Scharf opens Scotties with win over Skrlik

Krista Scharf's Northern Ontario team beat Alberta's Kayla Skrlik 7-4 after scoring two in the ninth and stealing two in the 10th at the Scotties in Mississauga.

Krista Scharf and Team Northern Ontario opened the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Mississauga with a 7-4 win over Alberta's Kayla Skrlik. Scharf scored two in the ninth and then stole a pair in the 10th to secure the result. The Northern Ontario lineup included lead Sarah Potts, second Kendra Lilly and third Ashley Sippala. A year earlier, Scharf began the tournament with four straight losses, making this start a change in storyline. Key match details: - Final score was 7-4 in favour of Northern Ontario, with two points in the ninth and a two-point steal in the 10th. - Early play: Northern Ontario opened with hammer, were forced to one in the first, held Skrlik to one in the third and led 2-1 after four; a stolen sixth increased their lead before Alberta took the lead with a stolen pair in the eighth. - Team Northern Ontario members named in the report are Krista Scharf (skip), Ashley Sippala (third), Kendra Lilly (second) and Sarah Potts (lead). - Scharf is scheduled to play Newfoundland and Labrador on Sunday morning. - Other results reported: Nova Scotia's Christina Black beat Nunavut 9-1 (with Karlee Everist throwing lead stones for Team Black), Alberta's Selena Sturmay defeated P.E.I. 12-3, and Manitoba's Beth Peterson beat Newfoundland and Labrador's Mackenzie Mitchell 7-5. Summary: The win gives Northern Ontario an opening victory in round-robin play and marks a different start from Scharf's results a year earlier. Scharf's next scheduled match is against Newfoundland and Labrador on Sunday morning, and other early matches produced wins for Nova Scotia, Alberta and Manitoba.