Things didn’t go the way the Team Alberta Bighorns 19U Women’s Team hoped on home turf in 2025.
Hosting the national championships at Webber Academy just outside Calgary, the team went winless on their way to finishing eighth out of eight teams.
Despite not tasting victory, the team thought of it as a learning experience for what was considered a young core, including three 16-year-olds and six 17-year-olds.
Among them was Airdrie’s Natalie Kerr, who went 1-for-6 in the tournament with six walks, four runs scored and a run batted in over the five games.
She’s among several returning players who believe the 2026 edition of the team will be much better with that experience behind them.
“I’m so excited to get to play with them and it’s just such an honour to be a part of this group,” Kerr told Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast.
“Getting to play with the girls every single year is just such an amazing opportunity, and I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
She says winning a national championship would mean everything to her, especially as she thinks about the challenges she’s overcome to represent her province.
AILING AIRDRONIAN
Growing up with an older brother and a twin brother, Kerr was immersed in sports growing up, particularly baseball.
Even when other girls were making the switch to softball, she was determined to stick with it through Little League and eventually the new Airdrie Stars program with Baseball Alberta.
All the while, Kerr was battling an ailment that has given her arm troubles for a long time.
Born without the ulnar groove in her elbow, she started feeling pain when she was about 13, finally opting for surgery over the last couple of years.
“I had to re-learn how to move my arm, throw and grab things,” Kerr said. “On the mental side, I just had to kind of switch my mindset to make it about pushing through and not giving up.”
On top of that, shortly after surgery, she was hit by a car, which set back her recovery time.
PLAYING FOR HER PROVINCE
Kerr got her first taste of suiting up for Team Alberta as a 15-year-old at the 16U National Championships in 2023 in Summerside, P.E.I.
“I remember crying when I got the email saying I was on the roster,” she laughed. “It was just so cool to be a part of something so big like this.”
That team lost a heartbreaker 13-12 to Ontario in the semi-finals, coming back to claim bronze with an 8-3 win over Newfoundland and Labrador.
Kerr was back a year later at the tournament in Saskatoon, where Alberta finished with a silver medal.
2025 saw her make the move to the new 19U tournament, which replaced the 21U age division for the first time.
While the Bighorns didn’t perform up to their own standards on home turf, they are using it as fuel to be much better this time around.
“Everyone in our group just hits so well and everyone has such a big arm,” Kerr said. “It’s just such a great roster to have and everyone pulls their weight every single year. I don’t think there’s a weak spot in our lineup.”
DREAMING BIG
Having just graduated high school, Kerr also has her sights set on the future beyond the 19U event.
She has committed to the University of Lethbridge, where she will play fastball for the Pronghorns and continue playing baseball wherever she can.
The Foothills Fury Fastpitch product has also taken a liking to coaching and giving back to her community, which is what she’s doing with her education as she’s going into physiotherapy.
“Just helping people recover in the same way that I had,” she said.
Then, of course, there’s the ultimate goal: representing her country with the Women’s National Team.
Kerr knows playing in tournaments like the 19U Nationals could become a springboard for her and, having watched some of her teammates do it already, gives her hope that one day, she will get there too.
“That would be crazy to represent my country – it would be amazing,” she said. “Everyone wants to have that chance, and it would be such a big honour. It’s something I want to work towards, for sure.”
The Baseball Canada 19U Women’s National Championship is set for July 30-August 2 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
