Oshawa, Ont. - After winning their third consecutive OCAA softball championship last season, the Durham Lords softball team are looking to keep their spot atop of the provincial rankings.
Durham finished second in the OCAA regular season with a 17-7 (W-L) record.
The Lords finished fourth at the mid-season CCSA national championship going 3-3 with wins over Brock, Ottawa, and St. Clair.
Posting a record of 3-1 at the OCAA championship, Durham defeated St. Clair 9-0 in the gold-medal match to claim their 19th provincial title since the introduction of women's softball in 1981.
At the provincial tournament
Ashley Wallace (Coldwater, Ont.) was named tournament MVP, while both
Sabrina Stalteri (Vaughan, Ont.) and
Emily Hill (Ohsweken, Ont.) were named tournament all-stars. Further accolade included
Marina Christie (Pickering, Ont.) winning the OCAA batting title and
Ashley Black (Waterloo, Ont.) and Jamie Clarke (Elmvale, Ont.) earning OCAA all-star honours.
Fourth-year pitcher Black has been a constant ace in her time with the Lords. Last season she pitched eight complete games, finishing with a record of 8-4. She amassed 37 strikeouts in 14 appearances with an ERA of 3.20. In addition, she is resourceful at the plate, picking up 20 hits and seven RBI.
Power-hitter Clarke remains in the fold and will once again look to lead the Lords at the plate. Tying for the team lead in RBI last year with 17 and total runs with 22, Clark totalled 23 hits, including five for extra-bases. She is an ironwoman being one of only two players to appear in all 24 games for Durham last season.
Roaming the outfield,
Caleigh Coels (Duncan, B.C.) is poised to be a leader for the Lords in 2018. Coels was one of seven Durham players to bat in double-digit RBI last year with 12, while also provinding sound defence from her left field position. She joins Clark as one of the most durable athletes, also appearing in all 24 games for the Lords last year.
In a rematch of the OCAA gold-medal game, the Lords will have an early season test at home versus St. Clair on Sunday, Sept. 9. The doubleheader is set to begin at 12 p.m. and should feature some of the best players the province has to offer.
The Lords will have little rest during their home stretch immediately being challenged by the Humber Hawks following the Saints doubleheader. The always competitive Hawks will arrive for the mid-week showdown on Wednesday, Sept. 12.
Hosting the Seneca Sting on Wednesday, Sept. 26, the two teams will compete in the Durham Lords Rowan's Law game. The contest will honour new provincial law which is being inacted to better educate athletes on concussion safety.
Overall Record: 0-0-0 (W-L-T)
Conference Record: 0-0-0
Next match: Saturday, Sept. 8 vs. Conestoga Condors • 1 p.m. – Durham Field
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