WINDSOR, Ont. – Day 1 of the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association Women's Softball Championship hosted by St. Clair College is complete with Durham College (Oshawa) defeating Seneca College (North York) by a score of 11-1 and Conestoga College (Kitchener) upsetting Fanshawe College (London) 2-1.
In Game 1 Durham needed only five innings to outpace Seneca and started quickly scoring three runs in each of the first two frames. Seneca scored a single in the second inning but gave up five runs in the bottom of the fifth to force the mercy shortened result.
Durham Player of the Game Alexis Pereira (Newmarket, Ont.) went 2-for-4 including a triple with three RBI and scored two runs to lead her team in the victory. Abi Suffel (Whitby, Ont.) and Grace Hearns (Napanee, Ont.) each also had two hits for the Lords. Durham pitcher Sydney Redick (Alvinston, Ont.) gave up two hits and a run with only one walk while striking out seven batters.
Seneca's Chloe Ferko (Stoney Creek, Ont.) had a hit and a stolen base to go with a run scored in a losing cause.
In the evening night cap Conestoga and Fanshawe played scoreless through three innings in what proved to a nice pitching duel. The Condors used some timely hitting to push across two runs in the top of the fourth. Fanshawe responded in the fifth with a run on three hits before threatening more an inning later. But a tremendous diving catch by Conestoga centerfielder Kennedy Schnarr (Waterloo, Ont.) thwarted a Fanshawe rally in the sixth for the highlight of the game. Fanshawe loaded the bases in the seventh but fittingly the Conestoga pitcher retired a ground ball out at first base to end the game.
Conestoga's Player of the Game was Alexis Volckmar (Burlington, Ont.) who was 2-for-3 with an RBI adding a run scored but pitcher Hayley Breen (Rostock, Ont.) went the distance spreading out seven hits while surrendering just one run and a walk to go with a pair of strikeouts. Fanshawe's Sara Reading (Listowel, Ont.) was also 2-for-3 including a double to earn Player of the Game honours but OCAA Pitcher of the Year Morgan Lowry (Middlesex Centre, Ont.) was dominant with a remarkable 17 strikeouts while giving up two runs on five hits and a walk.
See below the tournament schedule and results so far.
October 21
3:00pm - Game 1: Durham (11) vs. Seneca (1)
Players of the Game
Seneca – Chloe Ferko 1-2, R
Durham – Alexis Pereira 2-4, 2R, 3RBI
6:00pm - Game 2: Fanshawe (1) vs. Conestoga (2)
Players of the Game
Fanshawe - Sara Reading 2-3, R
Conestoga - Alexis Volckmar 2-3, RBI, R
October 22
11:00am - Game 3: Humber vs. Durham
1:00pm - Game 4: St. Clair vs. Conestoga
4:00pm - Game 5: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4
6:00pm - Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4
October 23
10:00am - OCAA Bronze Medal Game: Loser Game 6 vs. Winner Game 5
*Loser awarded Bronze, winner advances to Gold Medal Game
1:00pm - OCAA Gold Medal Game(s): Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Bronze Medal Game
*A second Gold Medal Game will be played at 3pm if necessary
October 24
Rainout Day
All games will live streamed by WE-Digital Productions and found at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/stclair
For more information including live stats please see the championship website at www.ocaa.com/soft
Championship Photos can be found at the following link https://stclaircollege.photoshelter.com/galleries/C0000DNfV2lJcvkY/2021-OCAA-Softball-Championship
Spectators will need to contact trace upon entry to the SportsPark but admission is free to all championship games.
Source: St. Clair Saints