Stratford teen heads to softball championships later this month

For Karlee Satchell, the dream is playing out in real time.

The 17-year-old Stratford resident and member of the UTM Ignite softball team from Waterloo qualified for the national tournament in Calgary from July 30 to August 4, giving her the opportunity to play on the sport’s big stage.

It’s been a work in progress for Satchell since she was old enough to watch her sisters Kaitlyn and Kimberly play the game. Satchell started out with the Sebringville Stingers before moving on to the Stratford Flames. She’s played with an older age group the entire time. Her first year in rep softball saw her move to the London Lightning before heading to Waterloo to play Tier 1 ball at the U14 level with the Ghosts. She briefly joined the D1 Nationals out of Woodstock before returning to Waterloo to rejoin her now rebranded UTM Ignite team.

Although the road to get there has been full of ups and downs and all sorts of twists and turns, Satchell is thoroughly enjoying the opportunity she now has.

“Nationals in Calgary is a dream come true for me and it honestly doesn’t feel real right now,” she said. “We had qualifiers last weekend and did well, but going into nationals we know we’re going to see some really good teams.”

Joni Fletcher-Satchell, Karlee’s mother, said her youngest daughter grew up around the sport, like her siblings and other family members, and now she has the chance to continue that legacy with a trip to Calgary.

“Going back to her grandmother and grandfather who played, and also her aunts, uncle and late father – softball has definitely been our family’s sport,” Fletcher-Satchell said. “Her sisters were a little older when they started but excelled in the sport … her sister Kimberly won a silver medal at Eastern Canadians. But we knew from a young age that Karlee’s success in the sport was waiting for her. She’s always had that mentality of ‘they can do it, I can do it better.'”

One of the benefits of a trip like this is exposure to scouts who can give Satchell a chance to continue playing at a high level through a scholarship. She’s already given herself a strong competitive edge by playing multiple positions (catcher and third base), but she’s not going to let the opportunities distract her from the moment.

“We’re going to see other teams from Ontario at the nationals – Brampton, LaSalle and UTM 2K7 will be there,” she said. “LaSalle was the one that beat us in the qualifiers, so we know it’s going to be a challenge. And teams from British Columbia are always good, but I’m looking forward to the competition. It’s going to be crazy to see all the talent there, and I know there’s going to be college and university coaches, but I’m not focused on that.”

It may not be something her daughter talks about, but Joni knows what it means to her. The hours of work and practice Satchell has put in, while also keeping her grades up in school, are clear evidence that every chance to prove herself means a lot.

“Since she made the decision to try to earn a scholarship, it’s been a ride watching her work hard, both in sports and in school,” Fletcher-Satchell said. “Karlee’s life hasn’t always been easy, starting with a health issue at age 5. But watching her work toward her biggest dreams of a national championship and a scholarship … it’s an honor and a privilege to see her every time she steps on the field.”

The task ahead is raising money for the trip: Satchell said the team has begun raising money collectively through various means, and she has a GoFundMe page that is currently helping her with individual fundraising. And that’s not the only prep work she’s doing.

“At this point, it’s all about taking a deep breath and trusting your teammates,” she said. “Everyone has confidence in each other and that helps us a lot as we prepare.”