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Fastball
Five Time Provincial Champion 1982, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997
Six Time National Competitor 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1999
Softball Alberta Female Adult Fast Pitch Player of the Year 1996
Charlene
Brown grew up in the Falun area when Falun was known as the “Fastball
Capital of Alberta” so it was almost a given that she should become
involved in the sport. Charlene started playing when she was six and as
she progressed through the age groups she took part in sixteen
provincial championships. When she was ten Charlene started pitching
and with practice and experience she developed her skill as a pitcher
and became one of the best female pitchers in Alberta. Because of her
exceptional pitching prowess, Charlene was picked up by other teams to
compete in major championships. Charlene’s skill allowed her to compete
at the National Championships six times and she had an outstanding
personal pitching record at this level. In 1996 Charlene was named
Alberta Female Adult Fast Pitch Player of the Year. Because of her
commendable achievements in fastball, Charlene is being inducted into
the Wetaskiwin and County Sports Hall of Fame.
Throughout 1960’s, 1970’s
and the 1980’s the Falun ball diamonds were a “hotbed” of activity.
Children of all ages and most of the community were involved in
fastball. The Coles were no exception. In fact, Charlene’s dad Larry
coached her for most of her beginning years until she left Falun to play
in Red Deer in 1988. The Falun girls' teams hadn’t been as successful
as the boys and were teased about their lack of winning. Charlene and
her teammates were motivated to correct this and that they did. As
Mites they won the Provincials in 1982. In 1984 as Squirts they were
Zone Champions and won the Silver Medal at the Provincials. Two years
later in 1986 competing at the Pee Wee Level, the girls repeated as
Zone Champions and won the Silver Medal at the Provincials. As Bantams
in 1987 the girls again won the Zone Championships and competed at the
Provincial Level. That year Charlene was picked up by the Ponoka Bantam
team to compete at the Alberta Summer Games. This year was a highlight
of Charlene’s successful beginning in t he sport.
During her career, to
improve her pitching skills Charlene attended pitching clinics and spent
hours practicing. Charlene’s favourite pitches were the rise ball and
the change-up. Besides these pitches, her repertoire included the
curve, drop-ball, and off speed pitches. Charlene was also a great
outfielder, a position she played when she wasn’t pitching. She also
was a pretty good batter. Everything included, Charlene was an
excellent all-around good ball player and an asset to any team.
Pitching Prowess Takes
Brown to Championships
Charlene’s first
participation in the National Championships occurred in 1991 in
Mississauga, Ontario when she was picked up by the Lloydminster Midgets
after losing to them in Provincials with the Edmonton Anavets. The next
year Charlene played for the Edmonton Anavets Junior Women’s Team. With
two shut-outs, Charlene led the Anavets to the 1992 Provincial Title and
a berth at the National Championships which they hosted in Edmonton. In
1992 Charlene was rewarded for her skill and achievements in her sport
and became the female recipient of the Claude Deschamps Memorial Fund
Scholarship, an award given to one female and one male in Canada to help
further their education at a post-secondary institution. In 1993
Charlene played for the Edmonton Magicians Junior Ladies team and they
also won the Provincial Title and competed at the Nationals in Brampton,
Ontario. This led to Charlene receiving the Fastball Award at the
Wetaskiwin City and County Annual Sports Awards celebration. The
following year, in 1994, Charlene was asked to attend the National
Championships in Quebec with the Edmonton Magicians. Because this was
her graduating year from University and she was focused on fulfilling
her career path in teaching, Charlene turned down this opportunity.
Junior Betters Senior Ball
Players for Coveted Award
For the next three years
Charlene returned to Red Deer and played for the Red Deer Junior Women’s
Cardinals. In the 1996 season, her third year with the team, Charlene’s
work on the mound helped the Cardinals win the Provincial Title and a
berth to the Nationals. At the Nationals in Scarborough, Ontario
Charlene was the best Alberta player leading her team in batting with a
.393 average, seventh best in Canada. She pitched 21 innings with 15
strike-outs, won two of three games, added a save to her record and was
rewarded with three game MVP awards. Her accomplishments and dossier in
1996 resulted in Charlene being awarded Softball Alberta’s Adult Fast
Pitch Player of the Year. Amazingly, she was chosen for this award when
she was still a Junior, bettering all of the Senior ball players in
Alberta. That same year, she was also one of three women nominated for
the Red Deer Female Athlete of the Year.
In 1997, Charlene tried
out with and played with the Calahoo Senior Women’s team who had an
amazing track record of Provincial championships and National
championship medals. That year, Calahoo won Provincials, and this berth
to the National Championships took Charlene all the way to the East
Coast in St. Antoine, New Brunswick. The team did very well in the round
robin, but fell short in playoffs losing in the bronze medal game.
In 1998, Charlene decided
to take the year off to try her hand at coaching. She and her husband
Neil were asked to coach a Bantam girls team in Wetaskiwin and took them
to Provincials. This same year, they were also asked to help select and
form an All Star team for Softball Alberta which would represent Alberta
in a friendship exchange tour against Hokkaido, Japan, This was a
different, yet rewarding, experience for Charlene.
In 1999, Charlene returned
to Red Deer as a player with the Senior Women's team. They competed in
Provincials and won the silver medal which again earned another berth to
Nationals held in Edmonton, Alberta. This was a bittersweet year for
Charlene. Although she returned to play for one of her favorite coaches,
it would be her last year as she decided to start a family and retire as
a player.
Husband Wife Duo
Recognized for Contribution to Softball
Charlene has also given
back to her sport through pitching and skills clinics, coaching and
setting up programs. On her own and at Alberta Softball Association
clinics she worked at developing pitching skills among young players by
conducting clinics throughout Alberta and even did one for them in
Yellowknife, NWT. Along with her husband Neil, Charlene started the
“Learn to Play Program” in Wetaskiwin. This program provides an
opportunity for young athletes to learn, participate and excel at
fastball. When their children became involved in softball, Charlene and
Neil returned to coaching. As a team from 2005-2014, they coached
Wetaskiwin youngsters and their teams won many league championships and
as well, qualified for eight Provincial Softball Championships where
they won a gold, silver and bronze medal. In 2012 Charlene and Neil
were recognized for their dedication and contributions with a Merit
Award from Softball Alberta.
Charlene’s achievements in
fastball could only be attained with a passion for her sport,
dedication, hours of practice, a competitive spirit and, of course, an
innate athletic ability. Charlene is a credit to our community for the
effort she puts in to giving back. Because of her accomplishments and
contributions we are honored to induct Charlene into the Wetaskiwin &
County Sports Hall of Fame.
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