The No. 3 seeded University of Toronto Varsity Blues fastpitch finished their season placing fifth at the OIWFA championship tournament this past weekend (Oct. 14-15) in Waterloo, Ont.

The Blue and White entered the OIWFA playoffs on a roll, sporting a 13-5 regular season record, matching up against No. 6 Ryerson Rams in the opening round. The game began quickly for the Rams, taking a 1-0 lead before the Blues recorded their first hit. Toronto stormed back though, with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first inning, courtesy of a leadoff single from 2017 OIWFA all-star Michelle Miller, and another from veteran third baseman Kylie O'Donnell before a few Ryerson errors plated the pair. Taisley Isaac shut the door from there, pitching a very solid complete game Toronto added a third run in the third inning, after a leadoff single from the Blues second OIWFA all-star Nicole Knudsen, and an RBI walk from Mercedes Roddau. Make the final, 3-1 Toronto.

After the 3-1 win in round one, Toronto matched up against the No. 2 Ottawa Gee-Gees. Samantha Cotton took the ball pitching for U of T, but didn't get much support from her offence or defence. Three errors in the first inning led to five Ottawa runs, and they didn't look back from there, pitching a solid game, and taking the second round contest 6-0. The loss marked the first of a possible two in the double knockout format, sending the Blues to the bottom half of the draw.

Toronto awaited the winner of the Windsor Lancers (#8), and Brock Badgers (#5). Brock came back after trailing 3-0, to win 6-4, and face Toronto. The Blues were able to take a 1-0 lead early, after a single from O'Donnell, and scoring on a double from Alicia Callaghan. Brock came back to get two runs in the top of the second, but play was suspended after an inning and a half, due to unsafe field conditions, scheduled to resume the following day at 8:30am. The bats were alive in the morning, with Toronto scoring three runs immediately after the restart thanks to a walk from Aliya Shafi, followed by hits from Alika Kingsbury and Michelle Miller, plus a sacrifice fly from Shelby Reid, to lead 4-2. Another run provided by Miller, a sacrifice bunt from Knudsen, and an RBI from O'Donnell made it 5-2. The Badgers wouldn't quit though, and were able to mount a charge against starter Taisley Isaac. With four hits in the seventh inning, Brock scored four runs, to lead 6-5. They closed out U of T in the bottom half of the inning to win, and knock the Blue and White out of the playoffs.

This 2017 campaign marked the most successful winning percentage in team history in the regular season at .722. While this loss was heartbreaking to the team, the program says goodbye to several key pieces, making it an even tougher day. The Varsity Blues careers of Kylie O'Donnell, Nicole Knudsen, Madison MacKenzie, Alicia Callaghan, Mercedes Roddau, Alika Kingsbury, and Michelle Miller are coming to an end. This group has seen the most successful block of time in program history happen during their tenure. The program now looks to the future, but can always look back with fond memories of this very talented group of young women.

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