A Whitehorse softball team did away with a decade-old “Canadian curse” in Dawson City over the Labour Day weekend.

Dave’s Cleaning Crew became the first team in more than 10 years to earn a podium finish at the Dawson City softball tournament – finishing third behind two powerhouse teams from Alaska.

Tournament organizer Dawn Kisoun proudly proclaimed: “The Canadian Curse has been lifted!” in front of a full audience at Diamond Tooth Gerties at the awards ceremony Aug. 31. To organizers’ recollection, a Canadian team has not placed in the top three in the annual co-ed tournament for some 10 years.

Dave’s Cleaning Crew ended the drought by compiling a 7-2 record en route to third place.

The Crew reeled off three straight victories to open their tournament.

Wins over Whitehorse’s JT Bears, 24-7, and the Wounded Deere, 16-4, put the Crew in the A bracket.

They went on to beat the Inuvik Bears 10-6 before coming up short against the Road Kill Dingos, losing 13-5 to the all- star team out of Anchorage who has won four out of the last five tournaments.

The Crew lost one of their top female players in this game when Karlie Knight was hit in the face with a relay throw as she was sliding into second for an RBI double.

The throw broke Knight’s jaw and resulted in a few loose teeth.

With only one life remaining in the double-elimination bracket, the Crew responded with an 8-5 squeaker over an Inuvik team, and then drubbed Fairbanks’ Here for Beer 15-5.

They went on to pummel the NAC Nasties from Alaska 19-4 in less than five innings.

Tired but undeterred, the Crew immediately took the field again to squeak out a 13-10 win over another perennial Anchorage powerhouse, Wetsu.

The win put the Crew on a collision course with the Road Kill Dingos for a chance at redemption and a berth in the finals against the defending champion Fairbanks Skeeters.

Up 8-5 after the first, the Crew was shut down for the next four innings, ultimately losing 22-12 to finish in third place.

Team members include: Geoff Callahan, Bryden Cook, Bubba Demchuk, Jeremy Harper, Sharmane Jones, Karlie Knight, Flo Kushniruk, Dakota Organ, Katlyn Reynolds, Shayla Roulston, James Semaschuk, Michelle Semaschuk, Robin Smith, and Shari Wrixon.