INUVIK - Local female athletes wouldn't let Inuvik's slo-pitch season come to a close without showing off their skills as a group. Forty-two women, aged 13 and up, took over the ball diamond last weekend for Inuvik's first ever all-women's slo-pitch tournament.

The players broke into four teams - two of them Twilight-themed - and hit the still-soggy field Saturday morning, not letting the previous night's rain dampen their spirits.

Inuvik's first all-women's slo-pitch tournament was held last weekend, with proud victors Team Jacob winning 16-3 over the Forty Pounders. The final game ended well after midnight on Saturday, Aug. 7. From left are Lena Allen-Sharpe (won most inspirational/dedicated award), Alison Lennie, Alayna Pingo, Shelley Wolki, Rebecca Kaglik, Joey McCarthy, Thomas Anthony, Tanya Gruben, Shayna Allen, and in front, 13-year-old Ashlyn Hendrick (tournament MVP). - photo courtesy of Alison Lennie

After a solid 12 hours of play, from before noon till after midnight, Team Jacob emerged victorious - though not against Team Edward. The final score was 16-3 for Team Jacob over the 40 Pounders. Team Edward and the A-Rods Angels team also participated in the tournament.

Erica Lugt, who has been playing softball since she was 13, came into the tournament feeling confident since she pitched a tournament-winning game for her team Lakes and Rivers in the Midnight Sun Slo-Pitch tournament late last month against her arch-nemesis team Mackenzie Valley Construction (MVC).

"There's a lot of talent out there. It's just a positive thing for people to come out and join. It's a good thing for the community," Lugt said. "We like to go out there and have fun, but this tournament meant a little more. I wanted to win because this was our third time facing them in the finals, so I really wanted to beat them."

That second-place team, MVC, happened to be headed by organizer Mickey Ipana, who decided with his wife, Leah, that local women are far too talented at the sport to go unrecognized. Then, the idea of an all-women's tournament came into play.

"I just wanted to organize something for the ladies," Ipana said. "It's always men this, men that. Why not give them a shot to have some fun too?"

Organizers put up a fence in the ballpark to ensure "some good home runs," Ipana said, and by the end of the tournament, no one was disappointed by the quality of play.

"It was great ball," said Ipana. "Best tournament, by far, all summer. I tip my hat to all the women that played."

It looks like the all-women's slo-pitch tournament may become an annual summertime event in Inuvik. Ipana said organizers are planning to run not just another tournament, but an entire women's slo-pitch league next summer.

"If I don't, these women will never talk to me again," Ipana joked.

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