After a surprising comeback bid by the Oxbow Angels, Michaella Matthies' grab at third base turned the tension into joy for the Estevan Power Tech Badgers.
The Badgers edged Oxbow 14-13 in Sunday's final to win the provincial south C squirt championship.
"It was a little more tense than we (expected), but good thing for the big lead, we managed to pull it off," said Badgers coach Mike Wilson.
Estevan had taken a 13-3 lead through four innings, making the game seem a candidate to end after five innings on the mercy rule, but the Angels were determined to go the distance.
They brought in the maximum-allowed five runs in the fifth inning, including a triple and a double to the same area in right field, to make it 13-8 for Estevan.
Oxbow then held the home side to one run in the next two innings while tacking on another two in the sixth and three in the top of the seventh.
Just when it looked like the Angels would force a second and deciding game later in the day, the Badgers bore down and closed the deal, ending with Matthies' line-drive catch at third.
The victory was sweet revenge for Estevan after they lost to Oxbow in the final of last year's squirt provincials.
"It was big to see that the girls pulled through. They believed in themselves that anything could happen, and we're just proud of them," said Wilson. "They really battled this weekend. We just wanted to compete, but to win it all is great."
Estevan got to Sunday's final by going undefeated in the two-game round-robin against Oxbow and Carlyle.
The final was the second excruciatingly close game between Estevan and Oxbow. The Badgers had won the tournament opener 13-12 on Saturday.
Oxbow then edged Carlyle 17-16, and Estevan beat Carlyle 13-7 in the last round-robin game.
Oxbow then squeezed past Carlyle 22-20 in the semifinal.
It's the second provincial championship this year for Estevan Girls' Softball, one of them on home turf, which is something Wilson hopes will keep the momentum going.
"Locally, it should increase the interest. We have a good coaching staff and executive, so hopefully the girls keep it going."
The peewee Rocket Sales Rockettes had taken the provincial B banner the previous weekend in Regina.
The midgets were also in action on the weekend at the C provincials in Rosetown.
