Saints Softball Split Opening Games at OCAA's

Windsor, ON – The St. Clair College Saints Women's Softball will need to win three game on their home diamond Saturday to claim the gold medal at the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association Provincial Championship after splitting a pair on Friday.  

St. Clair cruised to a 9-2 win over Conestoga College (Kitchener) in their opening contest at 1pm as left fielder Tiana LaChance (South Woodslee, ON) received the Player of the Game nod with a perfect 4 for 4 performance at the plate for the Saints.  OCAA Player of the Year Amy Claydon (Cambridge, ON) pitched three innings to open the game earning the win with no hits, runs or walks against to go with 5 strikeouts.  She also contributed a 2-run homer at the plate and 4 RBI's.  OCAA Rookie of the year Shae-Lyn Murphy (Windsor, ON) stroked three hits including a double, two runs scored and an RBI. Rya Cowan (LaSalle, ON) had 2 doubles and 2 RBI's for the Saints in the win.  Right fielder Makenna Ross-Porter (Guelph, ON) had a hit and a walk with a run scored on her way to receiving Player of the Game recognition for Conestoga. 

In the pivotal matchup at 6pm Durham held off a late charge by St. Clair to squeak out a 5-4 win which relegated the Saints to the bronze medal game and the longer road back to the gold medal round in the double knockout format.  The Lords struck early with 5 runs in the first three frames for a 5-0 lead.  St. Clair got on the board to make it 5-2 entering the 4^th inning and added two more in the 5^th but could come no closer stranding the tying run in the 7^th. 

Grace Hearns (Napanee, ON) had a single and a double with an RBI adding a run scored helping her to the Player of the Game Award for Durham.  The Lords 11-hit attack included Alexis Pereira, Kaysa Melin (Surrey, BC) and Abi Suffel (Whitby, ON) each contributing two hits with starting pitcher Morgan Salter collecting her 2^nd win of the day in five innings of work. 

St. Clair Player of Game Judy Lafleur (Essex, ON) had a triple with 2 RBI's to go with 2 runs scored and a stolen base.  Claydon took the pitching loss but helped her team keep it close with 3 hits and an RBI. 

See below the total schedule and results as the tournament enters the medal round.

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 (3) vs. Durham (5)
Players of the Game
Durham - Nicole Mancini 3-4, RBI, R
Humber - Alexis Ferreira 1-2 HR, RBI, 2R, BB

1:00pm - Game 4:       St. Clair (9) vs. Conestoga (2)
Players of the Game
St. Clair - Tiana LaChance 4-4, 2R
Conestoga - Makenna Ross-Porter 1-2, BB, R

4:00pm - Game 5:       Conestoga (0) vs. Humber (7)
Players of the Game
Humber - Megan Muir 7.0 IP, 2H, 0R, BB, 9K
Conestoga - Sierra Sheehy 1-2

6:00pm - Game 6:       Durham (5) vs. St. Clair (4)
Players of the Game
St. Clair - Judy Lafleur 1-3, 3B, 2RBI, 2R. SB
Durham - Grace Hearns 2-3, 2B, RBI, R

October 23

10:00am - Game 7:  OCAA Bronze Medal Game: Humber vs. St. Clair 
*Loser awarded Bronze, winner advances to Gold Medal Game

1:00pm – Game 8:   OCAA Gold Medal Game(s): Durham 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

Spectators will need to contact trace upon entry to the SportsPark but admission is free to all championship games.