Red with determination to take gold at games

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The Alexander Red Hawks fastball team is flying high with confidence and excitement as it prepares for the North American Indigenous Games in Denver, CO. From July 2 to July 9, approximately 10,000 Indigenous athletes will represent 31 teams from across the U.S. and Canada at the games.

"I don't want to come across as being really arrogant about it but we're very confident that we will win," said Jody Arcand, manager and player for the Red Hawks. "We love the game and we're really passionate about the game."

Arcand and the other team manager, Leiha Crier, each had a fastball team for about six years and in 2003 they merged the two to form the Alexander Red Hawks. Crier's team was the Hobbema Challengers and Arcand's team was Alexander Pride. Both teams had a lot of success in tournaments throughout the province, however since the two teams came together they have been dominant in their senior ladies division.

In order to participate in NAIG, all athletes need to be a part of a team, but more importantly, they had to qualify. The Red Hawks easily qualified with their two wins last year.

They went swinging into the Canadian Native Fastball Championships in Whitecourt and Alexis and were awarded $5,000 for placing first in their division. Also, in 2005, the Hawks placed first at the North American Native Fastpitch Association (NANFA) championship in Invemere, B.C. and took home $2,500.

"We were awarded the spot by virtue of winning both championships last year," said third base player Arcand.

Arcand told Sweetgrass that she was very proud and happy about how well the team has united as one to be successful.

"We have an excellent team and we've come together really well as a strong unit," Arcand said. "We have some great pitchers and great ball players. Like I said, I'm feeling pretty confident about it, just because of our championship wins last year."

Just attending this international event is definitely something that Arcand is looking forward to because it provides more exposure for the team. The team's first game is July 6.

"We are looking forward to an opportunity to play a wide range of different teams," said Arcand. "Being able to meet a different range of people, I guess is what we're looking forward to."

Arcand said a lot of the girls have not competed in NAIG before, "so it's just an opportunity for them to experience games of this calibre," she said.

"Just the hugeness of the games and being in the opening ceremonies with thousands of people is another experience that everyone is looking forward to," said Arcand.

She has participated in NAIG once before. In 1993, she travelled to Prince Albert, Sask. and competed in badminton singles and mixed doubles and took home silver in both.

Although she doesn't know the other teams who will be competing in the senior fastball division, she said there is one team the Hawks might be concerned about and that's the team from California.

"We've played teams from California before and they?re a very tough team," said Arcand. "They've got a lot of really good players."

Knowing what they might be up against has had no affect on their routine practices. The Red Hawks have double-header games once a week and they practice as a team twice a week.

"Without the proper drills and proper techniques we wouldn't have been successful," said Ralph Auigbelle, the Hawks' head coach. "We have the pitching staff, we have the catching staff and we work really hard and are diligent at our hitting and defensive play."

Auigbelle has been coaching for 22 years and has been with some of the Hawks' members for six years.

Over the years, Auigbelle said he has watched the girls grow into a strong and confident senior women's team.

"I'm really proud of these girls with the commitment that they?ve shown and it's got stronger and stronger over the years, especially with the leadership that we have from Jody Arcand and Leiha Crier," said Auigbelle. "Without those two, I do think w would be successful as a unit."

Auigbelle clearly pointed out that the team has paid to attend the Denver games mostly from their own pockets. Alexander First Nation and Samson First Nation have contributed financially as well.

"They play as a team and they work as a team when they go out and look for sponsorships," Auigbelle said. "That's the confidence that the girls have. They are not scared to spend their own money to get there."