1970 Prince Albert Opti-Mrs. Softball – Team
The Prince Albert 0pti-Mrs. dominated girls softball in the province from the mid 1960’s through to the early 1970’s. During that period the Opti-Mrs. won six Saskatchewan championships and finished second twice.
Formed in 1965 as a Pee Wee Division team, the Opti‑Mrs. immediately began a string of four straight provincial championships. The 1965clubwas managed and coached by Ev Ellison with the assistance of Pete Hayduk. The next season Al Olson became coach while Ellison managed, a combination which remained intact through 1972. The Opti‑Mrs. repeated as Saskatchewan Pee Wee Division champions in 1966 and then took the Bantam titles in both 1967 and 1968 before advancing to the Midget Division in 1969. That year saw the team’s provincial championship string end at four straight, losing the Saskatchewan title to a Saskatoon team.
The 1970 Opti‑Mrs. had a season which featured a great deal of travel. That travel was culminated by the provincial finals in Regina where the Opti‑Mrs. captured the Saskatchewan Midget Division championship. The club repeated as provincial champions in 1971 ‑ winning the Junior Division ‑ and then finished second at that level in 1972. During the period of 1965‑72, the Opti‑Mrs. won eight city and eight zone championships to go with their six Saskatchewan titles.
Inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.
