The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's fastpitch team claimed the bronze medal at the 2015 OIWFA championship, October 16-18, in Napanee, Ont.

In only his third season, Craig Sarson boasts his first podium finish as Blues bench boss. After missing the championship for two consecutive years (2012, 2013), Sarson guided Toronto to a fourth-place finish at last year's tournament.

Toronto opened Day 3 of the championship with a dominant 9-4 quarter-final over the Brock Badgers. The Blues then met the top-seeded Western Mustangs in semi-final action for the second straight season, dropping a 15-0 decision.

The Blues bounced back though to top the Ottawa Gee-Gees, 4-1, to claim the third spot and bronze medal finish.

It marks the first podium finish for Toronto since claiming the silver medal in 2011, and the third time they've placed among the top three teams in the past 10 seasons.

In pool play, Toronto drew eighth seeded Queen's to open the tournament, and fought hard to get the lead. Taisley Isaac had a strong five innings of pitching, and an average day from the offence was nullified by some poor defence and Queen's stormed back late in the last inning to win 10-5.

Saturday saw the Blues face Windsor to open up the day and the bats came to work immediately. Windsor did score one run in the first inning, but that's all they'd get. Taisley Isaac was again strong in the circle, pitching a complete game, giving up just three hits. The offence took over from there, scoring in every inning to win 13-1. Every batter reached base, and eight different players scored runs. Karen Nishi scored twice, and drove in three runs as well.

After the Windsor game, the league champion Western Mustangs were up next. Despite an extremely strong performance from leadoff hitter Alika Kingsbury and good pitching from Renee Ridout, the Mustangs were too much to handle and took the win 6-1.

After finishing third in Pool A, the Blues advanced to Sunday's medal round to play against second seeded Brock in the quarter-final. A tight contest throughout, Toronto took an early 1-0 lead thanks to a passed ball and Kylie O'Donnell taking advantage to score. The Blues exploded for five runs in the fourth inning thanks to six consecutive base runners and a great approach at the plate. Taisley Isaac again started and pitched well, then passed the ball to Renee Ridout to close out the Badgers 9-4.

Western awaited the Blues again in the semifinal, a rematch of last year's semi. Unfortunately for Toronto, Western was able to hit just about everything that was thrown at them, regardless of who pitched. They stormed out to a big lead early, and never looked back, thumping the Blues 15-0, and sending them to the bronze medal game vs Ottawa, who lost to Laurier.

The bronze medal game started slowly, with excellent defence on both sides and good pitching. Taisley Isaac again started for Toronto, and pitched a wonderful four innings, giving up just one run, on three hits. This was enough to let the Blues get ahead in the fifth inning. Alika Kingsbury started the fire with a single, then a stolen base before being driven in by Nicole Knudsen. Kylie O'Donnell then drove in Renee Ridout to take a 3-1 lead, before Kingsbury drove in Alicia Callaghan in the sixth. Renee Ridout, closed out the game with three scoreless innings. Renee struck out the last batter, with an excellent foul tip caught off the dirt by Danielle Ridout to finish the game.

It was a fitting end to a great season, as well as to Danielle's career with the Blues. After nine seasons, Danielle will be graduating, and leaving the fastpitch program, and she deservingly caught the final out for the bronze medal. Danielle however, is the only graduating player on the roster, and the Blues will look to 2016 with big ambitions as a strong core returns, and looks to improve on the third-place finish.

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