'They'll always remember this': How a fiddle united P.E.I., N.L. softball teams

To get fired up beforea game, some sports players plug in their headphones and bob their heads to the beat others, however, take home plate to step and stomp along to the fiddle.

Before every game for P.E.I.'sUnder-16Eastern Braves, Cailyn MacAulay, 15, breaks out the fiddle andplays sending her team clapping and dancing to the rhythm to get pumped up for the match.

They'll never remember a score that they win by or they lost by, but they'll always remember this.Rod Creaser, head coach

"It gets us all excited and it kind of brings us together as a team," MacAulay said, noting the team has been doing theritual most of the summer.

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But the pre-game ritual against a team from Newfoundland and Labrador at the Eastern Canadian Softball Championships recently in Cole Harbour, N.S.,was different this time their competition joined in on the fun.

P.E.I. head coach Rod Creaser said other teams had clapped along to the music from their own dugouts before, a bit shy to take part.

However, in thisfinal game of the season, Creaserexplained the pre-game ritual to the N.L.coach and he said the team wasexcited and wanted to join in.

"The other team came over and joined in right from the word go," Creaser said.

"We had a ton of fun prior to the game, relaxed both teams."

'We just wanted to show that P.E.I. spirit'

Before the first pitch, players from both teamshuddled at home plate, circling around MacAulay, the young fiddler.

P.E.I., Newfoundland U16 softball teams step and clap to the fiddle

6 years ago

Duration 1:30

This pre-game ritual encourages the two teams to get to know one another. Credit: Chris Hughes

And as she began to play,Islanders and Newfoundlanders began stepping, clapping and spinning to the sound of the strings.

"It was incredible. Everything happened so quickly, it was amazingonce they got into it they were all clapping and cheering," MacAulay said.

"We just wanted to show everyone that P.E.I. spirit."

Creaser said the fun before the game took the tension off the competitive nature of the game and allowed the girls to just have fun.

After the game the teams got together for pictures, and later hung out together at the hotel, forgingfriendships MacAulayhopes lasts a lifetime.

"It was just a great moment. We're two teams coming together," she said. "Creating friendships with other people from different provinces, it was good."

Creasersaid it'sone of the the biggest highlights of his entire coaching career.

"You always aim to win and do as good as you can, but at the end of the day the girls have memories going forward for the rest of their lives," he said.

"They'll never remember a score that they win by or they lost by, but they'll always remember this."

MacAulayplays gigs professionally and has recorded a CD of traditional fiddle tunes.

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