NGBW Spotlight: New Waterford Minor Baseball

New Waterford Minor Baseball proudly launched its female baseball program in 2017 under the leadership of Chris Hillier. What began as a single division with just one team has grown into a thriving program consisting of three divisions 12U, 14U, and 18U with a total of five teams. The continued growth of our female program is a testament to the dedication of our volunteers, coaches, players, and families who have worked tirelessly to create opportunities for girls to play baseball. The strong foundation established by Chris Hillier has allowed the program to continue growing under the leadership of NWMB President Mark Petrie. Through Mark's ongoing support and commitment, female baseball has remained a priority within our association. 

While our home fields are in the town of New Waterford, our program extends far beyond our community. We proudly welcome players from across Cape Breton Island, with athletes travelling from communities including Glace Bay, Sydney, Sydney Mines, and as far as St. Peter's. No matter where they come from, they proudly wear the Dodgers jersey and become part of our baseball family. We are proud to provide an inclusive environment where girls from communities across the Island can come together to learn, compete, and develop lifelong friendships through the game of baseball.
Our female baseball program is built on the dedication and passion of an incredible group of volunteer coaches who generously give their time to help our athletes grow both on and off the field. This season, our coaching staff includes Brittany Willard leading the 12U division, Murdock Sampson with the 14U Blue team, Allan Gillis with the 14U Pink team, Liz MacIntyre with the 14U Purple team, and Dominic Therrien guiding our 18U athletes. 
This season, we were excited to host the Girls of Summer Classic, a tournament we hope will become an annual tradition that continues to grow each year. The tournament welcomed visiting teams from Truro and Antigonish, along with local teams from Sydney and Sydney Mines. Although the weather didn't cooperate as we had hoped, it certainly didn't dampen the spirits of the players. Throughout the weekend, the girls danced between games, laughed together, cheered one another on, and created memories that will last a lifetime. It was a wonderful celebration of female baseball, sportsmanship, and friendship. We look forward to building on the success of this event each year and welcoming even more teams to New Waterford in the future.
At New Waterford Minor Baseball, we believe in developing not only athletes but also future leaders in the sport. We are proud to have a strong female presence on the field, including several talented female umpires. Ainsley O'Handley, Lilly Parris, Bailey Therrien, Emily Munroe, and Gracie Wiseman continue to demonstrate confidence, professionalism, and leadership while officiating games throughout the season. Umpiring is a challenging role that requires knowledge of the game, sound judgment, and the ability to make decisions under pressure. These young women consistently rise to the occasion and serve as outstanding role models for our younger athletes, proving that there are many ways for girls and women to remain involved in baseball beyond playing the game.
Our commitment to growing the game extends beyond umpiring. We actively encourage our older athletes to become coaches and mentors for our younger players. In 2024, Gracie Wiseman assisted with coaching the 14U Dodgers, helping guide the team to a silver medal at the Provincial Championship. This season, Bailey Therrien has stepped into a coaching role by assisting with our 12U division, continuing the tradition of senior players giving back to the program while developing valuable leadership skills. These experiences not only strengthen our program but also inspire younger players by showing them that leadership opportunities exist both on and off the field.
Our athletes also contribute to the development of baseball within our community beyond the diamond. Senior player Mackenzie Jenkins works at Peak Velocity, where she helps train young female baseball players during the off-season, assisting them in developing their skills, confidence, and passion for the game. Through coaching, mentoring, umpiring, and off-season training, our athletes continue to give back to the program that helped shape them. Our hope is that when they eventually age out of the program, they will return as coaches, mentors, umpires, and volunteers, ensuring the continued success and growth of female baseball within New Waterford Minor Baseball for generations to come.
The success of our female baseball program would not be possible without the incredible dedication of our volunteers, coaches, parents, sponsors, and supporters. Their commitment has helped build more than a baseball program, it has created a welcoming community where girls are encouraged to challenge themselves, develop confidence, build lifelong friendships, and discover a love for the game. Every practice, game, tournament, fundraiser, and volunteer hour has contributed to creating an environment where female athletes feel supported and empowered to reach their full potential.
As we continue to grow, New Waterford Minor Baseball remains committed to providing opportunities for female athletes of all ages and skill levels. We are excited about the future of girls' baseball in our community and look forward to continuing to inspire the next generation of Dodgers both on and off the field.

- New Waterford Minor Baseball Girls Divisions VP, Jennifer Wiseman