"We want it to be the right type of diamond for our girls to excel and be the best that they can." That from Rachel Wahl, President of Altona Angels Minor Softball club, who says the organization is about to embark on a large-scale diamond upgrade effort. 

The plan, explained Wahl, is to turn a pair of diamonds at Ecole West Park School into full clay, and relocate another unused diamond at Ecole Parkside School to Ecole West Park and make it full clay as well. This would add to the one proper diamond already at Ecole Parkside and the two at W.C. Miller Collegiate. In addition, they want to install bleachers and roofs on all of the dugouts. 

"Our executive has been busy putting together numbers. We're ready to launch soon with a campaign, probably pushing $200,000 for all of the things," said Wahl. 

She noted, full clay diamonds are the proper facilities for softball teams to practice and play on.

"Other communities we play in have full clay diamonds."

With 2024 registration numbers some of the highest the club has ever seen, ringing in at 120 from ages 6 to 19, Wahl says the improvements are needed. In total, there will be 7 seven teams that will travel across the region to compete this year, plus U7 and U9 teams that will only play at home. 

Details of how we can support this effort have yet to be firmed up, but Wahl says the club has made an agreement with the Town of Altona that donations can be made at the administration office where charitable receipts will also be issued. 

Meantime, the club is actively looking for umpires for the upcoming season. 

"It's flexible hours evenings and weekends, mostly evenings during the week, and great pay!" said Wahl.