LONDON, Ont. - The defending provincial champions returned a strong nucleus from 2008 and combined with a quality freshman class prepared hard in training camp in anticipation of a strong 2009 season.
Although pitching was a question mark with the loss of both starting pitchers from ‘08, sophomore Shea Black (Toronto, Ont.) and newcomers Jackie Mitchell (London, Ont.) and Melinda Stevenson (Brampton, Ont.) quickly showed they were ready. Starting with two-run rule victories (seven or more run lead after five innings) over Waterloo (15-0; 8-1), the Mustangs allowed only five hits total in this opening doubleheader while pounding out 27 of their own. Similar versions of this fine debut were repeated throughout the season as the Mustangs produced the first ever Ontario University softball undefeated regular season, scoring 170 runs versus only 40 against.
The 16th season win against Guelph, a 5-4 walk-off, was particularly memorable. Trailing 0-4 in the bottom of the 7th Inning, Dani Abdilla (Brampton, Ont.) started the inning with a bunt single, then Leah Margolis (Vancouver, B.C.) singled, and Rachel Meyer (Toronto, Ont.) fouled off 7 pitches before blasting a dramatic three-run homerun to make it close. Next after singles by Lindsey Martin (London, Ont.) and Julianne Proniuk (Brampton, Ont.) and a sacrifice bunt from Leslie Hanson (Oakville, Ont.), Meg Maddigan (Brampton, Ont.) singled in Martin to tie the score. Then, following an intentional walk to Jenn Roesel (Brampton, Ont.) and a fielder’s choice for the second out, Abdilla stepped into the box and finished what she started with a game winning RBI single up the middle.
Entering the Ontario playoffs as the #1 seed, Western defeated Windsor (7-1), Guelph (11-4), and Toronto (3-0) in robin games as well as 2008 finalist Ottawa (7-3) in their provincial semifinal. Unfortunately, the perfect season was not to be in 2009, as the Mustangs failed to find the gaps in the Ontario final and dropped a 3-0 decision to McMaster.
Of special note in 2009 was the Mustangs participation in the nine-team Canadian Championship. In their first ever National tournament, Western won round-robin games over Wilfrid Laurier (7-6), Calgary (11-1), and St. Clair (9-1) as well as their quarter-final against McMaster (4-3). However, the Mustangs stumbled in the national semifinal, losing to Laurier.
With two lives due to their round-robin finish, the Mustangs continued into a second semifinal against Saskatchewan. Down 3-0, Western rallied late with two runs and had the tying run on second but settled for bronze when second-baseman Nicole Shillington’s (Kingston, Ont.) 7th Inning, two-out fly near the outfield fence found the right fielder’s glove.
Offensively (8.5 runs per game), the 2009 Mustangs were led by catcher Proniuk (.488 BA, 30 RBI, 27 runs scored); first-baseman Meg Hewins (Burlington, Ont.; .422 BA, 22 RBI, 26 runs scored), and centrefielder Maddigan (.410 BA, 24 RBI, 26 runs scored).
The defence anchored by Proniuk, Maddigan and shortstop Martin was stingy (2.0 runs per game) and pitchers, Stevenson (8W, 0L, 1.1 ERA), Black (7W, 2L, 1.8 ERA), and Mitchell (10W, 1L, 2.5 ERA) were solid.
Proniuk and Maddigan were Conference All-Stars while Proniuk and third-baseman Abdilla were selected to the national tournament all-star team.
All in all, 2009 was a great season. It marked the Mustangs fifth straight conference championship, Ontario’s first ever undefeated regular season, the sixth straight provincial medal, and the first ever national medal.
Seniors Maddigan, Mitchell, Siobhan O’Connell (Mississauga, Ont.; .270 BA, 17 RBI), and Shillington (.388 BA, 8 RBI, 22 runs scored) will graduate but because of out of season preparation including spring games in the U.S., the Western winning tradition is expected to continue.
Recruits interested in competing for a 2010 spot should e-mail plemon@uwo.ca.
