Cassidy catches silver at U16 Canadians

Gold glove left fielder from St. Thomas with Team Ontario for second year

 September 25, 2023

Cassidy Broderick holds her silver medal won with Team Ontario at the16U girls Canadian baseball championship and a Gold Glove award for her defensive play in the outfield. (Photo / Rob J. Ross)

By Rob J. Ross 

ST. THOMAS - Prince Edward Island is becoming Cassidy Broderick's favourite province to visit and it has nothing to do with the point to point tour, potatoes, or Anne of Green Gables.

For the second year in a row, Cassidy played on Team Ontario at the Canadian 16U girls baseball championship.

This year the 16-year old from St. Thomas brought home a silver medal, from the National tournament held in Summerside.

"Nice to get that feeling of winning a medal," Cassidy said.

Quebec won gold defeating Ontario, 10-4, in the final.

"First pitch of the game was a home run," Cassidy said. "Quebec got four runs that inning. Then we shut them down. They had one more good inning. We scored four in one inning."

The left-fielder earned a Gold Glove for outstanding defence, making several catches over six games, most notably one at the warning track in the final.

"It felt good that people realized all of the catches I made out there. I caught so many balls," Broderick said.

Broderick helped Ontario improve on a fifth place finish in 2022, going 4-2 this year and returning with a medal.

"Good to be there again. I was excited to go. I knew what I was going into to. Last year I had no idea," said Broderick. "Everyone's nervous, but it's just a bunch of girls going out to play baseball."

The most thrilling game of the tournament for Broderick, was Ontario's 13-12 semifinal win over Alberta.

"We went in to the top of the seventh, winning 11-8 and then Alberta came back and it was 12-11," Cassidy said. "Then we walked it off in the bottom of the seventh. That was pretty exciting. Two hits and then an error and the two runners scored. That game sent us to the final."

Cassidy had a number of hits, none bigger than a double against Alberta during round robin play, hitting the outfield fence, a foot short of being a home run.

Away from the diamond, Cassidy met players from other provinces, sharing stories and trading clothing.

"It's fun to meet other girls playing baseball," said the Grade 10 student at Parkside Collegiate, who plans to continue playing an U18 player next year.

The daughter of Laurie and John and younger sister to Allie and Brooklyn, Cassidy only started playing baseball in 2018.