Chelsea Jenner received the thrill of a lifetime last week, as the 16-year-old Abbotsford native was called up for two games with the Canadian senior women's fastpitch team.
Jenner was summoned to serve as a pinch-runner for two games at the Canadian Open Championships at Softball City in South Surrey. She didn't see any action in the semifinals – a 3-1 loss to Japan – but she was called upon in the bronze medal game against Australia.
With Canada trailing 7-0 in the sixth inning and needing to score to extend the game and avoid an early mercy-rule ending, Jenner was inserted as a pinch runner at first base. But her teammates were unable to drive her in, and Australia claimed the bronze.
Jenner and fellow Abbotsford native Taylor Lundrigan were on the B.C. U21 squad which competed in the women's elite division at the Canadian Open; they were eliminated from title contention in the round of 16, falling 1-0 to the eventual champion California A's.
When the call came to move up to the women's international division with Team Canada, Jenner was understandably elated.
"It was really exciting," Jenner enthused. "It's what I was hoping for one day (playing for the senior women's national team), but I'm definitely surprised it happened so soon."