SAFA looking for southern Alberta players

By Lethbridge Herald on January 17, 2024.

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Southern Alberta Fastpitch Association (SAFA) is set to launch into its inaugural season this spring/summer and the founder is looking for male and female players that are 18 years old and up to join from all over southern Alberta.

SAFA founder Nick Wepruk saw a need for an adult fast pitch league in Medicine Hat and area after he noticed there was no opportunity for players beyond 18 years old to play the sport when he moved to the Gas City.

“I think there’s definitely a missing piece or like a gap of some sort for those people who are turning 19, 20, 21 and into their 30s that still want to play at like a high level. But there isn’t really any options for them as far as that goes,” said Wepruk.

Wepruk’s initial thoughts were to start with teams in Medicine Hat.

“If Lethbridge (has) enough people that want to throw in a team this year, I’m sure we could make it work as long as we have like the field times,” he said.

“I’m open to any place in southern Alberta (that) want to be a part of it. It’s completely open that way.”

Wepruk thinks if they get three to four teams in the Hat, SAFA will run.

“If we have three or four here and Lethbridge ends up having one or two and Brooks has one, now we have like seven or eight teams in the area and that’s more than sustainable in my mind,” said Wepruk.

The biggest requirement is to have enough players to field a team.

“You would probably want 12 to 15 on a team just to know that you have extras,” said Wepruk.

“But if you have nine and nine are going show up every time then that’s perfectly fine.”

Interested players from this area can travel to Medicine Hat and join teams.

Sign-up can be done by going to the safafastpitch Instagram page and click on the link in the bio.

There is no concrete deadline for sign up as of right now.

Questions can be emailed to safa.league@outlook.com or directed to  Wepruk  by calling (403) 977-1431.