On a cold Sunday afternoon in Kelowna, UBCO’s softball group, in simply its third season, have been topped nationwide champions.
At Excessive Midday Park, simply behind Kelowna’s airport, the host Warmth defeated the St. Clair Saints of Windsor, Ont., 5-4 within the gold-medal sport of the Canadian Collegiate Softball Association (CCSA) Championship tournament.
The sport went into additional innings, with Nevada Johnson driving within the profitable run within the backside of the ninth. The sport was tied 3-3 after seven regulation innings.
“I couldn’t be extra thrilled for this college, the UBCO Warmth softball program and this excellent group of younger girls,” stated head coach Joni Frei following the victory.
“Successful a nationwide championship is an unbelievable expertise, however profitable a nationwide championship in entrance of your house crowd, on your house turf in simply your second official season, is one thing these women can be pleased with and keep in mind for the remainder of their lives.”
The UBC Okanagan Warmth softball group gathers for a group picture with their gold medals after defeating St. Clair School on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021.
Julie Pringle
Total, UBCO posted a file of 23-2-1 through the fall season, together with a 6-0 mark on the nationwide match. Additional, this was simply the group’s third season.
Throughout round-robin play on the nationals, UBCO defeated the College of Regina 15-0, the College of Calgary 10-3, the College of Ottawa 12-0, St. Clair 9-2 and Humber School of Toronto 4-3.
The Warmth, having outscored their opponents 50-8, completed first total, and superior to the ultimate, the place they might play St. Clair (3-2), which completed second.
The Saints opened the scoring, however the Warmth charged forward within the backside of the third with three runs. Nonetheless, St. Clair charged again with a two-run residence run by Shae-Lyn Murphy to stage it at 3-3.
In additional innings, every group scored as soon as within the eighth to make it 4-4 and to drive a ninth inning — however solely after a routine fly to left discipline was dropped by St. Clair, permitting UBCO to tie the sport.
The dropped catch additionally got here with the Warmth having two out, with UBCO’s first two batters of the inning having popped out.
Within the ninth, St. Clair was held scoreless, with UBCO then loading the bases within the backside half. Johnson lined up the center to plate the profitable run.
Gabriela Isaak led the way in which for UBCO with three hits. The Saints additionally made three errors.
5 UBCO gamers have been additionally named to the all-star group: Johnson, catcher Cassidy Kellow, second baseman Janessa Hanson plus outfielders Taylor Roeseler and Kasey Wright.
The College of Calgary completed third, defeating Humber 11-4 within the bronze-medal sport.
UBCO’s softball group began in 2019, however the 2020 season was cancelled.
In line with UBCO, the Warmth follows the college’s aggressive sport-club mannequin and is predominantly self-funded and neighborhood supported.
“That is essentially the most selfless group I’ve ever been part of,” Frei stated of her group. “Our juniors and seniors cleared the path and our sophomores and freshmen adopted carefully behind.
“They purchased right into a ‘championship team-first’ mindset early and by no means seemed again.”
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