Port Perry 2008 Softball Team advance to Provincial A Championships

LORILEE McKELVIE,

Special to The Standard

SCUGOG: after dropping the first game 8-0 to whitby (harness) knowing a second loss would eliminate port perry from further play, the team displayed both skill and stamina in wheeling off four straight wins by defeating whitby (macdonald) 13-5, stittsville 10-4, cobourg 12-2, and port perry (wilcox) 13-4. This set the stage for a rematch once again against Whitby (Harness) knowing the winner will advance and the loser eliminated.

Both teams qualified to advance to the Provincial A Championship with the loser finishing no less than fourth of 13 teams participating.

Whitby jumped ahead holding what was thought to be an insurmountable lead going into the seventh inning 10-5. Not to be denied Port Perry charged back only to fall short by 1 run losing 10-9.

Offensive power for Port Perry throughout the weekend was provided by Jordynne McClurg hitting 1 HR, 1 triple, and 3 doubles, followed by Laina Tavernier with 2 triples and 4 doubles, Erin Correa with 1 HR, 1 double, and 7 singles. Not to be outdone, Port Perry’s newly appointed captain Joclynne Jeffery finished on top with a walloping tournament batting average of .591 going 13 hits for 22 at bat.

Defensively Ava Marshall simply put was outstanding at shortstop with 17 putouts throughout the tournament followed closely by third baseman Kaylee Morra and Julia Stewart at catching and first.

As usual, both Kaley Doerfler and Kaitlyn Hancock provided strong pitching throughout with a winning record for the tournament of five wins and two losses.

Port Perry 2008 team under the direction of head coach Ty Azzolin, assistant coaches James Hancock, Sara Tumpane, and Brian Bates will now prepare the team for the upcoming provincial A Championship.