Experience, persistence and a four-run sixth inning helped the Roadhouse Pirates lockdown a spot in this year's Whitehorse Fastball League final.

Trailing 5-0 after two innings against a tough Casa Loma squad, Roadhouse went to work. The group scored its first run against the Jays in the third and then began chipping away at its deficit, before tying it up in the fifth inning.

The final score ended up 9-7.

"There was a real loose mood in the dugout, even when we were down," said Pirates pitcher Mike Tuton. "Nobody was worried, nobody panicked; we just knew we had to smarten up and go to work."

Winning this past weekend helped Roadhouse avoid having to play in the semi-finals, which is what Casa Loma now must do this coming Sunday. The winner of the semi-finals will then take on Roadhouse later that night. All games in the Whitehorse Fastball League are played on Diamond Two in the Pepsi Softball Complex.

Tuton said he had some trouble early on against Casa Loma, resulting in the Jays scoring two runs in the first and three in the second.

"I had a tough time finding my control and finding the strike zone."

The league's playoff format featured a page playoff system, based on a team's standings from the regular season.

The opening game included the number one ranked Pirates against the Jays, which finished second overall.

Game two followed and was between third placed Cinderwood Cardinals and the Chilkoot Steel Oldtimers.

This game was also a back and forth battle, but one that was unfortunately decided before the opening pitch.

As a result of not having enough players, the Cardinals had to forfeit. However, both teams agreed to play with Cinderwood, picking up some of the players on Casa Loma's roster.

The end result came with a 10-9 final inning victory for Cinderwood that must have been bitter-sweet for its players.

The Oldtimers struck first in the top of the opening inning. Dave Hecker showed off his speed and flexibility, diving head first into home, just beating the tag with an outstretched arm.

Chilkoot Steel added one more run in the inning before the third out was made.

Cinderwood also showed its offensive capabilities in the first inning.

With two down, the team took a 3-2 lead and then added a couple more thanks to Graham Cowman, who fought off a number of pitches before singling to right field.

With the score tied up in the third, the Oldtimers got back on the bats.

The team benefitted from two doubles, hit by Doug Hook and Mike Gleason. Both Gleason and Hook recorded two RBIs on the play. For Gleason it was his second two-run double of the contest.

The Cardinals showed a bit of two out magic in the bottom of the third. With the bases loaded, the squad scored a pair, before Rob LaRose doubled to tie the contests up at 9-9.

The fourth inning was the final one and looked like it could be another big one for the Oldtimers, who loaded the bases up with just one out.

Cardinals pitcher Jesse Ritchie helped out his own cause, first fielding a grounder and throwing it to home to get the force out. Ritchie then struck out the next batter to escape the inning.

With runners on third and second, Casa Loma sub Currie Dixon hit the game winning single.

Gleason, who plays third base for the Oldtimers, said despite qualifying for the semi-finals, he would have preferred Cinderwood not having to forfeit.

"You always want to win on the field, not in a forfeit," he said. "I would much rather play the game, which is unfortunate for their team because at the beginning of the year they had lots of players.

"Games should be played on the field, that's where I prefer to play it."

LaRose, who plays on second for the Cardinals, was disappointed about the season being over, but said he was glad about playing that last game.

"I was tired and sore and everything from the weekend, but I still was looking forward to playing tonight, so I am really glad we played," he said. "This was a great experience and it's something we can build on for next year for sure."

He said the team got better as the season went on.

"We were getting our butts handed to us, pretty easily and then with every Sunday that rolled around we got better and better," LaRose said. "With no doubt at all, I think we would have done very well if we had our whole entire team here."

Despite being eliminated from the playoffs, LaRose said he plans on watching the final this coming Sunday.