The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) 2005 Women’s Fastball Championships are taking place this weekend as the top four collegiate teams from across the province assemble in Hamilton, Ontario as Mohawk College is set to host the event from October 21-22, 2005.

This double elimination championship highlights the top four teams from the regular season. The Mohawk Mountaineers will host the St.Clair Saints in the opening game on Friday (2:00 pm), while the defending OCAA champion Durham Lords and the Canadore Panthers meet in the second match of the afternoon (4:00 pm).

The Durham Lords Women's Collegiate Fastball team enters as the early favourites to win the title. The Lords are geared up for the Championship after completing their third straight perfect 12-0 regular season, scoring a total of 113 runs while allowing opponents just 23 runs scored. The team is on an impressive 55 game conference winning streak, dating back to the start of the 2002 season. Durham boasts a stellar pitching staff that includes third-year Kristen Pandoff, first-year Nicole Seguin and second-year Corinne McDonald. Offensively this year’s batting champion Kristy Kelly will lead the Lords. The Lords will be shooting for the 'four-peat' for the first time in school and Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) history.

Durham will be pushed to defend their title by second place St. Clair College, who finished their regular season 9-3 and will be led on the mound by the pitching of second-year Melissa Galamb and first-year Lauren Smith. This season the Saints tallied a total of 68 runs while holding their opponents to 29 runs scored and tested the Durham Lords winning streak and nerves this year with a close 2-3 game. The Saints are looking for their first-ever women’s fastball title.

The Mohawk Mountaineers closed out the regular season with an 8-4 record, securing third spot in the OCAA regular season standings totaling 66 runs while allowing their opponents 45 runs scored. The Mountaineers hope that home field advantage will provide some inspirational advantage as they try to secure their second women’s fastball title. The Mountaineers are the last team to win the title in 2001-02 since Durham’s three-reign.

Lastly, the Canadore Panthers and Cambrian Golden Shield both ended the regular season with records of 4-8, but the Panthers earned the final playoff berth by beating Cambrian in head-to-head matches this season. Canadore will be in search for their first-ever women’s fastball title.


The championship schedule is as follows:

Friday October 21, 2005
Game 1 Mohawk Mountaineers (8-4) VS. St. Clair Saints (9-3) 2:00PM
Game 2 Durham Lords (12-0) VS. Canadore Panthers (4-8) 4:00PM

Saturday October 22, 2005
Game 3 Loser Game 1 VS Loser Game 2 10:00AM
Game 4 Winner Game 1 VS Winner Game 2 12:00PM
Game 5 Loser Game 4 VS Winner Game 3 2:00PM
Game 6 Winner of Game 4 VS Winner of Game 5 5:00PM
Game 7 If Necessary – 7:00 PM


A complete championship schedule including game times and results will be available online here at the OCAA website, Women's Fastball section.

For more information on the OCAA Women’s Fastball Championships please contact convenor Dwayne Christo at Durham College (905) 721-3040 or Tournament Host Convenor, Laurie Cahill (905) 575-2259.

The OCAA governs intercollegiate sports and promotes physical activity in its member institutions through quality athletic and campus recreation programs. It offers 16 varsity sports to 30 member institutions throughout Ontario.

(photo above: Dana Steckle, of Mohawk College)

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Michelle Waddick
OCAA Marketing & Communications
P: (416) 426-7043
W: www.ocaa.com