LOWER SOUTH RIVER, N.S. — After two full days of hard-hitting slo-pitch action in Lower South River May 31 and June 1, it was the Parrsboro Regional High School Warriors claiming the gold medal in the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation (NSSAF) division 3 girls provincial championship; while host East Antigonish Education Academy Mustangs earned bronze.
The two teams met in a tournament highlight; a high-scoring semi-final where the Warriors outlasted the Mustangs 31-28. Both teams then posted wins over Cape Breton schools to earn their respective medals; Parrsboro shutout silver-medal winning Inverness Education Academy 11-0, while East Antigonish downed Cape Breton Highlands Education Academy 8-2.
“They hit the ball and made the plays when they needed to,” Warriors coach Dan Spence, also the school’s principal, said.
“And the girls battled back,” he added, as a jubilant celebration went on around him. “I’m very proud to be their coach and principal.”
Spence said it was an “amazing” weekend for the team.
“We had 16 amazing girls, showing strength and character second to none,” he said. “We have five girls who are graduating who have been with this team for many years, so for them to end their high school career with a provincial championship is absolutely amazing.”
Mustangs’ coach Tracey Wallace was equally proud of her team which won all three of their round-robin games in the tournament by the 10-run mercy rule.
“The girls played awesome, we couldn’t have asked for better,” she said. “Great pitching, batting, we had some grand slam homeruns … they just played awesome.”
As for the tournament overall, Wallace noted the weather on the busy Saturday in Lower South River was ideal.
“All the games were played,” Wallace said, referencing the fact Friday was not ideal with rain, wind and cool temperatures abounding.
“We couldn’t ask for a better weekend; today was awesome weather.”
The Mustangs featured seven seniors on their roster.
“Seven strong girls, so we’ll be recruiting for next year for sure,” Wallace said, adding those players had, for the most part, been with the team since Grade 7.
