The Portage Collegiate Saints held the Zone 4 fastpitch playoffs today at Rotary Republic of Manitobah Park. PCI was the runner-up in the one-day postseason event, and made it to the finals in an impressive fashion. 

The Saints started the day taking down the W.C. Miller Aces 7-2 and then had a rematch with the top-seeded Northlands Parkway Nighthawks. The Nighthawks were the only undefeated team coming into the playoffs and they defeated PCI in their previous matchup.

Portage entered the bottom of the final inning with a 3-2 lead and had ninth-grader Ella Harkness on the mound. She was able to get the first out rather quickly, but gave up a few consecutive hits, which loaded the bases. Harkness says this was when she became very nervous.

"I was just scared. I didn't want to throw the ball over the catcher and have someone run in," says Harkness.

After a timeout was called to settle everything down, the young pitcher proceeded to strikeout the next two batters to hold onto the 3-2 lead and move PCI onto the finals. Harkness adds it was really exciting to see everyone in the dugout run to her and celebrate.

Ella Harkness wearing the player of the game jacket.Ella Harkness wearing the Saints' 'Player of the Game' jacket after her performance against Northlands Parkway.

On the other side of the bracket was the Carman/Miami Cougars, who had a bye in the first round of the playoffs and took down the Morden Thunder 3-1 to get to the championship game.

In the final, the Cougars defeated the Saints in a nail-biter, squeaking out a 2-1 victory. Pitcher Caitlin Anderson describes the biggest keys to the win.

"We never put our heads down after a bad play," Anderson explains. "We always shake things off, stay positive, keep going, and come together."

The Cougars were energetic in the dugout throughout the entire day and Anderson notes they feed off that.

"It always lights a fire under us and we've always been like that. It's kind of what we do," says Anderson. "It brings us up."

The 2022 Zone 4 Fastpitch Champions: The Carman/Miami CougarsThe 2022 Zone 4 Fastpitch Champions: Carman/Miami Cougars.