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Whistler Tyte tight in Slo-Pitch Nationals

While most people spent their long weekends lounging at the lakes, the Whistler Tyte co-ed slo-pitch team was challenging for national supremacy in the competitive Co-Ed B Division in eight games at Spruce Grove last weekend.

While most people spent their long weekends lounging at the lakes, the Whistler Tyte co-ed slo-pitch team was challenging for national supremacy in the competitive Co-Ed B Division in eight games at Spruce Grove last weekend.

After qualifying for the spot in the nationals with a top-four finish in the provincials last season, the Tyte had the opportunity to compete at home in the Molson Slo-Pitch Nationals against the top teams from across Canada.

The Tyte played well in the round robin, losing just one game to CJC 2000 of St Nicephore, Quebec.

They advanced to the play-offs, coming from behind in the seventh inning to beat an Alberta team in the semi-finals. Moving onto the finals, they faced the CJC 2000 once again, losing 16-10. Most teams agreed that the CJC 2000 were probably good enough to win the Co-ed A division title.

"We had a really good tournament, and rallied through some tough games, but were dealt a really tough hand for the finals," said Alberto Corso, player, coach and sponsor for the Tyte. "The only two games we lost were to (CJC 2000), who were just unbeatable."

The Nationals in Whistler featured Co-Ed A and B divisions, and included 16 teams from across Canada.

Corso was proud of the way the Tyte Whistler played, and was amazed by the progress of the team.

"We’ve been together for four or five years now, started off in E (division), and worked our way up to B (division). Now after this tournament we’re being pushed up to A division. Whistler’s never had a Co-Ed A team before," he said.

The Tyte played eight games in total, including five games on the Sunday in temperatures approaching 30 degrees. Still, the home team had more than 200 fans out to cheer, which Corso said helped the team.

Corso’s favourite moment of the tournament came in the bottom of the seventh inning in the semi-finals when the Tyte were down by one run with two outs on the board, and Keenan Hood on second, and Cory Van Warmer on third.

Whistler’s Georgina Titus was up. She drove the ball right at the feet of the pitcher, where it bounced off her shoe towards the third base line. The third baseman had to scramble to get to it and make the play, and overthrew the first baseman.

Both Van Warmer and Hood made it home on the error, winning the game for Whistler.

"We just went nuts, jumping up and down and hugging each other, and the fans were screaming," said Corso. "It was pretty awesome.

"Then we went on to the finals, got beaten, and then stayed up until 6 a.m. partying with the team from Quebec."

Titus went on to win the women’s MVP award for their division.

The Tyte had 15 players on their roster this season: Lori Glazier, Georgina Titus, Candace Graham, Karen Garrett, Jolen Moore, Karenn Delmare, Alberto Corso, Don Ried, Jeff Shantz, Jeff McLean, Keenan Hood, Cory Van Warmer, John Dancy, Jesse Demers and Bill Harvey.

Also in the Co-ed B Division, third place went the Langley Blaze, giving B.C. two out of the top three spots in Canada.

In the Co-Ed A National Championships, the Burnaby Taz edged out the Port-Coquitlam Dawgz to take the national title. The Magic of Dawson Creek were third, giving B.C. a sweep of the top-three.

For more information on the tournament or the Slo-Pitch Nationals, visit www.slo-pitch.com.