Hurler Earl migrating south

Prince Albert's Lori Earl is moving to a similar-sized city next week, but she won't have to put up with any snow this winter.

The Carlton Comprehensive High School graduate is bound for Galveston, Texas, next Thursday to further her education and softball career at Galveston College.

"I just started packing," Earl said Monday. "It's pretty crazy, trying to pack your whole life into one suitcase, but I'm really excited."

The 18-year-old will spend some time with her family in Texas before school starts and her family returns to Prince Albert. She said she hasn't been to Galveston before, but she'll have some time to settle in, in the company of her family, and do some sightseeing.

Earl said it should be an easy adjustment, moving into the Houston suburb.

"I'm pretty sure it's only a little bit bigger than P.A., so it won't be too much of a shocker, but it'll definitely be a change of scenery," she said.

Galveston has a population of about 57,000.

Although Earl hasn't had a chance to check out Texas yet, she has met her new coach, Ken Delcambre.

"He said that we're going to have a good team this year, so hopefully that's the case," Earl said. "We'll get a lot of games, because it's always hot. He's set up a few tournaments, already, for us to go to. I think we practise every day from 1 to 4 (p.m.)."

The softball season gets going in September, takes a break in November and December and continues from January to April.

The Galveston College Whitecaps play in the Southwest Junior College Conference of the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Earl is a two-year veteran of the midget Prince Albert Aces, where she pitches in most games, but she's not worried about how much time she'll get on the mound in college.

"I'm just excited to learn a lot this year, because the head coach is a pitching coach, so I'm just going to take in as much as I can and hopefully use it to my advantage," she said.

To conclude the Aces season, Earl and her Prince Albert teammates finished fourth at the Western Canadian midget B softball championship in Maple Ridge, B.C, during the August long weekend. Two of the team's losses came in extra innings.

"I think we did really good," Earl said. "There were lots of really close games. The competition there was really good. It was all really close.

"We had a really good season."

Since then, Earl has been "working out and trying to pitch as much as I can, and trying to get ready for (Texas) so I'm in the right shape."

This year, Earl will be enrolled in the general studies program, and is considering pursuing psychology. She's also hoping to earn a National Collegiate Athletic Association scholarship while playing in Galveston.

tpruner@paherald.sk.ca