The Interlake Phillies U13 proved once again they’re the team to beat, going undefeated at the U13 Female Western Canadian Softball Championships and capping the run with a decisive 17-5 victory over the Eastman Wildcats on Aug. 10.
It was a familiar matchup — just three weeks earlier, the Phillies beat the Wildcats 8-1 to win the Softball Manitoba provincial title in Friedensfeld. At Westerns, they met their provincial rivals twice more, winning both by wide margins to seal gold.
The championship final showcased the Phillies’ power and depth. Krystal Crampton led the way at the plate with six RBIs on three hits, including a two-run home run to centre in the second inning and two run-scoring doubles. Kardyn Reimer and Piper Tataryn also went deep, while Peyton Ballantyne launched a solo homer. The Phillies collected 14 hits and drew six walks, keeping constant pressure on Eastman’s pitchers.
Reimer, who was dominant throughout the tournament, struck out eight over four innings in the gold-medal game, allowing just one earned run.
Head coach Karli Reimer said the final had a different kind of spark.
“The home run derby in the gold medal game was something else,” she said. “It created a different level of energy for the Phillies and propelled them through that short, four-inning game.”
The Phillies entered the playoffs as the top seed after an undefeated round robin. They opened the tournament Aug. 7 with a 12-2 win over the Kelowna Heat, fuelled by Reimer’s 12 strikeouts and five RBIs. Later that day, they defeated the Langford Lightning 12-4, with Ballantyne and Brooke H each driving in three runs.
Friday brought their closest call — a 12-11 extra-inning walk-off win over the Calgary Kaizen, sealed by Brooklyn Chetyrbok’s two-run double in the ninth. The Phillies followed with a 16-5 win over the Outlaws 2012, highlighted by Reimer’s solo home run, and a 12-2 victory against the St. Albert Angels, where Ballantyne and Adree Williams each drove in multiple runs.
A 9-6 win over Spirit 13U on Saturday clinched first place and set up the semifinal rematch with Eastman. Crampton’s three-hit performance, combined with Reimer’s six strikeouts, propelled Interlake to a 12-1 win and a spot in the gold-medal game.
The Phillies’ dominance went beyond the scoreboard. The host committee presented five awards representing its core values — Effort, Passion, Commitment, Integrity and Equality. Reimer received the Commitment Award for her dedication to the sport and drive to improve every day.
Statistically, the team was unmatched. At Westerns, Crampton led with a .609 batting average (and .623 for the season), tying with Kahlie Minnie for the most hits in the tournament at 14. Reimer led with three home runs and 20 RBIs (Minnie had 72 RBIs for the season). Chetyrbok drew 12 walks at Westerns, adding to her team-high 54 free passes for the year. In the circle, Reimer struck out 69 batters in 33.1 innings, bringing her season total to 355 strikeouts. The Phillies scored 102 runs and allowed just 34 at Westerns, a +68 run differential.
They closed the season with a 53-5 record, going undefeated in Canada. Across all games, they scored 601 runs, allowed 191, and finished with a staggering +410 run differential.
“It was an incredible weekend,” Reimer said. “I am so proud of our Phillies. I’ve coached many of them since they were six or seven years old, and to see them having the success they had this year together is really special. This team has such a strong bond — they believe in each other, and when they step on the field, they play for each other. That’s what makes them champions.”
