OSHAWA, Ont. – Jim Nemish, head coach of
the Durham College women's fastball team, is proud to announce that
Sydney Kozuska of St. Albert, Alta., has committed
to join the Lords for the 2012 season.
"We are very happy and excited that Sydney has made Durham her
choice," said Nemish. "She is an outstanding catcher from the
Edmonton City Hornets Midget Fastball program with excellent skills
behind the plate. As a young catcher, she blocks the ball well and
sets up well behind the plate to give her pitcher a great target to
throw to. Sydney has a strong accurate throwing arm to all bases
for throwing out runners. She can also play third base and the
outfield so her versatility will be a huge bonus for us."
Kozuska will join Janna Hagan and Kayla
Worotniak, who are also from Alberta. This past season,
Hagan was named the OCAA Player of the Year and was the league's
top hitter while Worotniak had a .474 batting average during her
freshman season.
Playing last year with the River City Hornets in the Midget A U18
league, Kozuska got to attend the 2011 Canadian National
Championship as well as the provincials where her team finished in
fourth place.
She also played a year with the Alberta Warriors, where her team
finished in sixth place at the Western Canadian Championship and
she earned game MVP honours.
"Sydney and her mother visited Durham this past November for our
Open House and met with coaches, players and faculty to decide if
Durham was a place for her," said Nemish. "After their trip, they
said that everything was first class and Durham was more than they
expected."
Being a switch hitter and a player who can start at multiple
positions, Kozuska gives Nemish a number of options for his
line-up.
"The great asset that Sydney has is she is a switch hitter with
line drive power," said Nemish. "We are very happy to have her in
our program to give us depth behind the plate and in the field.
Sydney brings dedication a strong work ethic and an overall skilled
player to our team with many achievements and tournament MVP
awards."
The Lords have won back-to-back OCAA championships and Canadian
Intercollegiate Women's Fastpitch National Championship bronze
medals.
Source: Durham College