Nineteen-year-old Alisha Bowes-Trinacty is headed to the Canada Games in Winnipeg as part of Nova Scotia's softball team.
Sports comes naturally to the centre fielder.
Her mother, Denise Bowes, is coaching the Nova Scotia Canada Games softball team and was well known for her volleyball skills. Her father, John Trinacty, played multiple sports.
“I was a fairly good athlete at different sports. It must be in the gene pool,” said Trinacty, noting Bowes-Trinacty has been playing softball since she was eight years old.
Bowes-Trinacty said being selected to the Canada Games team has been a dream come true.
“I am so excited to play. I've been working towards this goal not only for the two years with the team but the process of actually getting to the point where I could even try out,” said Bowes-Trinacty.
“It's my softball dream.”
Bowes-Trinacty got her start with the Cole Harbour Comets and moved on to play with the Lawrencetown Gold Diggers until she started making the provincial softball teams.
The Lockview High School graduate currently attends university in British Columbia where she's studying biochemistry.
When she graduated from Grade 12 in 2016, she was the student scholar athlete, maintaining an honours with distinction average while participating in several school sports.
Trinacty, who lives in Windsor, said he couldn't be more proud of how hard his daughter has worked towards achieving her goal.
“I'm very proud of her. She's a very good athlete. She puts a lot of time into it,” said Trinacty.
He said she's a good all-round softball player, but is dangerous when on base.
“She's the fastest runner on the team. As soon as she gets on base, she's pretty much guaranteed to score a run because she'll steal second, steal third,” he said.
The Canada Games' female softball competitions will be held from Aug. 7-13, with the gold medal game occurring on Aug. 13.
Team Nova Scotia's first game is at noon on Aug. 7 against British Columbia, followed by a 6 p.m. match against Alberta.
They take on New Brunswick on Aug. 8 at 11 a.m. and Manitoba at 3 p.m.
On Aug. 9, Team Nova Scotia faces Saskatchewan at 11 a.m. and Ontario at 2 p.m.
Aug. 10 sees them in action with Newfoundland and Labrador at 11 a.m. and Quebec at 6 p.m.
For their last regular game, Nova Scotia takes on Prince Edward Island on Aug. 11 at 10 a.m.
Playdowns and semi-finals will be held Aug. 11-12.
Bowes-Trinacty said she's excited for what her teammates will be able to do.
“I feel like we're going to be the underdogs,” said Bowes-Trinacty.
“Coming off the Canada Games four years ago, no one is really thinking Canada is going to be very good but hopefully we're going to surprise them and have a few wins at the games,” she said.
To see how Team Nova Scotia is doing at the Canada Games, click here.
