But it was anything but an easy trip for the veteran skip.
Barker and her Moose Jaw Ford Curling Centre rink of third Christie Gamble, second Jenna Enge and lead Danielle Sicinski battled to an 8-7 win over fellow local product Amber Holland in the B-side final on Saturday morning, booking their spot in the Page Playoff 1-2 game later Saturday.
It was as back-and-forth a game as you’ll find, with neither team taking control for lengthy stretches. Barker took a 4-3 lead into the fifth end but would see Holland respond with a deuce in the fifth and steal in the sixth to take a 6-4 edge. That didn’t last long, as Barker scored single points the next two frames to tie things up.
Holland added one in the ninth to send Barker home with the hammer, and the 2017 provincial champion would make no mistake, drawing the four-foot with her final shot for the deuce and one-point win.
Barker will now face Regina’s Chelsea Carey in the Page 1-2 game, a re-match of the A-final where Carey defeated Barker 6-4.
Holland and her Kronau-based rink of third Kim Schneider, second Karlee Korchinski and lead Deb Lozinski are right back on the ice in the C-final on Saturday afternoon, facing Martensville’s Sherry Anderson for a spot in the Page Playoff 3-4 game.
If things go according to plan, she’ll take on another rink with Moose Jaw connections in Saskatoon’s Ashley Howard.
Howard -- who includes Moose Jaw’s Skylar Ackerman at lead this week -- defeated Regina’s Stasia Wisniewski 10-3 in her first C-side contest to advance to the playoff qualifier, where she was to take on North Battleford’s Robyn Silvernagle.
Both the Page 1-2 and 3-4 games are slated for 7:30 p.m. The winner of the 1-2 game advances to the final at 3 p.m. Sunday, while the winner of the 3-4 game and loser of the 1-2 game will play the semifinal at 10 a.m. Sunday.
Be sure to follow curlsask.ca for the latest information, including livestreaming of draws throughout the weekend.
