Tillsley helps Team Alberta repeat at WCBA Championships 

By Lethbridge Herald on August 20, 2024.

SUBMITTED PHOto Ella Tillsley delivers a pitch during the Western Canadian Baseball Association Championships this past weekend in Spruce Grove.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Diamond City’s Ella Tillsley had a second consecutive year of success at the Western Canadian Baseball Association Championships for the 14U girls level this past weekend in Spruce Grove.

Timely hits and strong defence is what Tillsley thought got them the championship.

The Team Alberta 14U girls team not only won the championship for a second year in a row but Tillsley was a big part of Sunday’s gold medal game  10-7 win over Team B.C. as she pitched five innings, in which she gave up seven runs, four of which  were earned, on 10 hits, striking out four runners and allowing no walks.

“I kind of just like played  how I normally (do) and didn’t really get worked up about anything,” said Tillsley, on her strong play.

She also had two hits in the game to earn herself player of the game honours.

 Once the championship was over she was named defensive player of the tournament.

“I work on it a bit, said Tillsley, on her defence.

 “But this season I didn’t really play much of third base. I only really played first. So it was kind of new to me to play third.”

The team had a youthful look this season having only four second years, while Tillsley was in her official first year with the team after playing as underaged player last year.

“I guess I was way more nervous last year,” said Tillsley.

“This year I kind of just played with not much nerves.”

After losing the opener to B.C., Team Alberta reeled off four straight wins, including the semi-final and final wins, to take the championship and it was the second year that Alberta knocked off B.C. in the title game.

Tillsley had a .412 batting average over the whole weekend and went .500 in the championship game.

She was lone representative from this area on  Team Alberta.

Tillsley played locally for the YQL U13 AAA team this year.