This isn't the first time these words have been spoken: The PCI Saints are Zone 4 fastpitch champions, again.

Kassidy Cunningham pitched a complete game and Marisa Fraser had two RBIs, as the Portage Collegiate Institute (PCI) Saints held off a late charge to defeat the Morden Thunder 9-8 and capture the Manitoba High School Athletics Association (MHSAA) Zone 4 fastpitch championship for a fourth straight season Wednesday afternoon at Republic Park in Portage la Prairie.

PCI's Marisa Fraser celebrates among teammates following the team's 9-8 win over the Morden Thunder in the Zone 4 fastpitch final May 24 at Republic Park. (photo by Matt Hermiz)

“That's the first time in PCI history for our program that a team has won four in a row,” said Saints coach Cam Asham. “We're definitely happy and very proud of it.”

The Saints plated two runs in the fifth inning to break open a tight ball game, taking a 7-3 lead. But Morden answered right back with three runs in the sixth to make it 7-6. The Saints then scored two more in the bottom half to go up 9-6. But Morden began another rally in the seventh, scoring two runs after an errant throw that also allowed the tying run to reach first. Cunningham was able to induce a ground ball to end the game.

“I didn't mind that Morden answered us and put a little pressure on us,” Asham said. “It's good for us to play games like that. We're happy we came out on top.”

Kassidy Cunningham struck out three and pitched a complete game, seven innings, to pick up the win on the mound in the Zone 4 final. (photo by Matt Hermiz)

It was the second time the Saints beat Morden Tuesday, after advancing to the final with a 7-2 win. PCI also scored a 9-2 victory over the Sanford Sabres in the quarter-finals.

The Saints (8-0) capped another dominant Zone 4 season, posting a plus-88 run differential with 102 runs scored and just 14 runs against — just six against prior to the Zone final.

Up next for PCI is the MHSAA Provincial Fastpitch Championship in Mitchell, Man., June 2-3. The Saints enter the tournament as two-time defending champions. The team's head coach isn't worried about the target the runaway favourites will have on their backs as they compete for a third straight provincial title.

“Everybody always wants to take down the defending champions,” Asham noted. “Whether it's us, or whoever it is, that's just the nature of it. We always talk about just worrying about playing our own game and not worrying about anything, so that's what we'll try to do.”