The
University of Calgary Women's
Softball Club provides young
women, attending the University
of Calgary, with the opportunity
to participate in competitive
intercollegiate softball as a
means of enriching their
university life
experience. While the program is
primarily self funded, the
club is beginning to receive
financial support from local
businesses.
The University of Calgary
Dinos Fastball Club is one of the
founding team members of the Alberta
Intercollegiate Women’s Fastball
Association (AIWFA). The AIWFA was
established in western Canada in 2002,
and consisted of five teams. Now called
the Western Collegiate Fastball
Association ( WCSA ), the league has
five
teams, and now includes SAIT
Polytechnic, the University of
Saskatchewan,
Briercrest College and Seminary, and
the University of Regina.
In 2008, the University of
Calgary hosted the inaugural Canadian
Collegiate National Championship. The
University of Calgary is the only school to
have attended all eight Canadian Collegiate
National Championships, with the 2011 team
winning a Silver medal as National runner
up, the best ever finish for a Dinos
team. The Canadian Collegiate Softball
Association ( CCSA ) oversees the National
Championships, setting qualification
guidelines for the WCSA, the Ontario
Colleges Athletic Association ( OCAA ) and
the Ontario Intercollegiate Women's
Fastpitch Association ( OIWFA ).
Since the 2011 season the
Dinos have undertaken most ambitious
schedules, playing in over 30 games each
season, including trips into the
United States, and the Dinos have raised
their expectations of success. The 2014
season saw the team build on their 2013
season's successful 16 win, 1 loss regular
season record, by capturing the WCSA
Championship during the 2014 playoffs. Since
2010, the team has earned at least a bronze
medal finish in the League Championships
each year. These successes have ensured
berths into the CCSA National Championships
each October, and the 10 straight
appearances at Nationals for the Dinos are
unmatched by any school in Canada.
The 2018 Dinos are now back
on the field, working towards building a
strong contending team. Come out to support
the team as we attempt to bring the 2018
WCSA Championship home.
Advice from the coaching staff about the
recruiting process
Contact us as early as possible.
While most athletes contact us in their
Grade 12 year prior to graduating, the
preference of the coaches is to be able
to watch you play with your club team in
the summers prior to your Grade 11 or
Grade 12
school years. A player is generally the most
comfortable with their own team and team
mates, and we usually see the athletes
best performance then, as opposed to the
walk on situation prior to your first
year at school. This allows us to watch
your progression as a player, meet and
talk with you and your parents, and give
advice about the University of Calgary
and its programs.
The coaching staff
attends a number of tournaments every
spring and summer. The Canada Cup in
Surrey in July, the CWFA in Calgary in
June are mainstays. Other tournaments
are added to our schedule as we
determine where we will see the players
we are interested in. So help yourself
by letting us know your tournament
schedule as soon as you can.
As well. please seriously consider
visiting campus. Campus tours can easily
be arranged, customized to the field of
study you are interested in. Coach
Harlos would like to meet with you while
you are in Calgary, and if the time
matches up you can attend a team
practice during November to March. For
local student athletes this can mean
multiple practices too.
For inquiries into
opportunities for the current recruiting
class ( 2018 ) or general questions, contact Head Coach Neal Harlos at
fastball@ucalgary.ca .
For information regarding
the 2019 recruiting class and later,
please contact Associate Coach Randy
Plishka at
fastballrecruiting@ucalgary.ca
.
Recent
news
October 7, 2018
Dinos win Bronze Medal at
Nationals: Great pitching and timely hitting were the
trademarks for the Dinos in Saskatoon for the
11th Annual CCSA National Championships. Dinos
started with a solid effort against St. Clair
College on Friday, earning a 5 - 1 win. In their
second game of the day the defence was again
solid, and hitting came through, Dinos won in 6
innings against Durham College 9 - 2. Saturday
morning saw the Dinos against WCSA rivals the
University of Saskatchewan, and this was a game
that will be rememberred for the all out offence
from both teams. Saskatchewan led the whole game
up until the bottom of the 7th inning, and the
Dinos exploded for 5 runs, erasing a 4 run
deficet on route to a 11 - 10 win. Despite
losing 8 - 4 to Regina, the Dinos finished 2nd
in the round robin, which matched them up
against Regina again Sunday morning in the 1 vs
2 game. A closer game, but Regina prevailed
again, winning 4 - 1. Dropping into the
semifinal against 3rd place Durham College, the
Dinos had a steady run of opportunities,
including the bottom of the 7th. Unfortunately
the rally ended, and Durham moved on to the
Championship final, and the Dinos had to settle
for the Bronze Medal.
A great season, and a lot of promise for the
2019 season.
Two Dinos selected to CCSA National All
Star Team: The All Star teams were
announced after the completion of the round
robin play, and Libby Wheeler ( utility ) and
Emma Jerome Smith ( catcher ) were selected to
the team.
October 3, 2018
Dinos off to Saskatoon for the CCSA
Nationals. Follow games on Gamechanger.
2018 CCSA National Championship
Live scoring from BVI
Playoff
Weekend Cancelled:
Unseasonally cold and wet conditions across the
Prairies forced the decision to cancel the
weekends scheduled games in Calgary.
Sept 21, 2018
Moose Jaw Weekend Cancelled:
Unseasonally cold and wet conditions across the
Prairies forced the decision to cancel the
weekends scheduled games in Moose Jaw.
Sept 14, 2018
Saskatoon
Weekend Cancelled: Unseasonally cold
and wet conditions across the Prairies forced
the decision to cancel the weekends scheduled
games in Saskatoon. The long range forecast for
Moose Jaw next weekend is much better though.
Sept 5, 2018
Dinos win
2 against crosstown rivals: In a mid week doubleheader, Dinos
take two wins against SAIT, winning handily 13 -
3, and 16 - 8. Next games are in Regina this
weekend, then on Tuesday night at Shouldice a
doubleheader again against SAIT.
Sept 3, 2018
Opening
weekend sees the Dinos go 3-1 in league play:
A great start for the Dinos 2018 season as
the team beat SAIT on Friday night, and win two
close games against Regina over the weekend. The
Dinos split their pair of games against the U of
Saskatchewan. As well, the Dinos won in a
exhibition game against the University of
Lethbridge on Saturday. Next games are against
SAIT on Wednesday evening at Ed Corbett, at 6:00
Pm and 8:00 PM.
August 29, 2018
First ever
Alumni game held: Thirteen alumni
participated in a spirited game against the 2018
edition of the Dinos. A great night to share in
the fun and reconnect with the members of the
past teams.
August 7, 2018
Dinos Schedule announced: The 2018
schedule for the Dinos has been released and
sees the team open at home against Briercrest on
August 31, and continue at Industrial over the
Labour Day weekend. In all the Dinos will play
20 league games before playoff weekend starts at
the end of September. Check out the schedule for
all games.
June 5, 2018
The
WCSA's 2018 casino is being held July
12th and 13th at Cash Casino in
Calgary.Volunteers for various shifts are still
required, so if you can help please contact
Casino Chairperson Kathy Worthington at :
fastpitch@calgaryminorsoftball.com
Casino funds are used to pay diamond costs,
umpire costs, website costs, Pointstreak, and
the AIWFA Scholarship program for players on the
Alberta based teams.
April 7, 2018
Our
thoughts and prayers to the families affected.
The
University of Calgary Women's
Softball Club provides young
women, attending the University
of Calgary, with the opportunity
to participate in competitive
intercollegiate softball as a
means of enriching their
university life
experience. While the program is
primarily self funded, the
club is beginning to receive
financial support from local
businesses.
