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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
It was a tale of a continuing dynasty and the beginnings of a possible new one at Fritz Theil Park on July 24.

Sugar and Spice shortstop Rachel Mullen gives the championship trophy a smooch after her team won the NWT Women's Slo-Pitch Championship at Fritz Theil Park on July 24. - James McCarthy/NNSL photo

The Labatt Raiders and Sugar and Spice are this year's territorial slo-pitch champions after winning the titles in their respective divisions at the NWT Men's and Women's Slo-Pitch Championships. The Raiders defeated the Sticky Gloves by a score of 14-7 to cop the men's crown, while Sugar and Spice mercied the Cunning Runts, 20-8 to win the women's trophy.

Sugar and Spice pitcher Chelsea VanTol said her team was optimistic about their chances, but didn't think they would do as well as they did.

"I knew a lot of the players playing on the other teams and I knew we would do well and we hoped for the finals at least," she said.

Sugar and Spice was the class of the women's division, going a perfect five-for-five in the win column on their way to the title, tossing in a couple of more mercies in the round-robin to go along with the championship one.

VanTol said as the wins kept coming, the ladies began to believe more and more about winning the whole thing.

"It was like we had all played together for a long time," she said. "Everyone found their best position and just fell into it. Rachel (Mullen) did most of the line-ups for the weekend and she would ask players to try things out to see what worked and they all stepped up."

The Raiders, on the other hand, rolled on to their latest conquest in NWT men's slo-pitch, racking up their fourth title in five years.

Raiders outfielder Brad Mueller said winning is always the goal, but having a good time is the bigger reason for playing in the tournament.

"We have a good bunch of guys who like to play hard and work hard," he said.

The Raiders didn't go unscathed this year as they have in past years as Hay River beat them in the round-robin, 6-5.

Mueller said they paid special attention to their opposition because the Sticky Gloves did have their moments in the semifinal against Hay River.

"They were down by seven and came back to win," he said. "We've always had good rivals every year, like the Black Knight when they had a team and Fort Smith also each year. They always bring the best out of us."

The tournaments underwent a change this season as the rules shifted from Softball Canada to Slo-Pitch National (SPN), the organization which most slo-pitch leagues in the NWT are familiar with. Because of that, the top two teams in each division are now eligible to enter a SPN National Championship in 2012 in either the men's or women's divisions.

VanTol said some of her teammates will most likely be scattered across the country, but they have talked about getting back together for nationals.

"I'm sure a few people will begin fundraising and because we did so well, I'm pretty positive we'll want to play together again," she said.

Mueller said the boys are also thinking about hitting the road again next year, preferring to stay in the western portion of the country.

"We'll pick a division where we know we can compete," he said.

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