Staff
Her major-league role model had a big afternoon yesterday, so Dana Ward thought she would do the same last night.
Ward drove in four runs, and scored the game-winning run, as the Fort Frances Her-icanes topped the host Emo Renegades 12-10 in Rainy River District Fastball League action to reclaim sole possession of first place.
After Josh Donaldson of the Toronto Blue Jays had two home runs against the Oakland A’s yesterday, Ward followed in her fellow third baseman’s footsteps with two big hits of her own for the ‘Canes (7-1).
Her two-run single brought home Taylor Pagee and Kristina “Hollywood” Bombay as part of a four-run second inning that quickly erased Emo’s 2-0 lead.
Laurie Brown singled home Mykenzie Borger to cut the lead to one for the Renegades (2-6) despite nursing a partially-dislocated left knee after Ward slid hard into her leg at second in the top of the inning on a steal attempt.
The ‘Canes responded with three in the third, including a two-run single by Gina Pope that plated Caylee Woolsey and Andrea Sweigard.
Ward belted a two-RBI double in the fifth, then came home on Laureen Hill’s triple to the opposite field.
Stacy Patey singled to cash in Hill.
Jannelle Andy started an Emo rally in the bottom half with a single off Hill.
Erin Oltsher later singled in Andy and pinch-runner Kylee Keith to slice the lead to 12-8.
After Jenni Morrison walked, Sarah Teeple brought both runners in with a double.
With darkness and fog rolling in, combined with the two-hour time limit that negated the start of a new inning, the Renegades had one last chance in the sixth.
But with one out and Andy on first, Brown’s grounder to short was turned into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.
Meanwhile, the Fort Frances Mud Dogs (6-2) dropped down to third place after getting pounded 20-5 by the Dawson Tigers (3-5) at the St. Francis Sports Field.
Laurie Fairfield homered for a second-straight game while Alicia Anderson held the Mud Dogs to their lowest run output of the season to snap their five-game winning streak.
Rachelle Yeo took the loss.
In other action last night, the Big Grassy Lynx (6-1-1) took over second place following a 14-13 win against a valiant Manitou T-Birdies’ squad.
Candace Handorgan outpitched “Chuck” Cochrane for the win despite giving up Summer Leonard’s second homer in two games.
The T-Birdies (2-6) now have lost four-straight.
The Red Gut Babes (5-3) and Northwest Bay Beavers (4-3-2) are tied for fourth after each extended their respective winning stretches to four games last night.
Reigning league MVP Tracy Morningstar had a smashing debut both on the mound and at the plate in a 15-5 win over the Fort Frances Angels (2-5).
Ticketed to play for Manitou this season before deciding otherwise recently, Morningstar rejoined a Red Gut squad she called home for two seasons before heading to the ‘Canes last year.
She was all business in her first game of the year, tossing a complete game while bashing a grand slam.
Rylee Redford took the loss.
The Beavers, meanwhile, dumped the last-place Sabaskong Tebinaak 16-7.
Darcy Smith got the win while Shae Smith homered for the second-straight game to tie Leonard for the league lead with three.
Jarrah Tom homered for Sabaskong (1-4) but also was tagged with the loss.
