A five-run fourth inning sunk North Toronto Norsewomen in girls Tier 2 softball action on May 19.
Losing 10-6 to the East Division’s leaders, Jarvis Bulldogs, North Toronto’s coach Robin Adams said even though her team was on the wrong end, their spirits were buoyed by strong pitching and run production.
“I thought it was an exciting game actually,” she said. “Jarvis is in first place right now so to have a decently close game was good — it could’ve gone either way.”
Christina Zha took to the mound for all five innings, striking out eight batters in diligent fashion.
Still, Jarvis managed to connect for several long balls including helpers from rookies Crystal Dinh and Carmen Le who brought home two RBIs each.
Coach Jennifer White was impressed with her softball newcomers, lauding both Dinh and Le, but also her pitcher Ashlyn Martin.
Martin went the distance letting her eight teammates play the ball, save for a two-run double smacked by North Toronto’s Claudia Vanderholst.
“Now it’s onto the playoffs,” White said. “We have a lot of new girls, so it will be interesting.”
While softball isn’t an OFSAA sport, both White and Adams are confident their girls can handle the playoffs.
Adams said Jarvis and Danforth Tech are currently the biggest obstacles en route to the Tier 2 championship final, starting May 25.
“We don’t know who we are playing . It all depends on where everyone places,” she said, adding the East Division crosses over to play the West, which means the Norsewomen may battle Harbord Tigers or Ursula Franklin Flames.
Jarvis, seeded first with a 6-0 record, will maintain their undefeated rank against either Oakwood or Parkdale.