Local ladies end provincial slo-pitch drought

Surviving a marathon weekend, Handiman Clem/Ball Busters became the first local women's team in 15 years to win the provincial slo-pitch championship.

Forced to play five consecutive games in a nine-hour span, Handiman Clem/Ball Busters rallied with wins in all five games to capture the Slo-Pitch Ontario Provincial Championships in the ladies recreational division in London on the weekend.

After wins of 14-8 over Windsor's Naples Pizza and 5-1 over Pretty to Watch to open the tournament, the first year local entry lost their one and only game of the provincials 6-5 to Woodstock's Thomas Electric. With the loss, Handiman Clem/Ball Busters were placed in the losers bracket and were forced to play consecutive games in order to win.

The team then beat London's All That 11-7 and Windsor's Woodslee 18-6 to put them into the semi-final game against Thomas Electric. After falling behind 13-3 in the semi-final, Handiman Clem stormed back and edged Thomas Electric 15-14.

With a loss on the record, the locals would have to win twice in order to be crowned champions. Against Kat & Reader in the final, the locals stayed alive with a 7-6 win followed by an 11-7 championship game victory.

YES FM 99.5 was the last local women's team to win the Slo-Pitch Ontario championship in 1988.

Members of Handiman Clem/Ball Busters include Pam Agawa, Wendy Basawa, Kari Barry, Cassidy Boudreau, Jen Cronin, Sarah Deleary, Sue Dunn, Mona Jones, Stacey Soloman, Marnie Walker and Carrie Zeppa. The team was coached by Troy Frayn.