Maddy Fines grew up with a strong support system in the Interlake Phillies AAA softball program — a positive experience she now works to pay forward.
After aging out as a player, Fines stepped immediately into a coaching role, and she’s now been with the program for four years. This past season, she served as an assistant coach with the U17 Phillies, who captured a provincial bronze medal. She has been balancing her coaching duties while pursuing a master’s degree in physiotherapy at the University of Manitoba.
Fines was recently named the recipient of the Softball Manitoba Ashley Neufeld Memorial Bursary, awarded annually to an athlete or coach who demonstrates exemplary sportsmanship and dedication to the sport.
“It was a huge honour to get it,” Fines said. “It was presented by Ashley Neufeld’s parents, which was really encouraging to meet them because they’re a big part of the softball community, so it was really nice to have it presented from them specifically.”
Fines credits three former coaches — Taylor Studler, Courtney Kwasnitza and KC Roy — as major influences and role models.
“Growing up we always had one or two female coaches, and it was a lot of fun having them,” she said. “I feel like you learned a lot more from them just because they had played and had that experience. That is something I wanted to do, and then the group of girls that I have are just really awesome, so they keep me coming back.”
Her favourite moment from the 2025 season was the U17s’ provincial run in Stonewall. Entering the tournament as the fourth seed, the Phillies pulled off an upset win over Central Energy en route to the bronze medal.
The U17s are already preparing for the 2026 Manitoba Premier Softball League season with indoor training.
“They work super hard, which is always awesome,” said Fines. “It makes it so encouraging to go and be with them. Now I feel like they’re old and they know everything, so it’s just fun to go and hang out with them and get to stay active. And I feel like I’m learning stuff from them — they’re getting so good, they’re better than I was.”
