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Juggernauts even the score
Rankin softball team claims co-ed title

Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Rankin Inlet
The Juggernauts took the latest round in their growing rivalry with M&T by claiming the Rankin Inlet Co-ed Softball League championship last month.

The Juggernauts edged M&T 12-7 to take the best-of-five series three games to two.

M&T defeated the Juggernauts the week before to claim the Calm Air Cup championship.

The rivalry between the two teams - M&T comprised mostly of solid veteran players and the Juggernauts armed with a talented group of young sluggers - has been blooming for the past three years.

The two teams both have a chance to claim bragging rights for the 2013 season if either can take the title at the annual Baker Lake tournament this coming week.

The Juggernauts' James Merritt took the ball when starting pitcher Gloria Kaludjak started to struggle in game one, and toed the rubber the rest of the way.

Tracey Lindell took Merritt's spot at third base and put in a solid performance at the hot corner during the series.

Merritt said, in his opinion, the growing rivalry is good for the game in Rankin.

He said while the league is all about having fun, he enjoys the rivalry when the two teams take the field.

"I play every sport to win," said Merritt. "After losing the last game in the Calm Air Cup to M&T, our team really wanted to beat them in the final."

Merritt said he hopes the two teams meet for the title again in Baker, but knows it won't be easy.

He said he expects Baker's top team to be loaded with its best players.

Merritt said he expects cooler weather in Baker. He said he doesn't know what the conditions will be like on Baker's new field. On the old field, the wind was always blowing in to home plate, making things easier on the pitchers, he said.

Merritt said he enjoys playing on Rankin's artificial turf, but he's not sure it's improved the calibre of ball.

He said the league has seemed less competitive during the past couple of years, except for the top three teams.

"I'd like to see it more balanced with, maybe, captains picking the teams," he said, adding that would keep the league competitive, and still fun to play. "It's a for-fun league, and it is a lot of fun to play with your friends, so, I don't know, it's a tough decision."

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