The White Rock Renegades ’97 are perfect through five games at Canadian U18 Women’s Fastpitch Championships in Montreal, as they aim for a national title.
After going a perfect 4-0 in the opening round of the 21-team tournament – outscoring the opposition 22-3 along the way – White Rock won its first playoff game Wednesday evening, 4-2 over Manitoba’s Smitty’s ’98. They play their second playoff-round tilt Thursday evening.
Katelyn Humhej earned the win in the pitcher’s circle for the Renegades Wednesday, pitching a seven-inning complete game, striking out seven while allowing just three hits.
The Renegades – who scored single runs in the first, third, fourth and fifth innings – had eight hits themselves, led by third base Chelsea Hotner, who hit a home run in the third inning.
After staking themselves to a 4-0 lead, White Rock gave up two runs to Manitoba in the sixth frame, but managed to hold on to the victory, as Hotner struck out three in the Prairie squad’s last at-bats in the ninth.
The Renegades and another B.C. entry, the Delta Heat ’97s – winners of the B.C. championship last month – were the cream of the crop during the round-robin portion of the tournament, both finished 4-0.
Another B.C. squad, the Surrey Storm ’98, also advanced into the 16-team playoff round, after a 2-2 finish in the round robin.
Storm ’98 struggled in their first game Sunday against the Alberta-champion Calgary Kaizen, falling 11-0 in five innings. Demi Rose and Taylore Jones singled to account for the only two hits from the Surrey side.
The Storm recovered Monday afternoon for a 7-3 victory over the Winnipeg Lightning.
Brooke Derkson was three-for-four with an RBI and a run scored for Surrey, with Noelle Johnson adding a pair of hits. Jessica Fasolino was the winning pitcher, allowing three unearned runs on three hits. She had nine strikeouts and didn’t allow a walk.
Fasolino collected another complete-game victory Tuesday morning, throwing a two-hit shutout as the Storm edged the Brampton Blazers 1-0.
Fasolino allowed just two singles, didn’t give up a walk and fanned 10 Brampton batters.
The Storm made the most of just five hits, getting three of them in the bottom of the seventh to score the game-winning run. Singles from Emily Manhao, Derkson and Emily Chorpita led to the game’s only run.
In their first playoff tilt Thursday morning, the Storm earned a 7-0 shutout victory over Saskatchewan’s Lumsden Cubs.
The tournament’s playoff rounds continue through the weekend, with the championship game set for Sunday.
– with files from Rick Kupchuk