The University of Toronto Varsity Blues softball team look to defend their provincial title this weekend at the 2025 Ontario University Softball Championship in Innerkip, Ont.

Hosted by the University of Waterloo, the provincial showcase is scheduled to take place at Innerkip Ball Park from Oct. 18-19. The championship utilizes a double-elimination format requiring two losses for elimination.

Toronto enters the tournament as the No. 1 seed after finishing atop the OUS East division standings with a league-best 19-1 record. Along with only one loss conceded during the regular season, the Blues also led the province in several statistical categories, including an OUS-high plus-119 run differential.

At the plate U of T have benefited from a number of standout performers including third-year infielder Shirley Chan. The kinesiology major leads the team this season with an impressive .574 batting average on 75 at-bats. In addition to her team-high 41 hits, including nine extra-base swings, she also has been a consistent threat on the base paths with 29 stolen bases aiding her to 35 total runs.

Leading the team in RBI this season, second-year utility Tala Rennie has not slowed down at all after being named an OUS all-star in her debut season last fall. The biochemistry student led the Blues with 30 total RBI, while finishing second to Chan with 39 hits this year. In 49 career games played across her two seasons in the Blue and White she now has 69 hits, 21 walks, 16 stolen bases, 40 RBI, and 54 runs.

Shifting to the pitching circle, the duo of second-year philosophy and political science double major Vanessa Jeffrey and fourth-year astronomy and astrophysics double major Joely Ma have led the Blues. The pair have received OUS pitcher of the year recognition over the last two years with the 2024 recipient Jeffrey adding another 59 strikeouts in 50.2 innings to her career total, while 2023 honouree Ma recorded 27 across 29.1 innings this fall.

Also chipping in have been dual threats Alexa Aquanno and Olivia Mather. A second-year infielder and pitcher, Aquanno has registered 35 strikeouts and conceded just 24 hits in 27.2 innings, while also adding 10 extra-base hits and 22 RBI in the batter's box herself. Meanwhile, third-year pitcher and outfielder Mather worked 26.2 inning in the pitching circle, while drawing a team-high 13 walks and adding 28 hits herself.

Toronto have won the last two consecutive OUS championships and have claimed seven provincial medals dating back to 2002.

The Blues will open their title defence on Saturday (Oct. 18) with a first-round match-up versus the McMaster Marauders. McMaster finished fourth in the OUS West division with a 7-13 record. First pitch is scheduled for 9 a.m.