Four homegrown players with the Delta Heat 2004A girls fastpitch team will be continue their careers next fall at B.C. university and college programs.
Kennedy Ainge, Taylor Bowles, Clare VanSpall and Cheyenne Simicak have all committed to their respective schools, much to the delight of proud head coach Chris Ainge.
“All these girls are like bonus kids to me, just built an incredible relationship with all of them and all come from great families," said Ainge.
Simicak, a Grade 12 student at Burnsview Secondary, is heading to UBC Okanagan where she will study Health and Exercise Sciences while being a middle infielder and bringing a consistent bat to the softball field.
“Cheyenne played a couple years for me then left as the commitment was tough as she is a also provincial girls baseball player before coming back to the Heat for her graduating year. I’m thrilled to have her back,” said Ainge.
His daughter Kennedy is continuing the Delta tradition by heading to Point Grey to play for the UBC Thunderbirds under Tsawwassen resident Gord Collings. The T-Birds current roster also features a number of Delta players.
Kennedy is also heading to the same school where her uncle Terry Ainge helped UBC football team win the Vanier Cup back in 1986. The catcher has led the Heat in hitting the past four seasons, averaging .360.
Kennedy is a multi-sport athlete that previously thrived on the baseball diamond and also played volleyball, basketball and soccer at the high school level. She will be studying nursing at UBC.
Bowles and VanSpall will be joining the Douglas College Royals.
“Taylor possesses power you don’t see too often, is a great defensive first baseman and will be a huge part of the Royals’ success,” said Ainge. “Clare plays third base and is our lead-off hitter. The Royals are getting a natural leader and a great player on both sides of the ball.
Bowles, who is also a competitive curler who won the provincial high school championship at Sands, will be studying psychology and criminology.
VanSpall, who will be studying psychology, has also earned a $20,000 academic scholarship.
