CORNER BROOK Kathy Miles had to avail of icepacks after the game, but she wasn't feeling too much pain after her team picked up its first win of the women's softball season.
Miles scored the winning run in the home half of the seventh inning after winning pitcher Nikki Rose was hit by a pitch as the Health & Performance IcePacks rallied for seven runs to defeat the West Side Monarchs 12-11 at Fred Basha Memorial Park B Diamond.
Miles was beaned in the leg by an offering from Monarchs hurler Laura Prosper early in the contest and had a huge welt on her leg with the imprint of the ball.
She was all smiles as she crossed home plate with the winning run as members of the team came out of the dugout to share in the momentous occasion. The girls were so excited about the comeback win that they forgot to fill out the scoresheet showing Rose had reached first after being hit by the pitch to force in the winning run as Prosper tried to shut the door with the bases jammed.
"The pain is still there, but it's subsiding," a chuckling Miles said after the game.
Myles had a solid game on defence and also smacked two singles in her six plate appearances.
The IcePacks are the new kids on the block this summer as the Corner Brook Molson Women's Softball League expanded to a fifth team. The team has taken its knocks as they learn the game, but it was clear as the light sprinkling rain that fell on the final inning that this group was very happy with their effort.
Julia Goudie is playing her first year of fast-pitch softball, but she has become a leader on the IcePacks and takes charge of the game from the catcher's box. She belted a double and two singles to aid the cause for the Icepacks.
"We feel awesome. It's our first win and it's a big one," Goudie said after the game.
Goudie was proud of her teammates for putting it all together in the seventh inning. She likes the fact the team never quit and kept plugging away to the final out.
"We did a lot of hitting tonight, the girls played awesome in the field and the pitching was there," she said. "Overall, it was an awesome game."
Nikki Rose outduelled Laura Prosper in the pitcher's circle to record the big W. Prosper held the Icepacks at bay for the first six innings as the newcomers had trouble catching up to her fastball, but she was visibly upset after the game knowing the big lead that slipped away.
"Ran out of steam, it was getting dark and it was raining so the weather does have an affect on your pitching for sure," Prosper said.
Despite being disappointed in her performance, Prosper had praise for her opponents.
"They're a new team and they got heart and soul,"she said of the IcePacks. "They love to play the game and despite the weather they had a good time and come out on top.
Melissa Martin had a productive game for the Icepacks going 2-for-3 with a walk, while Jen Crane added a two-run single to the scoring parade.
Deanne Blanchard was the top hitter for the Monarchs going 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, while Tracey Pelley supported the offence with a three-hit game.
