Combination of vets and
youngsters power champs
By Darren
Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex
 |
| The Steelers start celebrating a Canadian title win on August 3. |
On Sunday, August 3, at Bob Van Impe Stadium, the Steelers blanked Equipe Quebec 6-0 in the title game of Softball Canada’s Women’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship. The Steelers completed the event with a perfect 8-0 record as they captured gold at the Canadian women’s nationals for a third straight year.
The Carnduff side became the first Saskatchewan-based team
to win three consecutive Canadian women’s titles. The only other squad from
Saskatchewan to win the Canadian women’s title in back-to-back years was the
Saskatoon Imperials back in 1969 and 1970.
The Steelers roster contains a collection of players from across Saskatchewan along with Abbotsford, B.C., product and pitcher Katie Korstrom, who has been part of Softball Canada’s national team system. The mix on the Steelers side is arguably shown in a pair of players in shortstop Lyndsay Koscielski and pitcher Jorde Chartrand, who also plays first base.
Koscielski is the ageless 37-year-old veteran who has six
Softball Canada gold medals in her collection. Along with playing on all three
Steelers championship teams, she was a key member helping her hometown
Saskatoon Outlaws build a Canadian Junior Women’s Championship dynasty winning
three titles in four years in 2008, 2010 and 2011.
 |
| Lyndsay Koscielski makes a defensive play in the infield. |
“It is very special
to win at home when you have all your family and friends can come,” said
Koscielski, who has played for the Steelers for the majority of the past 10
seasons. “It is always nice.”
“It is nice to
have both of my kids here just to see me. She (Charli) has been asking for a
trophy all week, so I had to get her one.”
Chartrand is the young 22-year-old who just finished her
NCAA playing career with the University of North Carolina Greensboro Spartans
and has seen frequent time in Softball Canada’s national team program. The
Weyburn product has played for the Steelers for four seasons and was available
to play for the Carnduff side at the past two Canadian women’s nationals.
At last year’s nationals played in Blackfalds, Alta.,
Chartrand was named an all-star at pitcher and the top player in the
championship round as the Steelers won a second straight Canadian title. At the
recently completed women’s nationals played at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex,
Chartrand captured awards as the top pitcher and top player in the championship
round. She threw a complete game shutout win against Quebec in the championship
final striking out 13 batters.
 |
| Jorde Chatrand delivers a pitch for the Steelers. |
“I’m just having
fun with my team,” said Chartrand. “It is just a lot of fun playing with these
girls.”
Chartrand said
the comradery amongst her Steelers teammates has helped her play well.
“Honestly, I
think something that is overlooked a lot is just having fun and throwing
relaxed,” said Chartrand. “These girls make it really easy to be relaxed on the
mound knowing I have eight good teammates around me.”
For Koscielski, there are times it doesn’t feel like the
years have marched on as fast as they have. She noted that only one other
player from her Outlaws teams is still active in the current day in
Steelers centre-fielder Karmen (Coffey) Twordik. Twordik caught the final out
in the August 3 title contest win over Quebec.
Koscielski said it was special that the chips in life fell
into place where she was a member of both Outlaws and Steelers dynasty teams.
 |
| Lyndsay Koscielski (#22) is pictured with daughter Charli McKay. |
While Chartrand has piled up a lengthy list of
accomplishments in softball at her young age, she has enjoyed playing on a
Steelers team that has players close to her age like Korstrom, and veterans
like Koscielski and Twordik. During nationals, it was common to find Chartrand
entertaining her elder teammates’ children.
“It is awesome,”
said Chartrand. “It is really fun to hear everyone’s life stories.
“Everyone is in
such a different part of life. A lot of the older girls have been where I am,
so they kind of just take you under their wing and are here to have fun and
teach you some things, have some laughs and win a championship.”
One of Koscielski’s biggest highlights came in the first
versus second place page playoff game against Quebec on August 2 at Bob Van
Impe Stadium. She hit a three-run home run to power the Steelers to a 6-1
victory that allowed them to advance to the tournament’s championship game.
When Koscielski jumped on home plate, she did so with the excitement of a
player in their junior aged years in the sport.
 |
| Jorde Chatrand (#24) is pictured with MacKenzie Roach. |
“It was like I’ve never done it before, but I was pretty
excited.”
Going into next season, the Steelers will be attempting to
be the first team to win four consecutive Canadian women’s titles. A number of
teams have won three consecutive national championships, but no team has
captured four straight titles.
When asked about returning next season, Koscielski preferred
to dodge that query for now electing to celebrate the accomplishment of three
straight championship wins.
“It is hard to say,” said Koscielski. “I was retired before
the year, but once the year goes on, there might be another one in me.
“We’ll see.”
With that said, Koscielski said this year’s title win will
always be special to her.
“You know every time you win or just play in these
championships, it is always fun,” said Koscielski. “I’ll remember it for the
rest of my life.”
As for Chartrand, her future goal is to crack the roster of
Softball Canada’s Women’s Team that will be part of the Summer Olympics to be
played July 14 to 30, 2028 in Los Angeles, California. She is still expecting to
rejoin the Steelers during the summer months.
 |
| The Steelers pose for a team photo after their Canadian title win. |
“I will just keep my arm going in a circle until then and try and get better every day. These girls make it easy. I have a place to play when I come home, so I know that I’ll always be playing ball somewhere.”
