Staff
The memory of the Fort Frances Her-icanes was just long enough to remember they didn’t want to repeat their early stumble in last year’s post-season.
Marissa Kerry earned the win in her playoff debut as the defending champion ‘Canes beat the eighth-ranked Emo Renegades 12-5 last night at VanJura in second-round playoff action of the Rainy River District Women’s Fastball League.
Fort Frances lost its first playoff game to Emo last season before eventually eliminating the Renegades from contention by capturing the Loser’s Side final to advance to the championship round.
Renegades’ starter Mykenzie Borger took the loss.
Emo is still alive in the double-elimination playoffs, though, and will look to stay in the hunt at home this Monday at 7 p.m. against the 10th-ranked Manitou T-Birdies.
The ‘Canes, meanwhile, will resume their mission to repeat as league champs when they face the fifth-seeded Northwest Bay Beavers on Wednesday (Aug. 2) at VanJura.
The Beavers advanced with a 23-13 dumping of the fourth-seeded Fort Frances Mud Dogs last night at the St. Francis Sports Field.
Darcy Smith got the win over Rachelle Yeo.
The Mud Dogs next will host the 11th-ranked Sabaskong Tebinaak on Monday at St. Francis.
Meanwhile, the Dawson Tigers they pulled off the first upset of the post-season by edging the third-seeded Big Grassy Lynx 8-7 last night in Big Grassy.
Shelby Nosan lifted the Tigers into a third-round showdown against the second-seeded Red Gut Babes on Wednesday in Red Gut after she won a terrific pitching duel over Candace Handorgan.
Big Grassy next will play at home on Wednesday against Monday’s winner between the host Couchiching Lady Raiders and the ninth-ranked Fort Frances Angels.
The Lady Raiders almost pulled off a surprise of their own last night but came up just short in a 6-4 loss to Red Gut.
Tracy Morningstar went the distance in a tight contest against counterpart Sydney Jones.
