Morning Star Staff
Vernon’s Garth Gartner Construction Ice Cold Pitches belted their way to top spot at a women’s D Provincial Championship slo-pitch qualifying tournament in Abbotsford.
The two-day event featured 48 men’s and women’s teams, ranging from A to E divisions.
The Pitches faced off against eight teams and, with their sizzling bats, destroyed their competition.
Things started off in the tournament for the construction ladies with a tough 10-9 loss to the Abbotsford Vixens. After that, ICP never looked back, mercy-ruling the next two opponents by scores of 21-1 and 23-3.
Sheila Martin helped clinch the second mercy by crushing a 275-foot home run bomb.
After placing first in their round-robin games, the Ice Cold Pitches again faced the Vixens, who were third in their pool.
The Vernon squad, this time, came away with a 12-2 win which qualified ICP for the final against the Abbotsford Free Agents. Vernon won the final 16-2.
The victory means ICP qualifies for the provincial championships back in Abbotsford on the Labour Day weekend in September.
The Pitches, who are coached by Garth Gartner, Braden Robertson, and Keegan Kinney, edged the Whitehouse Mortgage Gators 10-9 in league play Wednesday night.
Brittany Housego went 4-for5 with one RBI for the Pitches, while Taylor Weixl drove in three runs and Courtney Bissell and Krista Horton each had two ribbies.
Shaina McGiverin went 5-for-5 while Marcie Fairbrother and Tracey Solmes each went 4-for-5. Jacqueline Rivard came into the game at the top of the fourth and went 3-for-3.
Taryn Robertson was 4-for-5 with a home run and four RBI for the Gators, while speedy Sarah McDonnell was 3-for-5 with a grand slam and a solo home run for five RBI. Jody Swartz had three hits and two RBI, while Tanya Saddleman-smacked a solo home run and a double with three RBI.
Kelly Jenner and Kelli Graham both had two hits and one RBI each. Alenna Cameron also supplied a pair of hits.
