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KANGIQLINIQ/RANKIN INLET
An upset win in the finals on Aug. 23 was the icing on the cake of an exciting slo-pitch season in Rankin Inlet.

M&T co-captain Hamish Tatty, left, is presented the Rankin Inlet Co-ed Softball League championship trophy by league president Robert Connelly on Aug. 23. - photo courtesy of Robert Connelly

M&T took the crown that was expected to go to the Juggernauts, a team that went undefeated in the regular season and which had made a bold statement in winning the Calm Air Cup earlier this month. M&T had come into the playoffs in the third seed.

"It feels good to win, especially when you're the underdog," said M&T co-captain Hamish Tatty.

League president Robert Connelly said the season – six weeks of regular games and two weeks of playoffs – exceeded his expectations. The new turf on Rankin's baseball diamond played a big role in upping the ante this year, with players adapting their game to the new terrain – being able to predict where the ball will bounce, and being able to slide across turf instead of dirt and rock.

"The players have loved it," said Connelly. "I think it's making both the runners and the hitter more aggressive in their play."

It wasn't only the league's four regular season teams getting use out of the field. The new turf and excitement around the season brought youth and children out to the ball diamond whenever it was free, and Connelly said there was almost always ball being played.

"Ninety per cent of the time it's just a little bit of hitting or playing or tossing the ball around, and that's encouraging because (those young players are) the future of the league in Rankin."

Though there are fewer teams than previous years, the number of players was about the same, at 81 players. Having just four teams -- M&T, Juggernauts, Kronix, and A&K Hardballs – allowed the players more wiggle room if they couldn't commit to coming out to each of their teams three games per week. Connelly said this dramatically reduced the number of forfeitures this season; there was only one, compared to it being a more regular occurrence in years past.

Even though last week was the end of what Connelly called "the best finals in years," the league isn't done quite yet.

Connelly said the league is sponsoring a team to represent Rankin and the Kivalliq at the slo-pitch territorials in Iqaluit, which is scheduled to take place over the September long weekend. Baker Lake will also be hosting a slo-pitch tournament that weekend, and the league is sponsoring M&T to go represent Rankin in that competition.

As well, there will be a league fundraising bingo on Sept. 7, and the season's wrap-up awards ceremony will take place in late September or early October. Connelly said the date will be announced soon.

"We continue to have tremendous community support," said Connelly.

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