CALGARY, Alta. – The UBCO Heat softball team battled all weekend at the Western Collegiate Softball Association (WCSA) Championship, finishing with a silver medal.
In the semifinal matchup against the top-seeded Victoria Vikes, the Heat came through with a 9-5 victory in six innings.
Kate Lawrence led the offence, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs (runs batted in), while Taylor McRae pitched 2.1 innings of relief, allowing one unearned run and striking out two hitters.
"This group of athletes exemplifies the 'team' definition and played for each other all weekend," said head coach Doug Allin. "As coach of this team, I was extremely proud of the effort and how we are playing going to the Canadian championships next week."
The championship game saw the Heat go up against the Lethbridge Pronghorns, a team they had split the previous four matchups with during the regular season.
After two scoreless innings, the Pronghorns delivered nine runs in the third en route to an 11-3 victory.
UBCO finished with seven hits to Lethbridge's eight, while both teams committed two errors in the matchup. Both Katie Nelson and Kate Hourihane notched one RBI on singles.
Entering the weekend with a 16-8-1 record, the Heat were ranked second heading into the tournament, earning the top spot in Pool B.
UBCO finished with a 2-1 record in pool play with wins over the Regina Cougars (4-3) and the University of Saskatchwan (4-1) and an 8-4 loss to the Pronghorns, who they faced again in the final.
Awards and all-stars were presented before the last game on Saturday, with the Heat well represented.
Willa Bonsall was named Rookie of the Year after a sparkling first campaign that saw her finish first in the league in triples (5) and sixth in batting average (.431) and hits (28). Her speed was on full display with a conference-leading 24 stolen bases, which was seven more than the next closest player.
Outfielders Bonsall and Lawrence both earned spots on the WCSA First Team, while Nelson was named a Second Team All-Star as a utility player. The team's Leadership Award went to Kamryn Allin, a senior catcher who has helped run camps and supported the development of younger athletes.
Up next, the Heat will look to secure their third consecutive Canadian Collegiate Softball Association (CCSA) title at the 2026 championship, hosted by the Durham Lords from Friday, Oct. 9 to Sunday, Oct. 11 in Oshawa, Ont.
UBCO opens the tournament with games against the St. Clair Saints of the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) and the Western Mustangs of Ontario University Athletics (OUA). The Heat will also face Saskatchewan on Saturday before bracket play begins later that day and continues through Sunday.
