Iowa Lakes Softball alumni, Deanna Gerrard, was chosen to represent Saskatchewan in the upcoming Canada Summer Games. The Canada Games is a high-level multi-sport event that is held every two years, alternating between the Canada Winter Games and Canada Summer Games. The athletes are strictly amateur and represent their province or territory. The Canada Games is the largest multi-sport competition for young athletes in Canada to date.

On June 5th, Gerrard along with 14 other young women received the news that they would be traveling to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada to represent Saskatchewan (a province of 1 million people) at the Canada Summer Games. The athletes on the softball team must be under the age of 21, but each sport has its own requirements. The other sports at this year's games include: athletics, basketball, baseball, canoe/kayak, cycling, diving, golf, rowing, sailing, soccer, and swimming. Each province can send one male and one female team for each sport.

This year is particularly special because it is the Canada Games 50th year anniversary and Canada's 150th birthday. The Canada Games will feature 16 sports and over 250 events, and combined with a major cultural festival, the 2017 Canada Summer Games will bring together exceptional athletes and artists from coast to coast to celebrate these major milestones. Winnipeg will welcome over 4,000 athletes and coaches and more than 20,000 visitors from July 28-August 13. Gerrard and the other female softball players are scheduled to play August 8-13th.

Gerrard attended Iowa Lakes from 2014-2017. Her 2015 season was shortened by an ACL injury, which sidelined her for the 2016 season, but came back better than ever for the 2017 season. She completed the 2017 season with a .478 batting average, .541 on base percentage, and .836 slugging percentage. She had 76 hits, including 9 doubles, 6 triples, and 11 homeruns. Gerrard had 57 runs batted in, while scoring 62 runs. She finished 7th in the nation with stolen bases (46) and as a catcher led the nation in runners caught stealing (19). Gerrard has put herself in the Iowa Lakes Softball record book top 10 for career batting average (.474), triples (8), homeruns (15), and stolen bases (51). Gerrard was awarded 2nd Team All-Region in the 2015 season and 1st Team All-Region in the 2017 season. She was also on the All-Region Academic Team all four semesters.

We wish Deanna the best of luck during her journey to the Canada Summer Games and trust that she will represent Saskatchewan with the same honor and integrity she did at Iowa Lakes.