The AAA Interlake Phillies are just weeks away from the start of the 2026 Manitoba Premier Softball League season.
Three teams will represent Phillies colours at the U13, U15 and U17 levels, while U19-aged players have joined the Winnipeg-based Smitty’s Terminators to form a co-op team.
All four teams will be in action at Stonewall’s Quarry Park for Phillies Day on Sunday, May 31, marking the first time they will all play in the annual event.
Quarry Park is once again the home of all Phillies games and will also host the Softball Manitoba U15 AAA provincials from July 9 to 12.
“It’s good for our girls to start seeing some bigger crowds, so it’s always exciting for the athletes,” said Phillies president Todd Chetyrbok. “It’s in July, it spans four days, so lots of people come out to watch very high-calibre softball, enjoy the summer weather and hopefully cheer on the home team.”
With temperatures starting to rise across the province, Phillies teams are nearing their all-important first outdoor practices.
They’ve spent the winter training at Home Run Sports Training Centre in Winnipeg, Stonewall Collegiate and, most recently, the Stonewall Curling Club. Some players have also travelled south to compete in winter ball with American-based clubs.
Teams were formed in the fall, helping build chemistry throughout the winter.
With no pre-season tournaments scheduled, each team’s focus is firmly on opening day in May.
Chetyrbok is eager to see the U13 team in action for the first time, with an almost entirely new roster. All but two players from last year’s group have moved up to U15.
Coached by Colin Ballantyne, the U13 squad enters the season as reigning champions after winning both provincials and the Western Canadian championships last summer.
“You never know what you’re getting in U13 until the season unfolds,” said Chetyrbok. “There’s lots of development, and teams grow and improve throughout the year. They’re doing all they can and will be competitive. With only two returning players, you never quite know where you stand. There’s lots of new blood at that age level across all teams.”
As for the U15s, their goal for 2026 is clear — a golden season.
Much of last year’s U13 championship roster has moved up, and the team has retained its core group of 14-year-olds who helped secure a provincial bronze medal and a sixth-place finish at the Softball Canada national championships in 2025.
Head coach Mike Hammond returns after leading the group to success last season.
“U15 is a strong group,” said Chetyrbok. “They won provincials with a similar group two years ago and finished third at Westerns at the U13 level. A lot of those same players were also part of last year’s championship team. They should be well positioned to challenge for a medal — if not gold.”
The U17 team also has high expectations, with former Phillies president Kirk Swanson taking over behind the bench.
He leads a squad coming off a fourth-place finish at Westerns.
“The kids have been together a long time, and they’re always in the mix at the U17 level,” said Chetyrbok. “They should be right there again, knocking on the door for a medal this year.”
The 2026 season will include the annual trip to Mankato, Minn., for both the U13 and U17 teams, where they will compete in tournaments against new, often American, opponents.
The U15 team is not expected to attend this year, as its tournament is scheduled just days ahead of provincials.
