It's a 13-hour drive to Trail on a good day.
However, that long journey paid off in a weekend of triumphs for the Prince George Junior Panthers girls softball development team.
They walked away from the under-12 C regional squirt championship clutching silver medals.
The Panthers lost the championship game Sunday 9-2 to the Greater Trail Steelers. Both teams went into the final undefeated.
"The girls performed amazingly this weekend," said Panthers head coach Jess Hudson. "We came to Trail not knowing want to expect, and the girls proved that our program in Prince George is just as competitive as programs across the province."
Amanda Pratt pitched one shutout inning for Prince George in the final. Thea Palmer and Shelby Betker scored the Panthers' runs. The Panthers doused the Cranbrook Heat 16-4 in a semifinal playoff. Betker belted a grand slam and Pratt delivered shutout pitching.
Prince George went 3-0 in pool play. The Panthers opened with a 14-13 win over Cranbrook. Cerina Nikic hit a home run and Mishayla Christensen brought home the winning run. Backed by stellar defensive efforts by catchers Sydney Case and Camryn Scully, Prince George went on to defeat the Westside Outlaws 15-1. Betket and Christensen each hit three-run home runs in a lopsided win over the Kamloops Dynamite.
"There is a lot of talent in these young players," said Panthers coach Walter Colk. "I am very excited to have an opportunity to teach and work with them in Peewee development over the next couple of years."
The regional tournament replaces the provincial U-12 C championship in a bid to get more girls involved in competitive softball. The Interior final was one of four regional championship events in B.C. this summer.
"I am in shock, 16 months ago the association was looking at folding and for the girls to go to a provincial competition and return with silver is incredible," said Mark Wendling, president of the Prince George Minor Girls Softball Association. "As I understand it, this is the first time in six years our players have medalled."
