It will be a short trip for Nevada Johnson to collect her latest softball achievement.
The 19-year-old pitcher from Ladner has been named Softball B.C.’s Indigenous Minor Athlete of the Year. Johnson will accept the award at the Softball B.C. Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet on Saturday (Oct. 22) at the Coast Tsawwassen Inn.
The honour comes on the heels of being the Fraser region’s recipient of the Premier’s Awards for Indigenous Youth Excellence in Sport, reflecting Johnson’s Northwest Territory Métis Nation heritage.
She is now in her first-year at Simon Fraser University, accepting a scholarship offer, after being recruited by head coach Tina Andreana to be part of the NCAA Division 2 program for the 2022/23 season.
It was last fall when she had an all-star role for the UBC Okanagan Heat capturing the Canadian collegiate championship. She was then among 32 athletes invited to Softball Canada’s national women’s team selection camp, held in Brampton, Ont. back in June.
The 2021 South Delta Secondary graduate also had a productive last year of minor softball, helping the Surrey 2003 Storm capture the U19 national championship in New Brunswick with an 11-7 win over Waterloo in the title game.
Her father, Gord Johnson, has been a major influence, coaching her as she came through the South Delta Invaders rep “B” program before taking her game to the rep “A” level in her Grade 11 year.