Mustangs claim softball crown

By Chris Montanini Londoner

Posted 2 days ago

Practice has paid off for the University of Western Ontario's women's softball team.

Tied 1-1 in the bottom of the first extra inning of the Ontario Softball Championship game October 23, head coach Pete Lemon put into motion a strategy the undefeated Mustangs didn't need to use all season.

But it was still executed to perfection.

In softball, each team starts their half of the extra inning with a runner on second.

After shutting out the Toronto Blues in the top of the eighth, Shea Black came into the game as a pinch-runner and Leah Margolis laid down a perfect pinch-hit sacrifice bunt to move Black to third. After a single by Lauren McLaughlin, freshman Stacie Cox knocked the game-winning RBI through the infield, scoring Black to win the championship.

"In that situation all we need is one run and (the sac bunt) set up a hit, sac fly, an error, all kinds of things," Lemon said. "It was well done. That's the first tie-breaker game we were in this year, but we practiced all year and we were able to prevent them from scoring in the top of the inning. It's rewarding to see them come through under that kind of pressure."

"It was a great way to end the game," added veteran second baseman Lindsey Martin — named the championship game's MVP after scoring the game's first run with a two-out single in the fourth inning before the Blues tied it up in the sixth.

"I was shocked," she said about the award. "We really do have an enormous amount of depth on the team."

Martin said hitters dealt with strong winds during the championship game.

"Anyone could have got the hit that got the RBI," she said. "But I was lucky enough to get one over the infield but in front of the outfield."

Lemon's attention to detail has been prevalent in the softball program for a while. In a scheduling quirk, they won their first National Softball Championship earlier this season after a third straight undefeated regular season.

A loss in the 2009 Ontario finals is their only one in this province over the past three years.

Earlier in the tournament, the Blues made for tough opponents in the round robin too, dropping a close 2-1 game to the Mustangs before meeting them in the finals.

The 'Stangs ran out 8-3 and 8-1 winners in their other two games versus McMaster and Windsor respectively.

"We were anticipating it would be tough," Lemon said. "It was all we could handle, for sure. It means more when you win those close games. Toronto is not only a good team, they played very, very well."

The Ontario Softball Championships was also streamed live online thanks to an upstart Toronto-based company and some Western volunteers.

Both the semi-finals and finals are still available online and Lemon said the broadcast was another step forward for varsity softball.

"If we can get some sponsors I think we can cover the cost (next year)," he said. "I'm really pleased at what happened."

To see the broadcasts, search for 'OIWFA Championships' on www.ustream.tv.

" target="_blank">Chris.montanini@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @YourLondoner