CALGARY – For the third consecutive season, the UBCO Heat softball team are Western Collegiate Softball Association (WCSA) Champions as they defeated the Calgary Dinos 6-0 in the gold medal game at Shouldice Park on Sunday afternoon.
 
The victory capped off a remarkable season for the team as they went undefeated over their final 23 games of the season and playoffs, posting a 22-0-1 record during that stretch. UBCO finished first in the league standings with a 20-4-1 record before going a perfect 5-0 during the championship weekend.
 
Sunday's championship game saw the Heat jump out to a 4-0 lead in the first two innings courtesy of two-run home runs off the bats of Emmy Bonville and Cheyenne Simicak.
 
Kamryn Allin would drive in the team's fifth run in the fifth inning with an RBI double before Simicak added her second long ball of the game, a solo shot, in the sixth inning to round out the scoring.
 
It would be more than enough for starting pitcher Kate Hourihane who tossed a complete game shutout, going all seven innings, allowing eight hits while striking out five.
 
Prior to the championship game, five members of the Heat were recognized with league awards. Hourihane was named the WCSA Top Pitcher while Bonville took home WCSA Top Batter honours. Three members of the team were named WCSA First Team All-Stars, including Hourihane, Bonville and Simicak, who was recognized as an all-star for the third time in her career. Bella Green was named a WCSA Second Team All-Star, also making her a three-time all-star while Taylor Roeseler was awarded the Team Leadership award.
 
UBCO reached the final thanks to a blowout win in the semis against Regina. With the Heat leading 6-5 after two innings, they would blow the game open in the third with a 10-run inning. After the Cougars failed to cut into the deficit in the top of the fourth, the game was called due to the mercy rule to send UBCO back to the championship game.
 
Fifth-year Roeseler led the way in the semifinal game, going 3-for-3 with three runs batted in.
 
The Heat's run to the semis saw them post a 3-0 record in pool play, including an 11-4 victory over SAIT, an 8-7 win over Saskatchewan and a thrilling walk-off 4-3 win over Victoria. Third-year Emma Pepin was the hero in the game, singling home Tayan Treadwell in the bottom of the seventh to earn the Heat top spot in their pool.
 
UBCO will head right back to Calgary next weekend to participate in the Canadian Collegiate Softball Association (CCSA) Championship. Starting on Friday, October 10, the Heat will take on the Windsor Lancers and Toronto Varsity Blues from the OUA, along with the Humber Hawks from the OCCA in round robin action.
 
UBCO as medalled twice previously at the national championship, including winning the gold medal in 2021 and a bronze medal in 2022.