The Blizzard Bantam girls have qualified for the provincial Women's Softball Association championship by winning bronze in a regional qualifier in Palmerston.

The PWSA grand championship will be held at the Blizzard's home fields in Ancaster Aug. 8-10.

The girls opened their qualifier weekend with a 24-0 domination of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Tarah Patis led the way with five RBIs, and Chantal Savidant was three for four in a game where every Blizzard player recorded at least one hit. Rachael Sinclair had to leave the game after injuring her ankle.

The Blizzard returned to the diamond Saturday afternoon to face the red hot squad from London and dropped a disappointing 10-2 decision. Tina Watkins and Alex Anstett both had two hits. Britt Lickers was injured as a result of a ball taking a bad hop. The loss meant the Blizzard was down to 10 players and on the brink of elimination.

The Blizzard then edged Cambridge 13-12 under the Saturday night lights. The bats were alive as the Blizzard had 17 hits. Melissa Jeffreys was three for five with the game-winning home run in the top of the final inning.

Leading the cause

Madison Lennon and Kelsey Harpur were also three for five. Chantal Savidant was two for four and led the cause with four RBIs. Lisa Schellenberger was the starting pitcher before yielding to Jeffreys who came on to finish off the game, stranding the winning run on second base.

Overnight rains led to a soggy field on Sunday morning, as the Blizzard faced Kitchener Klassics in the bronze medal game. Once again the bats were booming in a 7-4 win. It was another double digit hit performance as Anstett, Lennon, and Savidant each had two hits. Harpur and Schellenberger led the Blizzard with two RBIs each. Jeffrey recorded a four-hitter. Schellenberger came on to close it out, giving up only two hits.

The girls had a chance for a silver medal in a game that immediately followed, but their fifth game in two days resulted in a disappointing 11-1 loss against Guelph. Britty Longboat and Natalie Hodge pitched well but the Blizzard lapsed defensively.

The team, coached by Bernie Anstett, Mark Hodge, Larry Patis and Bob Harpur thanks sponsors Saxon Athletics, MicroAge Technology Services and KAT Sales & Service.