Saanich-raised softball player Emma Entzminger named Softball Canada’s Female Athlete of the Year

Saanich-raised softball player Emma Entzminger has added another national honour to her career. Softball Canada named her its Female Athlete of the Year on Nov. 3, recognizing her summer with Canada’s senior women’s national team.

At the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Group Stage in Czechia in June, Entzminger hit .533 over six games, with two RBIs in 15 at-bats while playing third base. Canada finished 5-1 and qualified for the 2027 WBSC World Cup Finals, which serve as a qualifier for the 2028 Olympics.

The 2014 Lambrick Park graduate followed that performance at the Canada Cup in July, helping Canada win the title undefeated. Canada went 6-0 in round-robin play, advanced through the knockout stage and beat China 7-3 in the championship game.

Entzminger went 2-for-3 in the final, hitting a triple and driving in two runs. Across Canada’s other two knockout games, she went 5-for-8 with a home run, six RBIs and five runs scored.

Canada’s national team also competed at the USA Softball International Cup in August, finishing with a 2-3 record.

Softball BC congratulated Entzminger after the award announcement, praising her dedication, hard work, passion and commitment to the game. In an Instagram post, the organization wrote: “Softball BC is incredibly proud of you, Emma! We can’t wait to see what you accomplish next!”

The announcement was also shared in a video featuring last year’s recipient, Larissa Franklin of Maple Ridge. At a training session, Franklin surprised Entzminger by writing the award name on a softball and tossing it to her.

A longtime member of Canada’s national program, Entzminger has represented the country at multiple world championships and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where Canada won bronze. Away from the diamond, she is a firefighter with the Victoria Fire Department.