Telkwa, B.C. – The Grinders, a softball powerhouse team featuring a blend of talent from the Warriors, Grinders, and Traitors, made an indelible mark at the Telkwa BBQ Tournament over the Labour Day weekend.
Competing against 23 other teams in a double-elimination tournament, the Grinders’ impressive run nearly brought them the championship.
Damon Fladmark, one of the team’s key contributors, praised the roster.
“The team we put together this year boasted a ton of power and speed,” he said, noting that they balanced offence and defence.
The Grinders wasted no time asserting their dominance. In their opening game, they routed the Wild Cats with a lopsided 21-1 victory, leaving the Cats scrambling to keep pace.
They carried that momentum forward into Game 2, where they cruised past the Growlers 14-1, solidifying themselves as one of the top teams.
Game 3 brought a matchup against the Big Dogs and a battle for the division title. The Grinders’ offence stayed hot, and despite a strong opponent, they came out on top with a 16-11 win, securing the division crown and propelling themselves into the playoffs with confidence.
The Grinders put on a softball clinic in the opening playoff game, shutting out JLX with a flawless 11-0 performance.
Their bats were on fire, and their defence was rock solid. In the evening they faced the Hitmen in a higher-scoring affair, but their relentless attack carried them to a 22-13 win.
After a well-earned night of celebration, the Grinders returned the next day with the same energy and dispatched Prestige with a convincing 19-11 victory.
But their undefeated streak ended in a thrilling contest against the Amigos, where they fell in a 15-13 nail-biter that marked their first loss in the tournament.
Despite the setback, the Grinders remained in contention for the title. They had to defeat the Hitmen once again to reach the championship and the Grinders rose to the occasion, knocking off the Hitmen 17-12.
In the championship final, the Grinders had a chance for redemption against the Amigos.
They battled hard, but came up just short of the Amigos, falling 16-11. The Grinders’ explosive offence was still on full display, but the Amigos edge them out.
Reflecting on the tournament, Damon Fladmark had nothing but praise for his squad.
“Our ladies played phenomenally, coming up clutch in two-out situations with big hits.”
“It never seemed like the pressure got to them, he added.
“We know as a team that we can win any of these tournaments that we travel to.”