They may have lost the gold medal match at the provincial championships, but the Fraser Valley Fusion 97 fastpitch team left a lasting impression thanks to a wonderful display of sportsmanship earlier in the tournament.
The Fusion fell 7-0 to the Delta Heat 97 in the championship final of the U16 A provincials, which were held at Victoria鈥檚 Helmcken Park at the end of July.
During the team鈥檚 playoff game against Surrey 鈥� when a loss would have dashed their chances of winning a medal 鈥� an opposing player hit a three-run home run to tie the game. But while rounding first base, she twisted her ankle and by the time she got to third base, was in serious pain. Because she was already on the base paths, it was too late for a pinch runner and any assistance from a coach or trainer would have resulted in her being called out.
And that is when the Fusion players took over.
Remembering a similar story from an when an opposing team carried a player home, the Fusion players went up and picked up the player and helped her cross home plate for the tying run with the fans cheering them on.
鈥淚t was awesome,鈥� said Fusion coach Gord O鈥橤rady.
鈥淭hey did it completely on their own; they knew it was the right thing to do (and) it was a very special moment I won鈥檛 ever forget.鈥�
The Fusion would go on to win the game 9-7, as well as one more game against the Surrey Storm 98 to make it to the semifinals.
And in that game, Fraser Valley played 鈥渢he game of their lives鈥� in upsetting the top-seed White Rock Renegades 97 2-0 with a great defensive performance.
But playing their 10th game in three days against a well-rested Delta squad proved too much as the Fusion fell 7-0.
Fraser Valley had gone 3-1 in the round robin to place fourth and advance to the playoff round. Altogether, the team went 7-3 at provincials.
The team consists of: Callum Pilgrim, Chloe Adams, Courtney O鈥橤ardy, Hailey Motherwell, Julia Harris,
Kristen Rodgrigues, Laura Stevens, Paige Chalmer, Paige Taylor, Sarah Beaton
Shae Domitruk, Shannon Chick, Coaches: Gord O鈥橤ardy, Loyd Chalmer & Jenny Mckellar
