.m.
Match 40 - Thursday, August 10, 2017 - Team Manitoba vs Team New Brunswick, 7 p.m.
Match 44 - Friday, August 11, 2017 - Team Manitoba vs Team Ontario, 1 p.m.