0.2°C Light Snow 
C stands for competition, camaraderie and close calls when it comes to the C division in the Whistler Slo Pitch League. On Monday, Sept. 15, it all came down to the playoffs. Last year’s playoff champions, the Dirt Digglers, were looking for a repeat win this year, and again had their work cut out for them after sneaking safely into playoffs in the fourth spot.
Their first challenge was a meeting with the sixth-placed team, the Rooftop Party, which were on quite a high from a streak that landed them in the playoffs. It became clear from the get-go that this would be a battle to the finish, and neither team wanted to go home after the first round.
The game went to extra innings when in the bottom of the ninth, the Rooftop’s fate was sealed with an off-field shot from Krystle (KY) Zimmer to score Lisa Box and advance the Dirt Digglers into the semifinals. After such a close skirmish, the DDs were warmed up and stepped onto the field again to take on the second-place league finishers, the Fairmont Fury.
The Digglers came out firing with an offensive clinic as well as a defensive tutorial taught by Sam (Belky) Decoste at shortstop and Johnny (One Arm) Stephenson at second base, turning six double plays that were “sparked by some notorious Jell-O shots.” The game finished in a 21-9 decision, placing Digglers easily and comfortably in the final bout.
Perhaps the quick slaying in that game gave them too much of a break, or possibly they filled themselves with a tad too much Jell-O, because their tear started slowing in the third and final game.
The final game was best described as a seesaw battle, and the Dirt Digglers felt as though it should have been locked down for them in the sixth inning. But they let their guard down just enough to let the first-place league finishers, the Fitz Bagtaggers, back in the game.
Even with the solid defence and timely hitting by the DDs, it wasn’t enough to overcome the Bagtaggers and it came to an exciting end in the bottom of the 10th, with the DDs up by three and taking the field for what would be the last time of the summer.
The Bagtaggers, not willing to let a three-run lead bring them down, took the sticks and quickly made up four runs to take the title belt away from the Dirt Digglers.
The Dirt Digglers credited the unyielding coaching efforts from Jeff (Ripper) MacLean, who suffered a season-ending injury a couple of weekends before, for their playoff success.
Playoff notables go to Krystle Zimmer for the Dirt Digglers and Chelsea Bailey and Mark Munn representing the Fitz Bagtaggers.
See you all at the ball party tomorrow night, meeting at the Longhorn at 5:30 p.m.!
Hockey season is right around the corner — it’s time to put those cleats and gloves away and lace up the skates.
A seventh team was proposed for the women’s league this season but never took flight – I’ve heard rumours about the reasons behind that but nothing conclusive. The proposed team had a full roster and would have prolonged the season to last until the end of the men’s league while giving teams occasional bye weeks.
The Men’s A League, meanwhile, is more than happy to welcome new teams into its division of five.
“People ask me what I do in the winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.” –Rogers Hornsby
