Two teams from the Deh Cho took their slopitch skills on the road to compete in the Gap Electric Mixed Slopitch Tournament in Yellowknife from July 28-29.

The Bullspitters from Fort Providence and the Dehcho Thunder from Fort Simpson both competed in the "B" division that included 12 teams.

The Bullspitters from Fort Providence pose for a team shot during the Gap Electric Mixed Slopitch Tournament in Yellowknife. Team members include, front left, front row: Michael Krutko and Scotty McLeod; middle row: Christopher Carson, Louie Mackenzie, Alayna Krutko, Ryan Larson, Lawrence Denetre and Jason Horesay; back row: Vanessa Bonnetrouge, Gail Bonnetrouge, Harry Joe Sabourin, Kiel Krutko, Victoria Cleveland, Tina Gargan and Tamara Thom. - photo courtesy of Gail Bonnetrouge

With 10 players from Fort Simpson, one from Jean Marie River and four that were picked up in Yellowknife, the Dehcho Thunder made it all the way to the semifinals.

The team started the tournament by winning two of their three round robin games, said Dawn Moses, the team's captain.

In their first game against the Elks, the Thunder won 14-10. The Thunder prevailed again in their second game on Saturday against the Nuna Logistics Pirates, with a score of 9-7.

In their third game of the day, the Thunder lost 18-13 against the Funky Monkeys.

Back at the Fritz Theil ballpark on Sunday, the team won their quarterfinal game 27-20 against a Yellowknife team. The players gave their best performance of the tournament, said Moses.

"Everybody was hitting really well," she said.

Almost every player scored during the game, with Chris Hewitt and Matt Sabourin both going four for four and getting home three times.

Troy Hardisty and Mary-Rose Denethlon went three for three and both got home three times while Tiiu Cli went four for four and got home twice.

The team went on to lose in the semifinals 7-5 against the Guzzlers.

"It was a close game," said Moses.

The Thunder took an early lead scoring five runs in the first inning but were unable to score any more, Moses said.

Also playing in the "B" division was the Bullspitters team from Fort Providence.

Despite some promising innings, the team lost all three of their round robin games.

Starting on Saturday afternoon, the Bullspitters played against Superior Autobody to finish with a score of 12-4.

"We just weren't connecting with the ball," said Christopher Carson, the team's captain.

Facing the Teranda Tornadoes next, the Bullspitters started strong. The Fort Providence team had the lead and the score went back and forth, said Carson.

After taking two runs in the sixth inning and another two in the seventh, the Tornadoes shut them out in the last two innings for a final score of 12-8.

The final game was against a younger team, the Master Batters. The game was mercied at a score of 15-4.

Despite the losses, all the players had fun at the tournament and are looking forward to the next tournament, Carson said.

"It showed us what we have to do next year," said Carson.