*This article was originally published on Alberta Dugout Stories on September 4. You can read it here.

September 5, 2024

By Joe McFarland

Alberta Dugout Stories

Claire Hingley’s trophy case is filling up fast.

A gold medalist with Baseball Alberta’s 14U Girls team at the Western Canadian Baseball Championships in Winnipeg in 2022, the Edmonton product added to her haul by winning bronze medals with the 16U squad at the 2023 national event in Summerside, P.E.I.

Heading into 2024, Hingley was hoping to use those experiences to become part of the leadership group going into the 16U tournament in Saskatoon, Sask.

She delivered in a big way, as Alberta went 2-2 in the round-robin before big wins over Manitoba and Ontario to get into the gold medal game against Quebec.

While Alberta fell short of their goal with a 6-1 loss, Hingley says they gave it everything they had.

“I’m so proud of all the girls,” she told Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast. “Even when it didn’t go our way, we battled back in the last innings to give ourselves a chance to come back.”

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Listen to Alberta Dugout Stories interview Claire Hingley here.

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Named the defensive player of the tournament, Hingley is hoping the tournament becomes a springboard for her heading into 2025 and beyond.

EDMONTON EXPOS-URE

A catcher, second baseman and pitcher growing up, Hingley has always been determined to be the best she can be on the diamond.

Taking inspiration from fellow Edmontonian and multi-sport star Madison Willan, she made her way through grassroots programs like the Cubs, White Sox and Expos before getting her first taste of being on a provincial team in 2022.

Hingley homered and picked up the win on the mound as Alberta emerged with a 16-6 victory over Saskatchewan.

She followed that up with an outstanding performance for the province in 2023 and was rewarded by being named the Baseball Alberta 16U Girls Player of the Year.

“It means so much to me,” Hingley said about representing Alberta. “Not just the fact that we get to play baseball at the national level, but we get to make these bonds with girls we would never meet otherwise.”

A hockey player like Willan as well, the 16-year-old says she also appreciates meeting athletes from other provinces playing the game she loves.

A SPECIAL YEAR

As one of the veterans on the 16U team, Hingley says the 2024 tournament was a rollercoaster similar to the one the team rode the previous summer.

After a big 11-0 win over Newfoundland and Labrador to open up the championships, Alberta was edged 8-5 by Ontario.

“We were all a bit nervous heading into the next game,” Hingley admitted. “We just kept telling ourselves that we’re a better team and, if we work as a team and stick to our game plan, the next ones will be easy.”

Her teammates followed through with a 17-2 romp over B.C. before slipping 9-2 to Quebec to finish out the round-robin, setting up a date with Manitoba in the quarterfinals.

Little did they know, their offence would come alive in that game, as they put 16 runs on the board in the first inning en route to a 30-2 blowout.

“We were just swinging our bats well,” the right-hander continued. “We were hitting first pitches and not letting ourselves get too deep into counts while playing as a team.”

The runs kept coming in during a 12-7 win over Ontario in the semi-final before falling in the gold medal clash to Quebec.

Despite the loss, Alberta assistant coach Desmond Bouteiller says it was a special year.

“We knew going into this tournament that we were loaded with talent and had maybe one of the most talented female teams that Alberta has produced at the U16 level,” he told the Red Deer Advocate. “To be able to say we were right with a Quebec team that is always so good is another big accomplishment.”

“It just keeps setting the bar for our girls and girls baseball in this province.”

GIVE ME MORE

While she says it was nice to win another medal in 2024, Hingley says she has golden dreams heading into next summer.

“It always makes me want it more,” Hingley said. “Especially after knowing how well we can succeed in just one year – it always makes me want to push myself more.”

She also realizes that representing Alberta at nationals puts her on the Baseball Canada map.

“It’s always been a dream to play women’s nationals,” the 16-year-old continued. “I think after this, I know I just need to keep pushing myself and keep working harder – I think it’s achievable for me one day.”

Her journey in baseball has also allowed Hingley to become a role model for young girls looking to follow in her footsteps.

She leans on the wisdom of others before her, like Willan, saying belief and determination are her keys to success.

“Just believe in yourself and be your own advocate,” Hingley said. “As long as you believe in yourself, you can do whatever it takes and you don’t need anyone else’s approval.”

It seems the only approval she will be looking for in 2025 will be to get a bigger display case for all of her medals, trophies and recognitions.