Morning Star Staff
The defending champion Ice Cold Pitches will open the Vernon Women’s Slo-Pitch League playoffs Wednesday night against the Whitehouse Mortgage Gators.
The Pitches finished the regular season in first place at 8-3-1 after dusting off the Gators 13-6 and losing 14-6 to second-place Tenacity Wednesday night at Kin Park.
Tenacity will take on the third-place Competition Exteriors Dynamite in other first-round playoff action.
The Nitros took third by tying the Tenacity 8-8 before losing 9-5 to the Gators.
Leigha Stenhouse went 3-for-3 with one RBI as the Dynamite tied Tenacity. Brittany Linford was 2-for-3 with two RBI, while Jessica Sinclair, Jackie Stakkestad and Betty Reid all went 2-for-3 with one ribbie. Sandi Demers was 2-for-3.
Tenacity slowly battled back to tie the Nitros with the help of Lynn Gregoire, who managed three singles and a triple. Melissa Gauthier hit a two-run triple in the top of seven to tie the game. Coach Jacquie Grypink cleated up, hitting a run-scoring single,
Elli Lane was 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI as the Gators stuffed the Dynamite.
Iva Wiens was 2-for-3 with two ribbies, while Nancy Lafrenier and Tiffany Disher each supplied two hits in three plate appearances.
The Nitros got three hits apiece from Betty Reid, Greg Barry and Jen Nelson, while Linda Castonguay was 2-for-3 with with two RBI and Shelly Ouellette was 2-for-3 with one ribbie.
Kate Carter was 4-for-4 as the Gators lost to the Ice Cold Pitches. Lane and Jen Doyle each provided three hits and Danielle Saddleman two.
Lisa Armstong drove in three runs and Diane Schmidt drilled four singles as Tenacity toppled the Pitches 14-6. Laura Vallier connected for two singles and a double with two ribbies.
Defensively, Stacey Brunton made some great catches in left field playing a position she doesn’t normally play. Lynn Gregoire and Vallier were solid on the left side of the infield.