Briana Shymanski/Rocky View Publishing

Tina Shenton was recently named the Airdrie Special Olympics athlete of the month. Shenton currently plays with the softball team. She has also bowled, swam and played floor hockey. She is pictured with Airdrie Mayor Peter Brown.

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Airdrie Special Olympics honours softball player

Tina Shenton has been named Airdrie Special Olympic’s athlete of the month for June.

“I’m happy and proud,” she said.

Shenton has tried every sport the group offers, including bowling, baseball, floor hockey and swimming. Her favourite sport is softball. The Special Olympics team will soon wrap up the 2012 season.

“I’m a good batter,” Shenton said.

“She’s keen to try out everything,” said Susan Gallant, who is in her second year of coaching the Special Olympic’s softball team. “She loves (softball) now that she hit (the ball). She hit a few times and now she thinks she’s the batter and the hammer out there. She tells them where she wants the ball.”

Special Olympics has given Shenton the opportunity to travel across southern Alberta with the various teams she has played with. She has travelled to Drumheller, Calgary and Olds, which is where she went to school.

Gallant said Shenton takes charge. During a recent tournament, Shenton told the pitcher where she wanted the ball thrown, and then told the umpire to tell the pitcher where to toss the ball.

Shenton is also in charge of the team’s equipment, including packing the bags for herself, Gallant and Shenton’s brother, Jeff, who also plays on the softball team.

“Everybody knows Tina,” Gallant said. “She’s very bubbly and very talkative.”

Shenton also had a message for other Airdronians who are thinking about joining Special Olympics.

“Come on out!”