The Women’s A final between The Crew and Electric RBIs, the penultimate game of Dustball 2019, provided the fans plenty of fireworks on Sunday at the Pepsi Softball Centre.

At the end of seven innings, the teams were tied at 13 apiece and needed extra innings to decide the champion. In extra innings each team started with one out and the batting team was able to place a runner on second base.

The Crew had not led for any portion of the game during regular innings.

In extras, their defence was a brick wall and the RBI batters could not advance their runner on second as both batters were made quick work of one getting thrown out and the other popping out to left field.

Although The Crew trailed for the majority of the game infielder Florence Kushniruk said doubt never crept into the team’s dugout.

“We have a really strong team,” said Kushniruk, “I think we click. It is a lot of fun atmosphere and positive attitude in the dugout. We don’t ever get down on each other, it’s all about the team.”

RBI built a six-run lead in the first two innings and played stout defence holding The Crew scoreless. The Crew managed to get their bats working but could never overtake the RBI side who always had an answer with runs of their own.

It was not the ideal start for the team.

“No, no,” said Kushniruk while elongating the last no. “I had a couple of good misses, I could swing the bat. It’s been a rough one but we definitely pulled it through.”

Florence said they just kept trying to chip away at the lead.

“One base at a time, one hit at a time,” said Kushniruk.

The teams played against each other on Saturday to determine who would go straight through to the final.

The Crew managed to pull off the win on Saturday.

“We did have a really good game against them yesterday but we were batting,” said Kushniruk. “We were on our bats and hitting every hole. This time we had the rough start put pulled it through in the end.”

The Crew, who batted at the bottom of the innings, trailed going into the seventh and managed to go on a rally to notch the game at 13. With the bases loaded and the game on the line, their batter made good contact but the RBI shortstop made a highlight-reel catch to send it to extras.

It was Florence who in extras drove in the final run.

“I was shaking, because I had a rough game. I’m still shaking,” said Kushniruk “I just wanted to make some contact. I was chipping underneath it and putting a lot of pop- flys out there. I wanted to just drive through that centre.

“She is a good shortstop so just drive through her. That was the plan.”

Once Kushniruk’s drive hit the grass of the outfield the third-base coach waved the runner on second home. There was no throw from the outfield and The Crew exploded out of the dugout to celebrate.

Kushniruk said The Crew and RBI have a nice rivalry building.

“They’re a tough team. They are always on top,” said Kushniruk. “We always meet them in the finals. We are definitely rivals. We are good friends, but rivals.”