[Alsfastball] University of Ottawa Softball (Women)

[Al Doran]

From: "Scott Searle" <Scottsearle at rogers.com>
To: "Al Doran" <fastball at pmihrm.com>
Subject: University of Ottawa Softball (Women)
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2004 21:47:00 -0400



 From today's Orleans Star.
<http://www.neighbourhoodnews.ca/287354373172966.php>http://www.neighbourhoodnews.ca/287354373172966.php 


   Keep watching for more updates this week as the team prepares to defend 
its title this weekend at the RA Center in Ottawa.  For more information 
please visit the teams website at 
<http://www.eteamz.com/ottawaufastpitch>www.eteamz.com/ottawaufastpitch 
For fans in Ottawa remember to come out and cheer on the Gee Gees this 
weekend.  The team plays its first game 9:00 Saturday morning against Brock 
University.

Orleans Rebels position Gee Gees to repeat as softball champs
By Joanne Macdonald

Two members of the Orleans Rebels fastball team have helped power the 
University of Ottawa Women's Softball Gee Gees into the playoffs in a bid 
to repeat as champions of the Ontario Intercollegiate Women's Fastball 
Association.

Scott Searle, one of the team's coaches, said Lindsey Hutton and Sarah 
Thompson are a "very welcome addition" to the Gee Gees.

"These new additions give the team an excellent chance to repeat this 
year," said Searle.

He said Hutton, a pitcher, has had a "very impressive" 2.04 ERA, "while 
holding opposing batters to a paltry .229 batting average."

Thompson, meanwhile, "has been strong as well with a .385 batting average 
and six RBIs."

The Gee Gees clinched the league's Eastern Division crown in early October 
and will host the OIWFA Championship on Oct. 23 and 24 at the RA Centre in 
Ottawa. The league's eight top teams will compete for the championship in a 
round robin tournament. To date, only the Gee Gees, the University of 
Toronto, the University of Guelph, McMaster University and Brock University 
have clinched a playoff spot.

As softball is not yet a varsity sport, there is no national competition 
established for provincial champions.

Thompson, who plays third base and is a catcher, is in her first year of 
health science studies. She began playing softball at age 7.

Although she's also played basketball, volleyball and been on track and 
field teams, her first love is softball.

"When I was a kid, I played house league for three years with all of my 
close friends," said Thompson, 18. "But I love winning and I'm really 
competitive. I find it more fun to play a game that's more intense."

The Gee Gees are "pretty good defensively and we have really good bats," 
said Thompson, who hits left.

And while she admitted the team could be more consistent with its hitting, 
she thinks the team's chances of successfully defending its provincial 
title are "pretty good."

Added Thompson: "I think we'll hit our high point when we need to."

Hutton, in her first year of nursing, has played ball for 11 years. She's 
always been a pitcher, and has also played competitive basketball and touch 
football.

She only has time for softball now, due to the demands of university and 
her part-time job at a physiotherapy clinic. But she says she's enjoyed her 
rookie year playing university level softball.

"I just find your personal achievement is satisfying. If I pitch a good 
game, I'm happy with myself and with what I've done for the team," she said.

She rates the Gee Gees as a team that plays "high quality ball," with 
particular strengths in overall hitting, bunting and solid fielding. Their 
toughest competition when the team tries to defend its title on Oct. 23-24? 
Hutton predicts it will be the University of Toronto.

"As a rookie, I've had a really good year so far," she said. "Playing 
university sports is an amazing thing to do."



Media Inquries please contact Scott Searle at: 837-0787





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