The Interlake Maroons AA softball program is gearing up for what it hopes will be its best season yet.
The 2026 season marks the program’s third year under the Maroons name, as it continues working to “bridge the gap” between single-A and triple-A levels in Softball Manitoba.
With enough registrations to fill a full slate of U11, U13, U15 and U17 teams, the Maroons now need just a few weeks of dry weather before getting on the field.
“We have 18 girls trying out for U11, so I would say at every age group we’re blown away by the number of girls trying out,” said new program director Amanda Donovan.
The Stonewall resident takes over from Jeff Kisiloski, who played a major role in building the program’s identity over the past two seasons.
Donovan’s softball background includes managing and coaching her daughters’ previous teams, and she has witnessed the recent growth of the Maroons program.
She said a successful 2026 season would include increasing community awareness. Last Wednesday, the program held a sell-and-swap event at the Stonewall Curling Club to help achieve that goal.
“Some people don’t even know that there is a double-A team in the Interlake,” said Donovan. “Getting to meet, chat with people, talk about tryouts, and with kids growing like weeds, it helps people clean out their garages a little bit too.”
Donovan is also pleased with the number of U17-eligible players who signed up for tryouts — an area that has been a challenge in past years.
This year, the program has enough players to roster a U17 team, opening up new possibilities such as potentially adding a U19 club in future seasons.
By fielding teams from U11 through U17, the Maroons will also be eligible to compete in the AA Program Tournament in June, a prerequisite for provincials.
Nikki Mathews will coach the U17 team while also serving as the program’s director of player and coach development.
The remaining coaching staff has yet to be finalized, though Donovan expects several AAA Interlake Phillies graduates to assist, helping pass on their experience to the next generation of Interlake softball players.
“We’re a feeder group for the triple-A program. We want to help these girls reach that level if they choose to continue on, or stay in double-A,” she said. “More importantly, we want them to love the sport, because it’s something that stays with you. A lot of our girls who age out go on to play slow-pitch or beer league — it’s about developing that lifelong love of the game.”
Maroons players will also be required to double-roster with single-A teams, in accordance with Softball Manitoba regulations aimed at supporting community ball.
Tryouts began indoors last week at the Stonewall Curling Club.
Stonewall will not be the team’s only training ground, as the Maroons are expected to play home games at various parks across the Interlake.
Donovan anticipates competitive seasons across all age groups, particularly at the U11 level, which features several returnees from the 2025 provincial bronze-winning team.
Players aging out of U11 who are remaining at the double-A level are also expected to bolster the U13 roster.
