It was only three years ago that there was only a handful of female baseball players sprinkled throughout the Corner Brook minor baseball system.
Then, when female baseball was offered as part of the Corner Brook minor baseball system, the two teenagers decided it was something they wanted to check out and now they are members of the Corner Brook 14U female baseball team that’s hosting the provincial 14U female baseball championship this weekend in Corner Brook.
Female baseball has grown by leaps and bounds since the two girls put on their cleats for the first time three years ago and these two friends couldn’t think of a better place than a baseball diamond to spend their summer vacation.
“We’ve been friends since we were born and ever since we started baseball we’ve gotten even closer,” Porter said.
Porter didn’t have to look far to find motivation to check out baseball. She spent a lot of time watching her older sibling Cole play the game in the minor system and saw how he really enjoyed it so she figured she should find out if it was for her.
Allen, who is a pitcher who also sees some action at first base, considers baseball her favourite sport. She said it’s been a lot of fun playing alongside her good friend and also a bunch of new friends she has found through playing the game.
“It means a lot to me. I don’t think I will ever give it up, even when I’m older I will try to make it part of my life,” Allen said.
The two girls travelled to the east coast for provincials last year, but this year it’s a time to shine on home field with family and friends on hand so that has both of them extra pumped for the tournament to get underway.
Allen likes the idea of working together as a team, but she likes to challenge batters when she’s pitcher and doesn’t like to be cheated when it comes to taking a bat in her hand.
“It’s a good feeling to strike people out or hitting a good dinger out in the field and driving one of the runners home,” Allen said.
Porter believes her team is pretty steady in all areas of the game, but she believes the team’s success will depend on how well they do in the hitting department.
“If we hit really good this weekend we’ll get a lot of runs and have a really high chance of winning,” she said.
