The 2011-2012 academic year got off to a roaring start for Durham College’s student-athletes with the Durham Lord’s men’s baseball team earning gold at the Canadian Intercollegiate Baseball Association (CIBA) national championship, which was held in Moncton, New Brunswick on October 23. Defeating Humber College (Humber) with a score of 6-1, the tournament marked the first national title in the 20-year history of the baseball program at the college.

After an initial loss early in the tournament, the Lords enjoyed two big wins, putting the team into the semi-finals where it defeated Concordia University 3-2 then Humber College with a score of 6-1 in the championship game.

On the fastball side, the Durham Lords women’s fastball team won gold at the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) championship on October 22, defeating Humber 7-1. The championship, which was hosted by Durham College, marked the college’s second straight OCAA title and its 16th title overall, breaking the record for the most OCAA titles won by a college.

First-year fastball players Brittany Bell and Shannon Galea were recognized for their accomplishments in the gold medal game with Bell named overall most valuable player of the championship, scoring two runs and ending with a .714 batting average. Galea was also named OCAA top pitcher of both the championship and the regular season after allowing only one run in four hits and striking out seven Humber batters during the final game.

The college also fared well in soccer when the annual OCAA soccer championship banquet was held in Toronto on October 27. Four players from the Lord’s women’s and men’s soccer teams were recognized as OCAA all-stars including Jenn Sheehan, Chelsey Rogatinsky, Jelani De Jonge and Duncan Mitchell.

Second-time OCAA all-star Sheehan was also named the OCAA east region scoring champion with a total of nine goals in seven games. Defensive player Rogatinsky of the women’s team was then named the east region’s top defensive player after allowing only four goals to be scored on net all season.

Congrats to all student-athletes on their success to date and best of luck for the rest of the varsity athletic season.