Not even a blackout could dim Stacey Porter's NSW Firestars as the Tamworth export celebrated her nomination for The World Games 2019 Athlete of the Year with another Open Women's National Softball Championship title.
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The Firestars claimed their 23rd, and a fourth consecutive, Gilley's Shield with a one-run victory over the South Australian Starz in a game that was held up for two hours due to blackouts across Perth.
Porter provided the hit that secured the silverware for the Firestars, putting a fly ball out to right field for Rachel Lack to race home, just beating an attempted tag, and put them up 2-1 in the ninth inning.
On the back of the pitching prowess of US import Jailyn Ford, the Starz had earlier in the day beaten a tough Queensland outfit in a thrilling preliminary final 2-1.
Ford stayed on song in the final and was able to match Kaia Parnaby innings for innings with no runs scored through the first four stanzas.
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The Firestars broke the deadlock in the bottom of the fifth after getting lead off batter Mya Geros on first and pushed to second by a Tahli Moore sacrifice bunt.
Lack, who threatened earlier in the game at bat, finally got hold of Ford's pitch with a triple to right outfield and put Geros over home plate to give NSW a 1-0 lead into the top of the sixth.
Not to be outdone, the Starz immediately hit back with the one-two punch of Belinda White and Maddie Cameron reaching third and second base respectively, White later crossing off a sacrifice fly to square the game at 1-1.
Mirrabooka then succumbed to the city wide blackout in Perth, plunging the diamonds into darkness at the top of the seventh inning.
After a two hour delay, play resumed with NSW quickly getting their third out and getting a chance to close out the game in the bottom of the seventh, but they were unable to get home leading to an extra innings.
The Starz stuck with Ford who pitched the entire preliminary final while Ellen Roberts was entrusted to close out the game for the Firestars.
More brilliance in the outfield, this time from the Starz, when Cameron fired in a Lack fly ball to catcher White who tagged the NSW runner heading for home, forcing a ninth inning.
Porter will now turn her focus to the upcoming Australia Pacific Cup at Blacktown International Sportspark. Two Australian teams are to be selected to compete against Mexico, Italy, Japan, New Zealand and Chinese Taipei.
You can vote for Porter for the athlete of the year at: https://www.theworldgames.org/awards/Athlete-of-the-Year-2019-70
