Staff
The Fort Frances Her-icanes have just one blemish on their record this season.
On Monday night, the defending champs let the team that put it there know they hadn’t forgotten.
Charity McMahon scored four runs in helping spark the ‘Canes to a 19-8 rout of the Fort Frances Mud Dogs in Rainy River District Women’s Fastball League East Division action at VanJura.
After the Mud Dogs (8-3) erupted for six runs in the third inning to tie the game at 7-7, the ‘Canes (10-1) stormed by with eight in the bottom half.
Mud Dogs’ starting pitcher Rachelle Yeo pulled herself to start the fourth in favour of Jodie Hood, who surrendered three runs, then went back in for the final two innings and only gave up one more run.
Laureen Hill, meanwhile, overcame the shaky third inning to allow just three base runners over the final four.
Other East Division games Monday saw the Couchiching Lady Raiders beat Northwest Bay 8-3 to snap the Beavers’ five-game winning streak.
Without the services of ace pitcher Sydney Jones, Courtney Easton managed to shut down the Beavers’ potent offence through her 3 2/3 innings of work.
Stephanie Racine took over to get the final out of the fourth, then carried the game on her pitching arm as Couchiching (5-5-1) nabbed its second-straight win.
Darcy Smith took the loss for the Beavers (5-4-2).
Capping the East results was a 27-7 thumping of the Fort Frances Angels by the Red Gut Babes, who stretched their unbeaten streak to seven.
Dryden-area import Lynn Windego got the win for the Babes (7-3-1), who now are just one point back of the Mud Dogs for third place overall.
Rylee Redford belted her second homer of the season but was tagged with the loss for the Angels (3-9).
In the West Division, the Emo Renegades (3-8) used a five-run second inning to top the Manitou T-Birdies 16-6.
Mykenzie Borger went the distance to help Emo end its eight-game losing streak.
The T-Birdies fell to 2-9 as their winless skid stretched to seven.
Manitou starter Summer Leonard lasted only two innings before giving way to Bev Cochrane to start the third, with Chuck Cochrane mopping up in the sixth.
The night’s only other West contest saw the second-place Big Grassy Lynx (7-1-3) earn a 7-7 tie with the Dawson Tigers (5-5-1).
Micaela Jack (Big Grassy) and Alicia Anderson (Dawson) both were solid in keeping the game close.
Tonight’s games, which start at 7 p.m., will feature the Mud Dogs hosting Northwest Bay at the St. Francis Sports Field while the ‘Canes head to Red Gut to face the Babes.
The final other East showdown will see the Angels visit the Lady Raiders.
In the West, Emo will visit Big Grassy while Sabaskong (1-9), which had the bye Monday, will be in Pinewood to play Dawson.
Manitou has the bye tonight.
