“Why not us?” That’s the question Central Manitoba’s U15 Central Energy Girls Softball team asked themselves, and then answered, in spectacular fashion. From underdogs to national heroes, this squad captured hearts and headlines at the 2025 Canadian Softball Championships, which took place from August 13th to 17th in the Morden/Winkler area. The team includes players from across different communities located in the Central Plains region. Coach’s Dream: First-Year Magic Head coach Kylyn Shindle, from Portage, in her first year leading the team, was glowing with pride. “I’m just so proud of the girls. Our goal at the start was to make the A-side playoffs. Why not us? They exceeded every expectation.” She emphasized keeping the girls focused through the whirlwind tournament. “We just told them, take a deep breath. We believe in you. You can do this. They know the work they’ve put in, so we just kept it positive all the way.” Kylyn reflected on the team’s unwavering determination. “We were never out of any game. The girls battled every inning. This is huge. People who aren’t part of the softball world might not understand, but this is massive. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment.” Turning Point: The Bats Come Alive The team didn’t start hot, but when they got hot, there was no stopping them. “We didn’t start hitting until our fourth or sixth game,” Kylyn laughed. “Our very last round-robin game, the bats finally came alive. After a few hits in a row, I thought, ‘Oh my God, we’re going to hit the ball.’ It couldn’t have come at a better time.” Players agreed the turning point came when the hits started stacking up. Peyton Manness said, “When our bats started getting hot, we knew we’d be unstoppable. Beating Eastman on Saturday really helped.” Bree Pearce added, “It felt amazing. Our coach would do a pitch, and we’d match it. The whole team was in sync.” Player Pride: First Win, First Medal For the girls, the silver medal was unforgettable. Manness said, “This is an amazing experience, having a nationals medal. Our first win of the weekend still feels surreal.” Pearce agreed, “I wasn’t really expecting to make it to Sunday, but a silver medal? Incredible. We actually had a shot, and it kept getting better.” Even the youngest supporters, bat girls Harper and Aribella, had big moments. “Today we beat Westman, and I felt really good for the team,” Harper said. Aribella added, “Our first win was the best part. I didn’t think we’d win a single game, and then we got a silver medal.” When asked about cheering and their favourite part of the weekend, Aribella said it was “just being part of the action,” while Harper remembered doing a tricky cheer for her sister. “Money, money, money,” she said, smiling. “It was tricky, but it was fun.” Community Spotlight: Big Crowd, Bigger Impact Portage's Tara Pettinger, co-chair of the host committee, described the excitement of seeing a Manitoba team in the final. “It’s hard to put into words. Just having some Manitoba teams playing on Sunday was exciting. Being in the final game is huge for softball in our province. These girls played their hearts out and left everything on the field.” She praised the turnout and what it meant for the sport locally. “We had 21 teams on the female side and 9 teams on the boys’ side, and bringing all these people to the park sparks interest in the game. We were thrilled with the crowds and support.” Pettinger also highlighted the volunteers who made it possible. “None of this happens without volunteers. Communities from across the region drove in to help. You need a pile of people to put this on. It’s been an unbelievable five days.” A Historic Achievement For Central Energy, the silver medal is more than a trophy—it’s a milestone for the entire organization. Kylyn summed it up, “This is the best group. They’ve put in so much work, and they deserve this. Sensational doesn’t even begin to cover it.” From coach to players to the youngest bat girls on the bench, and with a whole community cheering, Central Manitoba’s U15 Central Energy Girls Softball team has left a mark. Their silver medal is historic, their teamwork inspiring, and their story proves that with heart and determination, anything is possible. Sign up to get the latest local news headlines delivered directly to your inbox every afternoon. Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@portageonline.com. PortageOnline encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the PortageOnline app.