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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - How does a team win a title without winning a game in the round-robin? Just ask the HBC D-Backs.

HBC D-Backs catcher Darin Strain takes a mighty cut at the ball during the title game of the NWT Men's Fastpitch Championship at Tommy Forrest Park on July 17. - James McCarthy/NNSL photo

The Yk men's fastpitch squad did just that as they took the long route to capture the NWT Men's Fastpitch Championship over the Hay River Heat in a 12-8, eight-inning title game on July 17, winning their first territorial crown as a team.

As mentioned, HBC failed to win a game in the round-robin section with only a tie to show from their two games, that coming against the Sub-Arctic Surveyors on the Friday evening of the tournament. Hay River beat them on the Saturday, but the D-Backs still managed to finish second in their division thanks to having a better run differential than the Surveyors following the round-robin. From there, it was a case of win and stay in or lose and go home on the Sunday.

D-Backs co-captain Mike Auge said he doesn't look at the record as a bad thing, but quite the opposite.

"We only lost one game all weekend," he said. "I think we got lucky to finish second and get the (Nexum) Red Sox instead of having to play Inuvik first thing."

The D-Backs began their charge with a win over the Red Sox in the morning, setting up a semifinal with the Slade's/Fire Prevention Expos, one of the big favourites to take it all. HBC jumped out into a 6-2 lead in the third inning, but the Expos closed the gap to 6-4 by the fifth inning. Expos outfielder Joe Borkovic's inside-the-park home run further narrowed matters to 6-5, but the D-Backs managed to hold on and cause a big upset, earning a re-match with Hay River in the final.

"Darin (Strain) and I have played with those guys before so we knew how to attack them pitching-wise," said Auge. "I pitched my best game of the year in that game."

The final was a back and forth affair with neither team having more than a two-run lead at any point. With the game tied at eight a piece following the seventh inning, extra innings were needed to settle the score and it was the D-Backs who came out flying in the top of the eighth inning, plating four runs to take the lead they would not relinquish as relief pitcher Bruce Waugh shut down Hay River in the bottom half. Waugh pitched six innings in the game and was named the most valuable player of the final for his efforts.

Auge said he knew right away he wouldn't have the gas to finish the final.

"I was hoping to get about three innings in and I told Bruce to be ready," he said.

This was the first tournament for the Red Sox, the newest team in this year's men's fastpitch league.

Coach Steve O'Hara said he couldn't have asked for more out of his squad.

"We got to play on the Sunday, which was something I didn't expect going in," he said. "That says a lot for this bunch to do that."

For the winners comes the bonus prize in the form of an invite to the 2012 Western Canadian Men's "B" Fastpitch Championship, the location of which has yet to be determined, but Auge said it would be great to get the chance to go.

"We would have to pick up some pitching, but it would be a lot of fun," he said.

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