The Dustball tournament wrapped up this weekend at the Pepsi Softball Centre in Whitehorse with an extremely exciting Men’s A Final that ended with a walk-off hit as the Chicos from Alaska downed the Rustlers from Whitehorse 20-19.

Up 19-18 after going into the final inning leading 19-16, the Rustlers intentionally walked a batter to load the bases for the third time in the game. The first two times brought mixed results, with the strategy successful once and not so much the other time.

This time, Chicos Captain Andre Bykowski was given a free pass to first. That brought up Andrew Schreiner with one out and the bases juiced. He came through with a hit to left field and the celebration ensued.

“We left it right to the end and that was our closest game that we’ve had so far,” said Bykowski.

“Brought the team together Thursday night with eight guys, nine, 10, so, second in a row and yeah, it’s a great feeling.

“We won in 2019. It was our first time and then with COVID we had to wait a while, so put this team together. We have three Whitehorse guys, a Haines (Alaska) and the rest are Skagway guys.”

Bykowski was asked if there was any doubt in his mind that the Chicos would come back.

“A little bit here and there when we were down seven but we just put one good inning together. We didn’t score a lot of runs – just a tough team, one through 10. Gotta keep believin’,” said Bykowski.

“We’re bringin’ this one back to Skagway, for sure,” he added.

Rustlers coach Tal Goodkey thought it was a good game as well.

“We played really well. We were down quite a bit in the first two innings but we fought back and took it to them but, unfortunately, they had last bat and that’s the way it goes.”

The Rustlers came back from a 10-1 deficit in the early innings, eventually pulling ahead 14-10.

Goodwin said they had a great tournament overall.

“We played really well. The is our national team that we have together – minus a couple of guys – so it was a good startup and warmup for us, so hopefully we’ll carry it on into the Nationals.”

Goodkey is looking forward to the Nationals.

“Absolutely. We’ve got a great team and a lot of good guys and solid players so hopefully we’ll do OK.”

Prior to the Men’s A Final was the Women’s Final, which saw Royal Flush mercy-rule Dave’s Cleaning Crew 18-6 in five innings. Royal Flush coach Laura Whitty said she felt “pretty good” after the victory.

“It’s kind of leading up to the Nationals so it was a good tournament, the first one we got to play against a bunch of ladies teams, so it feels pretty good to come out on the winning side,” she said.

“It went well. We batted well, we fielded well and it was a well-played game.

“They beat us once this tournament, so it was nice to come back and get a couple of wins off them. Yesterday (Saturday) we beat them. On Friday they beat us by one run,” she added.

Expecting this easy of a win?

“No, definitely not expecting an easy win,” said Whitty. “That’s a very good team and a very well-hitting team, so we were coming in expecting a very close game, for sure.”

Whitty is now looking forward to the Nationals, which take place in Whitehorse, starting July 29.

“I think we’re looking good. Everybody’s feeling really good now that we played together. It’s a new team, so (it) kinda came together really well.”

The Crew’s coach, Dan Jordan, said it was a long weekend for the team.

“We’re playing co-ed, we’re playing ladies, but no excuse. We enjoyed it. We wanted to do better in the final but that’s the way it goes sometimes.

“We gotta get ready for Nationals here now at the end of the month and we’re gonna put some time in together. We haven’t had a lot of that, you know. The last two years was difficult but we’re looking forward to what’s coming.

The two teams had a couple of good battles before the final.

“We did,” agreed Jordan. “We’re not new to each other and it’s always a good competitive game. Obviously today is a little different but it’s always good competition playing them.”

In co-ed action, the Bearcats clawed their way to victory over Triple J in the D Division.

Total North exterminated the Killer Bee’s in the A Division.

Fountain Tire downed Twin Peaks in the B Division.

And the Barbarians slaughtered the Cereal Killers in the C Division.

In Men’s B action, Royal Flush made the Pirates walk the plank.

And in the Men’s C Division, the River Rats buried Jats Landscaping.

Outgoing Softball Yukon Executive Director George Arcand enjoyed his final Dustball tourney.

“It was great Dustball. To have it come back like this with the weather we have, being able to play everything up top (at Pepsi Softball Centre and Takhini) made it easier on all the players. Nobody’s driving downtown ... games were good; lots of close games; lots going into extra innings, tiebreakers – it was good.”

Arcand was asked how it felt for this to be his last Dustball.

“Awesome. I’m glad I was here to have it come back from pandemic times and we had a great one and I’m sure everybody here will carry on.”

Arcand added they are doing a goodbye to Gerry Thicke on July 23 at the Pepsi Centre from 1 to 6 p.m.

“We’re going to toast one for Gerry, tell some stories and say our goodbyes.”

And of course, the SPN (Slo-Pitch National) Men’s and Women’s ‘E’ Nationals start here in Whitehorse on July 29 and go to Aug. 1.