SOUTHEAST SASK. — For the second straight year, the Carnduff-based Â鶹ÊÓƵeast Steelers have won the Women’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship.
The Steelers defeated Ontario's Oakville Angels 6-3 on Aug. 11 to win the Softball Canada tournament that was held in Blackfalds, Alta., from Aug. 7-11. It marked the second straight year the Steelers beat the Angels in the final.
Oakville grabbed a 3-0 lead in the second inning, and it remained a three-run contest until the sixth inning, when the Steelers scored six times to lead 6-3. Jorde Chartrand hit a single that scored three runs to deliver the biggest blow for the Steelers.
She also thrived on the mound, allowing three runs and seven hits in a complete-game seven-inning effort.
Jordan Kulbida and Michelle Kukurudza each collected two hits for the Steelers in the win.
The Steelers and the Angels were the dominant teams during the week, as they took the top two spots in the round robin. The Angels beat the southeast entry in the round robin, while the Steelers defeated Oakville in the 1-2 page playoff game on Aug. 10 to advance directly to the final the following day.
The Steelers opened the tournament with a 10-1 win over New Brunswick's Oromocto Silverbacks. After giving up the opening run, the Steelers stormed back with 10 straight scores. Deanna Gerrard hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the third.
Carmen Hughes surrendered three hits and one run over five innings, striking out eight.
Chartrand drove in four runs to lead the Steelers past Équipe du Québec 13-6 in their second game. She hit a three-run home run to right field in the first inning, and also had an RBI single. Hughes also had a two-run home run.
