The Durham Lords women's fastball team won their second consecutive OCAA provincial championship on October 20.
The Durham Lords women's fastball team finished out their season on a high note as they recently won their second consecutive Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Women's Fastball Championship, topping the Mohawk Mountaineers 2-0, in the gold medal game of the Fall Classic.
It marks OCAA Championship title number 14, the second in a row and the Lords fifth in six years for the most accomplished women's fastball program in the OCAA. The team's head coach Jim Nemish also achieved his 300th OCAA career victory.
"To this year's team that made the 300th win possible, and to the 18 teams and all of the players that came through the program through the years, everyone should feel a sense of accomplishment," Nemish reflected.
Mohawk and Durham were both playing strong defensively as the two teams had played three scoreless innings, with both starting pitchers throwing no-hitters. During the fourth inning, the Lords picked up their two runs and never looked back.
The Lords' Danielle Smith, who picked up her second win of the championship, was recognized as the Most Valuable Player. During the gold medal game, Smith was great on the mound, pitching a complete game shutout while allowing only two Mohawk hits.
Nemish picked up his eleventh OCAA Championship and 300th OCAA career victory as the Lords' manager. He noted that his team worked extremely hard throughout the entire season and really came together as a team to win the provincial championship.
"Through hard work, this team came together in the last half of the season," said Nemish. "Heart and determination go a long way and this team had all of it and then some."
The Lords finished the season on a 12-game winning streak, after dropping their season opener to the St. Clair Saints, 2-1.