Winners in the weekend’s opening tournaments for both Division 2 and 3 of the Whitehorse Mixed Co-Ed Slo-pitch League did it the hard way, but they did it.

HUB International lost their first game to Wounded Deere first thing Saturday morning but managed to navigate through the back door for the next four games, including a 12-11 final against the BCL Group Knights.

In Division 3 action, The Franchise dropped their opener Friday night but went on to defeat the Whitehorse Physio Jays by a decisive 27-12 in the final.

HUB coach Tarra Mikeli said the team did “totally awesome” in what is only their second year in Division 2.

HUB players have come a long way in all aspects of the game, she said, eluding to their catching and hitting.

“It’s so wonderful.”

Mikeli noted they lost their first game to Wounded Deere 19-17 after defeating them 33-18 the night before during regular season play.

Following the loss Saturday morning, the HUB returned to batting all 14 players in the lineup, and it worked out, she said.

After winning their second game Saturday morning, the HUB moved onto Sunday and earned their tournament title by winning three back-to-back games. They defeated the Fountain Tire Mudders first thing, moved on to their win against Floor by Floor and then defeated the Knights in a squeaker.

With the Knights earning home field advantage by virtue of their undefeated record, they had last bats and were a hit away from taking the championship with runners on third and second in the bottom of the seventh with two out.

Mikeli said with the two runners in scoring position, Knights slugger Luke Lindquist sent one sailing deep into left field, forcing HUB left fielder Trevor Matthews to come up with she called an amazing catch.

Matthews, she added, was making amazing diving catches through the weekend and the final out was no different.

“It was a really good weekend,” Mikeli said. “We were definitely on our bats, that is for sure.

“There was some awesome plays but our bats definitely came alive this weekend.”

“It definitely a long road,” Franchise coach Mike Arnold said this morning of his club’s march through the back door to the Division 3 title. “You hate losing that first game because it makes it hard on yourself, and sure enough, that is what we did.”

Arnold said the club’s solid hitting was of course key to their victory but it was what he described as a stellar and steady defence that propelled them to the weekend victory.

“Our defence was spectacular,” said the coach. “We allowed very few runs compared to what we usually do. Our defence was really what came through for us.”

In the final, the two teams headed into the sixth inning with only one run separating them. Franchise sealed the deal with five runs in the top of the sixth and another eight or nine in seventh.

If there was one player who stood out for The Franchise through their five games it was Hannah Milner, he said.

Arnold said Milner played short stop, not a position usually played by women in co-ed slo-pitch.

“She dove for balls, she was picking everything up and had a strong arm,” he said. “Her bat was strong all weekend, and she was definitely our most valuable player.”