Team captain Gracie Hearns has played softball since she was four years old and has been captain of the women’s team at DC since second year. In April, she will graduate from the Business Marketing program (she also completed a diploma in Interactive Media Design).  She talks about what team life looks like and how softball fits in with academics.

Congratulations on an amazing season. How does it feel?

Playing here is everything that I hoped and dreamed of growing up. It was just such an incredible feeling to be like a part of Durham College history, being the first national gold medal for us and an undefeated season. So just being part of that history that people are going to continue to talk about, and other teams are going to know about for a long time, it feels incredible to be a part of that.

What does your team look like?

There are 18 roster players, four coaches, two athletic trainers and a student manager. It’s a lot of people. In my four years, we've had such a great atmosphere on the team and no issues. It's a lot of time with each other for two months. So, I've been pretty blessed to have really awesome teammates throughout those four years. And amazing coaching staff and the athletic trainer, student managers, everybody has a role. I have nothing but good things to say about everybody on the team.

What’s your practice schedule?

For the first two months of the year, which is the college softball season, it's almost every day that includes either a practice or a workout. We have 24 games in a regular season in about two months. It’s a busy season to get that many games in, plus any exhibition games, nationals and provincials. So, it's a lot going on in two months, but there's nothing that I'd rather be doing.

How do you fit your studies in?

A lot of my study time is on bus trips to games, especially to Windsor or Ottawa. The majority of our practices take place later in the evening, generally after 6 p.m. A couple of them go to 9 or 10 p.m. You try to find time in this busy schedule, an hour here, hour there. For my schooling, I take morning classes, just because it makes it a little bit easier to fit in those practices and game times.

What other training do you do?

During the season, we have a program made for us, called the strength and conditioning program, which Durham Athletics has for all the teams. During our first bit of the season, it's a lot of keeping our body loose, and then after that, the workout portion is a lot of building up to more heavy weights, while still implementing exercises that help our sport. Then we do our own training in the winter, a lot of exercises that we don't necessarily want to do in season.

Will you keep up with softball after you graduate?

I will graduate in April. As of right now, I am helping coach three softball teams, two in the U13 age group, and one U15. I really enjoy doing that, it’s really nice because they all come and support me at the games. Like coming around in a full circle. I'm hoping to continue my coaching career.

Women’s softball head coach Jamie Baker started his coaching career as a volunteer with Durham College in 2013 and took over the softball program in 2021-22. He was recognized as softball coach of the year.

Congratulations on a great season! How did it come about?

This was a historic year for us here at Durham College softball, in a program that's already very strong. We've had a great history with 22 OCAA championships and whole pile of silver medals at the nationals. I was here for the national silver, for our provincial golds, but this is just that pinnacle that we were really searching for. That was the biggest thing this year for me, that was my goal.

What do you think put you over the top this year?

It was all to do with the level of talent we had, with the current players and that blend of new recruits. I couldn't ask for a better recruitment year, and obviously the seniors and juniors and sophomores who performed very well this year as well. So, it was a combination of everything.

What’s your recruiting strategy?

One big piece is I coach summer ball at that right age group. I was with U17 this year, so I was around a lot of kids that age. The year before I coached U19. So, the last three years, I've been around coaching players and I'm out to watch.

Player fit is also a huge piece for my team. Having the right type of players who play the game the right way for the right reasons, who are selfless. Team-first mentality players, that's super important to me. They have to be coachable. Because when you come here, you could be really good, but with the coaches I have, we're going to make you better.

Why do you think sports are good for students in their overall academic career?

The athletes that come to play softball love the game of softball. It gives them purpose, organization. I hear this from so many athletes, they’re saying, ‘with softball, I have purpose, I have friends on the team, I have those outlets that I need. When school is getting tough, I can go to practice and just get it out, get that physical piece out.’ Exercise releases endorphins. That's a good thing, a positive thing.

Winners of the Campus Cup against Ontario Tech, the team saw a strong season with an overall record of 6-8, making it to the OCAA Championship Quarter-Final where they lost to Sheridan 3-2.

Player awards included an East Division First Team All-Star for Sage Thomas-Roberts and an East Division All-Rookie Team for Alexis Bayley.

Winners of the Campus Cup against Ontario Tech, the team placed third in the East Division with an overall record of 6-4-6. They lost in the OCAA Championship Quarter-Final, 1-0 to Sheridan.

Player wins include Rookie of the Year for Saail Awan, Defensive Player of the Year for Deandre Branch, First Team All-Stars for Chris Badinbengi and Deandre Branch, Second Team All-Stars for Saail Awan and Jaden Grant, and All-Rookie Team for Saail Awan.

Winners of the OCAA Championship at Loyalist College the team defeating St. Lawrence 24-14. Their overall record was 15-1.

Player recognition included Rookie of the Year for Amber Edgerton, Defensive Player of the Year for Danika Johnston, League All-Stars for Maya Austin, Shay Morris, Camryn Wood, All-Rookie Team for Amber Edgerton, Championship MVP for Shay Morris, and Championship All-Stars for Maya Austin, Amber Edgerton.

Made it to the OCAA Championship Quarter-Final, losing 31-20 against Georgian, with an overall record of 3-3.

Special recognition included Rookie of the Year for Owen MacKinnon, East Division Rookie of the Year for Owen MacKinnon, East Division All-Stars for Tyler Janes, Patrick Lynch, Owen MacKinnon, Ethan Montgomery, Andrew Neveu, and All-Rookie Team for Owen MacKinnon.

Winners of the CCSA National Championship at the University of Ottawa, defeating Humber 7-1, and the OCAA Championship at Durham College, defeating Humber 8-0. Their overall record was 37-1.

Player highlights included Player of the Year for Peyton Jones, Coach of the Year for Jamie Baker, Rookie of the Year for Peyton Jones, Batting Champion for Grace Hearns, First Team All-Stars for Jessica Benz, Grace Hearns, Peyton Jones, Second Team All-Stars for Jayden Bennett, Makayla Benz, Jessica Greene, Chelsea Oke, All-Rookie Team for Jessica Benz, Peyton Jones, Championship MVP for Peyton Jones and Championship All-Star - Jessica Benz, Jessica Greene.

Bronze medal winners at the OCAA Championship, losing to Lambton 7-0. Their overall record was 16-6.

Player highlights included First Team All-Star for Griffin Oliver, Second Team All-Star for Zach Rivers, All-Rookie Team for Mark Baxter, Championship All-Star for Griffin Oliver.

DC’s golf team placed 5^th out of 10 at the OCAA Championship, qualifying for nationals. Player accomplishments were as follows:

OCAA Championship: Team: +98; Sean Michalicka (+21 - Tied for 16th); Cory Pharand (+24 - Tied for 20th); Barrett Potter (+28 - Tied for 25th); Quin Doherty (+30 - 29th); Ethan Johnston (+34 - Tied for 32nd)

CCAA National Championship: Cory Pharand (+30 - Tied for 28th); Sean Michalicka (+33 - Tied for 33rd); Barrett Potter (+45 - 40th); Ethan Johnston (+50 - 45th); Quin Doherty (+67 - 47th)