Learning experience for Durham at nationals - OCAA championship up next

October 15, 2013

Durham Lords Media Release
Monday, October 14, 2013


Learning experience for Durham at nationals - OCAA championship up next


LONDON, Ont. – Durham College struggled at the Canadian Collegiate Softball Association (CCSA) National Championship this weekend as they dropped all four games played.

The Lords will have a chance at redemption next week as they travel to Etobicoke for the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) provincial championship hosted by Humber College.

On day one at nationals, the Lords got behind the eight ball after losing their opening two games to the University of Calgary (5-0) and University of Guelph (9-1). Durham allowed a big inning to hurt them in each game, as Calgary broke a scoreless draw in the fifth inning with four runs and Guelph put up four runs in the second inning.

The two losses set up a must win game on Sunday against the defending national champion and hosting Western Mustangs. The Lords trailed Western 3-1 late in the game but stranded nine runners including the bases loaded with one out. Although the Lords played a solid game and knocked out the Mustangs starting pitcher Stacy Cox, they were unable to pull off the upset going 0-3 in the round robin.

“In this game we looked like a completely different team,” said head coach Jim Nemish. “We played excellent defence, had solid pitching and made good contact at the plate. We just couldn't get the timely hits.”

In the seventh place game, the Lords were matched up against a familiar opponent in the Humber Hawks. Humber got off to a great start and never looked back as they thumped Durham by a score 16-0.

“It was a learning experience for the team that we have to be ready to play every game,” said head coach Jim Nemish. “We will have to regroup and get ready for the OCAA championships next week.”

The OCAA and CCSA national championships are a new experience for many of the Lords with ten freshmen in their line-up.

The Lords will be looking for a different results at provincials when they play the Hawks in the opening round of the championship. Durham defeated Humber 6-5 in their regular season finale to clinch a spot in the postseason.

Durham will be looking to win their 17th straight medal and 30th overall at the championship. At last year’s event, Humber defeated Durham in the gold medal game.

CCSA National Championship Recap
Hosted by Western University

Round Robin
Calgary defeated Durham 5-0
Guelph defeated Durham 9-1
Western defeated Durham 9-1

7th Place Game
Humber defeated Durham 16-0


OCAA Championship
October 18-19
Hosted by Humber College





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)
scott.dennis@dc-uoit.ca

 

Photo Credit: Al Fournier