Fort Smith's Stinky Selects win big in Prov
Fort Providence slo-pitch tournament drew teams from Deh Cho, North Slave and South Slave
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, August 25, 2016
DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE
After two full days of slo-pitch in Fort Providence's baseball field, Fort Smith's Stinky Selects climbed over the competition to seize a first-place victory in the hamlet's first tournament in years.
Gus Mandville of the 2 Base Allstars takes a swing. - photo courtesy of Thorsten Gohl
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Some put the count as high as 15 years since Fort Providence last hosted a slo-pitch tournament. Kicking off Aug. 20, the tournament ran for two days and drew in four teams from across the Northwest Territories, including a team from Yellowknife, one from Fort Simpson and a home team from Fort Providence.
Facing off against the Stinky Selects in the finals were the 2 Base Allstars from Yellowknife, who fell just short of winning and took second place instead. In third place was Fort Providence's Mackenzie Brew Jays, and bringing up the rear was Fort Simpson's team, the Village People - also listed on the team sheet as the Dirtiest Islanders.
Colinda Blondin, who played with the 2 Base Allstars, said it was fun to see the teams come together, and there was no shortage of laughter on the field and off during the course of the tournament.
"It was great to see everyone come out and play," she said.
"Hopefully, this tournament continues and gets bigger every year."
Despite taking fourth place, Fort Simpson's players were upbeat following the tournament. After losing the last game, the team gave three cheers for Fort Providence, who beat them.
"It was a great tournament," said team member Gordon Thompson, adding his own wish for the tournament to turn into an annual event.
Thompson said his team played with nine people instead of 10, due to a last-minute cancellation. Despite that, the tournament held some important moments for the team, including the celebration of one teammate's birthday.
Mike Squirrel, who Thompson credits as being one of Fort Simpson's key baseball players, had his birthday celebrated by both Fort Simpson's and Fort Providence's teams on Aug. 20.
"Playing with him was a lot of fun. The best part was when our two teams came together and sang Happy Birthday to him after the game," Thompson said.
As for the tournament itself, Thompson's team was determined to make it out to the tournament even without a full roster of players.
"Fort Providence came two years in a row to (Fort Simpson's) slo-pitch tournament," Thompson said.
"Simpson was coming to Providence's no matter what."
Andre Bolduc, hamlet recreation co-ordinator and the man behind the tournament, said he was happy with the way the tournament went.
Hamlet workers had spent weeks prior to the tournament readying the field for play. By the time the tournament rolled around, only a couple issues had not been rectified, including one of the bases being incomplete.
That caused a few problems, Bolduc said, adding that everyone had a good time regardless.
"Two weeks ago, the field was a train wreck. I'm impressed at how much we did," he said.
"Even though it's not quite up to standards, it's good for Fort Providence standards."
As for the Fort Smith winners, Bolduc said the Stinky Selects' prowess came as no surprise, given the time they put into practising and the number of tournaments they go to.
"They're in a league of their own. They've been playing together in a lot of tournaments," he said.
"The main part was that people had fun. The goal was to have some people come to town, and to have something different."
