PITCHERS SHINE IN A SWEEP OF THE CONDORS

By Tyler Milton

KITCHENER, Ont -- The Humber women's softball team (4-0, 2nd OCAA) travelled to Kitchener for a mid-week tilt with the Conestoga Condors (1-5, 7th OCAA). The Hawks entered the doubleheader unbeaten on the young season and looked to continue their strong start to 2017 OCAA season. Timely hitting, solid defence and superb pitching led the Hawks to a sweep of the Condors with a 2-1 victory in game one and a 10-0 thumping in game two.

HUMBER 2, CONESTOGA 1
In game one, the pitchers took centre stage as both teams' offences were left relatively quiet throughout the game. The Hawks sent ace Myranda Pierson to extend their winning streak to three games.

Pierson attacked the Condors early and often, getting ahead in the count on many of the hitters she faced. After cruising through her first four frames, Pierson walked the first batter of the inning, which set the stage for the Condors to plate their first and only run of the game. In the sixth, Bree Donaldson entered in relief for Pierson, looking to hold Humber's one run lead. Donaldson was brilliant in her two innings of work, retiring six of the seven batters she faced picking up the two inning save.

Offensively, shortstop Jenna Hillman led the offence going 2-3 with two singles and scoring the only two runs for the Hawks. Aaliyah Davidson drove Hillman home twice, one on a triple and the other on an error by the Condors third baseman. Meaghan Murphy picked up the only other hit for the Hawks as the Condors pitcher Jensen Chapman silenced the Hawks bats over her seven innings.

HUMBER 10, CONESTOGA 0
Game two saw much of the same from game one as head coach Duaine Bowles sent Rachel Matheson-Green to the rubber to ensure a sweep of the mid-week affair. Matheson-Green was exceptional again, as she built off her strong performance against Seneca. Through her 5 1/3 innings, Matheson-Green allowed no runs, on three hits and kept the Condors batters off balance throughout her outing. After a single by second basemen Makenna Ross, Coach Bowles went to the bullpen to bring in first-year pitcher Jheri Jamieson to hold the lead. Jamieson was effective in her 1 2/3 innings, facing the minimum and getting out of a jam in the sixth inning.

Through six innings, the Hawks bats were again relatively quiet. In the top of the seventh, the wheels fell off for the Condors and first-year pitcher Sydney Spicer, as the Hawks offence exploded for nine runs on seven hits. In the seventh, big hits by Kate Kostuch, Bonnie Gillingham, Maddie Pasma and a basing clearing triple by Meaghan Murphy to secure the victory for the Hawks. Every Hawk who was in the starting lineup got a hit in the contest, which is a welcome sign for the Hawks ahead of their games coming this weekend.

What's next?

The Hawks are at home to Fanshawe and St. Clair on the weekend. Fanshawe (1-3, 6th OCAA) comes to town Saturday, while on Sunday St. Clair (5-1, 1st OCAA) visits the Hawks, both in doubleheader action. The games will be held at Brampton Fairgrounds with first pitches slated on both days for 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm.

2017 OCAA Women's Softball Championships

Humber is the proud host of the 2017 championship tournament. The event will take place on Friday & Saturday, October 20 & 21/17 (with Sunday as a rain day), and will be held at the Brampton Fairgrounds Field.

All games will be streamed live on the Hawks Sports Network.

Tournament Website:

http://www.ocaa.com/championships/soft/2017-18/index

Notable Websites:

Humber Athletics Website:
http://humberhawks.ca/landing/index

Humber Women's Softball Website:
http://humberhawks.ca/sports/fastball/index

OCAA Website:
http://ocaa.com/landing/index