Two 亚洲天堂 Lake athletes - Brandon Larsen and Brendan Alec - are among the 15 players selected to represent Team B.C. Men鈥檚 Softball at the 2017 Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg.

The roster was finalized after 50 athletes attended three identification camps held in Surrey and Prince George starting in September 2016.

Larsen said he couldn鈥檛 describe the feeling of being selected for Team B.C.

鈥淚鈥檝e never made a team so important to me, in my life,鈥� he said. 鈥淭o be representing the top 15 players that are under 21 in B.C. is a huge accomplishment for me.鈥�

Larsen said that becoming a professional athlete has always been his dream.

鈥淚 hope to eventually reach my goal, but not becoming pro would never discourage me from playing softball,鈥� he said. 鈥淪oftball has always been the sport I鈥檝e been most passionate for.鈥�

His mother Leila Larsen said she and her husband have always known that Brandon would become an athlete.

鈥淗e started throwing and catching a ball at eight months old and was hitting pitches that his dad threw him at two years old,鈥� she said. 鈥淯nfortunately there was no baseball for kids in 亚洲天堂 Lake, so he grew up playing hockey.鈥�

鈥淎s parents, we couldn鈥檛 be more proud of him,鈥� she added. 鈥淲e鈥檒l be going to Winnipeg to support the boys and their team and to cheer them on.鈥�

The men鈥檚 softball team is actively training leading up to the games, which run from July 28 to Aug. 13, 2017. The men鈥檚 softball tournament will take place at John Blumberg Softball Complex during the first week of the games.

The Canada Games are a national multi-sport competition with participation from every province and territory in Canada. The games are held every two years, alternating between winter and summer.

The 2017 Canada Summer Games will bring together approximately 4000 athletes, coaches, and managers to compete in 16 sports. Team B.C. will bring together a delegation of 450 athletes, coaches, managers, and mission staff.

This year the games will celebrate their fiftieth anniversary, coinciding with Canada鈥檚 150th birthday.

Brendan Alec could not be reached by press time.