Ottawa, ON - - Lords reach the final four at nationals
Durham Lords Media Release
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Lords reach the final four at nationals
OTTAWA, Ont. - After a hard-fought weekend, the Durham College women's softball team returned from the nation's capital on Monday with a fourth-place finish at the Canadian Collegiate Softball Association (CCSA) national championship.
Durham finished second in round-robin action, which put the Lords up against the OCAA rival St. Clair Saints in the national quarter-final. The Saints opened with runs in the top of the first, but Durham cut the lead in half to trail 2-1 after one. The Lords tied it 2-2 in the bottom of the second
St. Clair scored their final run of the game in the top of the fifth to go ahead 3-2. In the bottom of the sixth Durham made their comeback with two out and Ashley Black (Waterloo, Ont.) on base. Pinch hitter Marina Christie (Pickering, Ont.) hit an RBI triple to bring Black home. Christie then scored on Melissa McKnight's (Brampton, Ont.) single to take the lead. Black and the Lords defence held the Saints off the board in the seventh to advance to the final four at the national championship for the first time since 2012.
In the semifinal against the Western Mustangs, the Lords lost the pitcher's duel 2-1.
Black was the losing pitcher to the five-time national champions. The bases were loaded for the Mustangs in each of the first two innings, but Black and the defence held Western off the board.
Durham took the lead in the bottom of the second as Christie brought Ashley Wallace (Coldwater, Ont.) home from second. Just an inning later the Mustangs tied it up, where the game stood until the fifth.
Western hit a double with one out, advanced the runner with a sacrifice and then with two out took the lead on a single. After pressing in the sixth and seventh innings the Lords were handed the heartbreaking 2-1 loss and were sent to the bronze medal game.
The Lords final game was an 9-0 loss to the Regina Cougars. Much closer than the scoreline indicates, it was only 2-0 for Regina until the sixth when they doubled their lead before adding five more in the seventh inning.
"Personally I couldn't be prouder of this group," said head coach Jim Nemish. "It was a disappointment coming so close to a medal, but as a coach you take it harder because you want it so bad for the athletes after they worked so hard. Each and every player, whether in the lineup or cheering on the bench gave everything they had. I couldn't be more proud of this group this past weekend."
This was Durham College's eighth-straight appearance at the national championship and best result since winning silver in 2012. Prior to that, the Lords earned back-to-back bronze medals and a fifth-place finish.
There is little time off for the Lords as they are back to conference play on Tuesday night in Hamilton against the Mohawk Mountaineers and Etobicoke on Thursday night against the Humber Hawks. They then finish their season at home against the St. Clair Saints and Fanshawe Falcons on Saturday and Sunday.
Durham has already qualified for the OCAA championship hosted by Humber College and with one win on Tuesday night guarantees the Lords to be seeded second or third.
QUICK LOOK AT THE LORDS
Overall Record: 19-7
Conference Record: 13-3
Next game: @ Mohawk Mountaineers (6/8 PM @ Hamilton, Ont.)
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott Dennis
Sports Information and Marketing Coordinator
Durham College and UOIT Athletics
905.721.2000 Ext. 2784 (P)
905.721.3117 (F)
Photo Credit: Allan Fournier
