HUMBER WINS FIRST-EVER OCAA WOMEN’S FASTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

TORONTO - In just their second year of existence, the Humber Hawks have won the 2012 Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Women's Fastball Championship.

Humber defeated two-time defending champion Durham 8-3 in the gold medal game. It was Humber's second win over Durham in as many days, following a 3-1 win that sent the Hawks to the finale. Humber opened the tournament with a 12-3 victory over eventual bronze medalist St. Clair.

The double-knockout tournament was hosted by Seneca College in North York, Ont.

Humber got things going early in the first when Jacqueline O'Quinn (Etobicoke) reached on an error for the game's first batter. O'Quinn advanced to third on a single to centre by Kelsey Bardy (Caledon). OCAA player of the year Jessica O'Quinn (Etobicoke) helped load the bases with Olivia Crossley (Brampton) at the plate and two outs. Crossley hit a two-run single to give the Hawks an early lead. Shelby Robblee (Woodstock) completed the scoring in the top of the first with an RBI single to left field.

The Lords came back in the bottom of the first with two runs of their own. Melissa Semeniuk (Ajax) walked to lead off the inning. Kayla MacLean (Whitby), who was later called out at second on a fielder's choice, moved Semeniuk to second. Semeniuk, would move over to third on the fielder's choice, was sent home on the RBI single by Janna Hagan (Sherwood Park, Alta.). Pinch runner Charlotte Ciehanskie (Whitby) scored the second run for Durham.

The game would remain 3-2 until the fifth when Humber struck for two runs. Shawna Niskanen (East York) led off with a single and scored on a single by Bardy. The second run of the inning was scored by Bardy.

Durham once again tried to battle back in the bottom half of the inning. Semeniuk hit a double to the gap in right centre to lead off the inning. MacLean moved the runner over to third in her at-bat before Samantha Bryant-Officer (Mount Forest) drove in the final run for the Lords.

The Hawks would score three more runs in the top of the sixth for a commander 8-3 lead with Bardy picking up another RBI and Niskanen driving in two runs.

Bardy went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs while Niskanen and Crossley each added two hits and two RBIs for the Hawks. Both Bryant-Officer and Hagen batted 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Lords.

Humber's Bardy was named tournament MVP. Teammate Jacqueline O'Quinn was named the top pitcher of the tournament, while Bryant-Officer of Durham was named the top batter.

Tournament all-stars include Niskanen and Crossley of Humber, Semeniuk and Jessica Pike (Whitby) of Durham and Alexa Georgiou (Windsor) of St. Clair.

Humber avenged a 7-1 loss to Durham in the OCAA championship finale last year. While the Hawks now have a modest OCAA medal streak to two, Durham increases its consecutive total to 16. St. Clair has won medals in eight straight seasons.

With files from Seneca College

OCAA Championship Results
Game 1: Durham defeated Seneca 6-2
Game 2: Humber defeated St. Clair 12-3
Game 3: St. Clair defeated Seneca 6-0
Game 4: Humber defeated Durham 3-1

Bronze Medal Game
Game 5: Durham defeated St. Clair 7-4

Gold Medal Game
Game 6: Humber defeated Durham 8-3

- OCAA -

ABOUT ONTARIO COLLEGES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is a recognized leader in intercollegiate athletics in the province, dedicated to student athlete and sport development. The OCAA has 30 members sponsoring 16 league and tournament championships.

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Josh Bell-Webster
Marketing and Communications
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
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E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com

Photo Credit: Armando Villavona