This week has been a busy one for members of the Zone 6 softball team as they prepare to leave for the B.C. Summer Games on Thursday.

Colwood resident Devon Rees is one of those players gearing up to wear the colours of the Vancouver Island-Central Coast team. In preparation, Rees said sheB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渂een in the backyard a lot, hitting and fielding with my dad.B次元官网网址�

A softball player since roughly the age of six, sheB次元官网网址檒l be playing the sport for Zone 6 for the first time. But it wonB次元官网网址檛 be her first time at the Summer Games, as she played soccer back in 2012. Rees was 11 at the time and is really looking forward to her second trip.

B次元官网网址淣ow, IB次元官网网址檓 16 and feel IB次元官网网址檓 at a better age to fully enjoy the atmosphere and appreciate being part of such a large number of terrific athletes,B次元官网网址� she added.

Also representing the West Shore on the Zone 6 girls softball team are stepsisters Carmen Eilertsen and Jade Hadley. The Metchosin-based catcher-pitcher combo have been playing together for four years.

With Eilertsen, 16, pitching and Hadley, 15, catching, this will be their first time competing at the Games.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 a little nervous (but) IB次元官网网址檓 looking forward to playing with other girls,B次元官网网址� Eilertsen said.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been practising every day with Jade B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檝e been going through different pitches just making sure theyB次元官网网址檙e ready for the Games.B次元官网网址�

Hadley added she likes catching for Eilertsen the most, B次元官网网址渂ecause I get to know her on and off the field. ItB次元官网网址檚 easier to call the game.B次元官网网址�

Knowing her pitcher on a very personal level gives Hadley a leg up on the competition and she can tell if something just isnB次元官网网址檛 going to fly in a game.

Eilertsen noted their unique relationship gives them a few extra opportunities. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been talking at home about pitches that work and pitches that donB次元官网网址檛 work in games,B次元官网网址� she said.

Hadley is also a little nervous about competing in the Games, but is excited about working with new teammates and facing off against some new opponents. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been playing with the same girls for four years so IB次元官网网址檓 looking forward to adding diversity,B次元官网网址� she said.

Hadley, Eilertsen and Rees, who plays shortstop, are all members of the Victoria Devils 2000 team during the regular season. The team heads to the Canadian National Fast Pitch Championships in Montreal next month. B次元官网网址淢y club team has been playing in a lot of tournaments and we just had provincials,B次元官网网址� Rees added.

With most members of the Zone 6 team coming off similar schedules, itB次元官网网址檚 been challenging to find time to practice. But Duncan-based head coach Stan McKinlay said B次元官网网址渋f they werenB次元官网网址檛 playing, we were (practising).B次元官网网址�

Having the girls playing in those high-level tournaments with their regular teams has also helped prepare them for the Games.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e playing at that calibre all the time,B次元官网网址� McKinlay said. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檝e got a good attitude B次元官网网址� Mentally, I think theyB次元官网网址檙e ready to go.B次元官网网址�

But that hasnB次元官网网址檛 stopped the team from hitting the diamond every day this week leading up to their Thursday departure.

While the team usually practises in Duncan, this week they have been working out in View Royal, which is a little closer to home for the roughly half a dozen other Devils on the team.

When asked if it was difficult to team up with players that are usually on the opposing side, Rees said, B次元官网网址渋t was at first, but now everyone is nice and friendly.B次元官网网址�

Provincials also afforded the local girls a chance to size up their potential competition in the upcoming Games, and Rees likes their chances.

B次元官网网址淚 think we have a really good chance of winning it,B次元官网网址� she noted.

McKinlay has been coaching the Summer Games softball team for four years and is optimistic about this yearB次元官网网址檚 chances. B次元官网网址淭his team is probably the most talented IB次元官网网址檝e had so far,B次元官网网址� he said.

Other Greater Victoria athletes on the Zone 6 team include Sierra Gillis of Highlands, Rachel Bobroske, Gabby Freer, Emma Glawson, Kala Gyorfi and Zoe Kinakin, as well as assistant coach Bria Wilson.

One thing they all have in common is they canB次元官网网址檛 wait to get back on the field to compete in the Games.

Find more B.C. Summer Games coverage on our .

katie@goldstreamgazette.com