DURHAM'S JONES HEADLINES OCAA WOMEN'S SOFTBALL AWARDS

TORONTO - Durham College's Peyton Jones (Oshawa) is the 2024 Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Women's Softball Player of the Year.

The first-year student-athlete was a duel threat for the Lords both at the plate and from the pitcher's circle. Jones led the OCAA during the regular season with 37 runs batted in, six home runs and 11 doubles, was second in total bases with 67, and third with 32 runs scored. Jones produced a slash line of .480/.512/.893 in 86 plate appearances.

From the rubber, Jones was second in the league in strike outs with 68 and a .144 opponent's batting average. Jone's 1.46 earned run average was in the top three. In addition, Jones is the OCAA Rookie of the Year and headlines the OCAA League First-Team All-Stars and OCAA All-Rookie Team.

Jamie Baker of Durham is the OCAA Coach of the Year. The Lords became just the second team to have a perfect 24-0 record en route to a regular season championship, outscoring their opponents 267-45. Durham led the OCAA in several offensive and pitching statistical categories.

Shade Hansen (Etobicoke) of Humber Polytechnic is now a two-time OCAA Pitcher of the Year. The second-year hurler led all OCAA players with eight wins, four shutouts, 109 strikeouts and a 1.03 earned run average. Hansen is also an OCAA League First-Team All-Star.

Durham's Grace Hearns (Napenee) is the OCAA Batting Champion. The fourth-year catcher led all OCAA batters with a .514 batting average and .544 on base percentage. Hearns also ranked second with 38 hits and 33 runs. Hearns is also an OCAA League First-Team All-Star.

Joining Jones, Hansen and Hearns as OCAA First-Team All-Stars are Kelly Tikel (Cambridge) of Conestoga College; Jessica Benz (Simcoe) of Durham; Rilee Devries (Cambridge) of Humber; Reese Grondin (LaSalle), Judy Lafleur (Essex) and Shae-Lyn Murphy (Windsor) of St. Clair College; and Kiersten Raso (Brampton) of Sheridan College.

OCAA League Second-Team All-Stars include Daniela Ernst (Georgetown) of Conestoga; Jayden Bennett (Bowmanville), Makayla Benz (Simcoe), Jessica Greene (Stratford) and Chelsea Oke (Brooklin) of Durham; Amelia Russo (Kelowna, B.C.) of Humber; Kayla Makowich (Guelph) and Kelsea Peckham (Brantford) of Mohawk College; Kirsten Kipfer (Mitchell) of St. Clair; and Payton Barkley (Napanee) of Sheridan.

In addition to Jones, members of the OCAA All-Rookie team include Durham's Benz; Kyle Dalrymple (Exeter) of Fanshawe College; Mohawk's Peckham; and St. Clair's Kipfer.

2024 OCAA WOMEN'S SOFTBALL AWARDS

OCAA Women's Softball Player of the Year

Peyton Jones, Durham

OCAA Women's Softball Rookie of the Year
Peyton Jones, Durham

OCAA Women's Softball Coach of the Year
Jamie Baker, Durham

OCAA Women's Softball Pitcher of the Year
Shade Hansen, Humber

OCAA Women's Softball Batting Champion
Grace Hearns, Durham

OCAA Women's Softball League Champion
Durham Lords

OCAA Women's Softball First-Team All-Stars
Jessica Benz, Durham
Rilee Devries, Humber
Reese Grondin, St. Clair
Shade Hansen, Humber
Grace Hearns, Durham
Peyton Jones, Durham
Judy Lafleur, St. Clair
Shae-Lyn Murphy, St. Clair
Kelly Tikel, Conestoga
Kiersten Raso, Sheridan

OCAA Women's Softball Second-Team All-Stars
Payton Barkley, Sheridan
Jayden Bennett, Durham
Makayla Benz, Durham
Daniela Ernst, Conestoga
Jessica Greene, Durham
Kirsten Kipfer, St. Clair
Kayla Makowich, Mohawk
Chelsea Oke, Durham
Kelsea Peckham, Mohawk
Amelia Russo, Humber

OCAA Women's Softball All-Rookie Team
Jessica Benz, Durham
Kyle Dalrymple, Fanshawe
Peyton Jones, Durham
Kirsten Kipfer, St. Clair
Kelsea Peckham, Mohawk

- OCAA -

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