The HEAT Softball team has been lighting up the competition as the reigning Canadian Collegiate Softball Association’s (CCSA) National Champions. Ahead of their CCSA Finals in Oshawa, Ontario, players Kamryn Allin and Kate Hourihane gave the Phoenix insight into the team, the season, and their strategy to become two time national champions.
Kamryn Allin is a fourth year Arts student and has been a catcher on the team for four years. She’s known on the team as the unofficial ‘captain’ and has gradually risen to a leadership position. She’s worked since her first year to gain more responsibilities, playing time, and to become a role model for this season’s rookies.
Kate Hourihane is a fourth year Engineering student and has quickly risen the ranks as a valued pitcher on the team, having only been a member for two years. In her first year on the team, she became a core player, pitching many innings therefore showing her indispensability to the team. She made her mark as a teammate, on and off the field, by helping the newer pitchers adjust to team dynamics.
Kamryn is a three time Western Canadian Softball Association (WCSA) Champion, sharing one of those victories with Kate. Both Kamryn and Kate are reigning CCSA Champions, which kickstarted this season and allowed them a berth to this year’s WCSA Championship where they placed second, losing the final game to the Lethbridge Pronghorns. The HEAT is currently placed second in the WCSA league, after a troubling last tournament of the regular season in which many key players were injured.
Though the HEAT started the season off the high of last season’s win, the addition of many new players brought on a bit of a rocky start. It took them a little bit of time to get acquainted and figure out their identity. Kate admits that, after a little trial and error
“The team is stronger than it has been in the past, UBCO was known to be really big hitters before… they would hit home runs every time they came up to bat. This year, it’s more tactical.”
She assures that the team is stronger and more focused, being able to slow down and meticulously play for the win. She applauds the senior players, such as Emmy Bonville, Hannah Pepin, and Sidney Johnston, for stepping up in their respective roles and advocating for the newer players. Kate also admires the amount of depth the rookies have gained from their season, becoming more confident on the field, and improving the team’s game. They confirm that the moment the team truly came together was the first away game in Calgary. Between the long bus ride, the new environment, and the tiring conditions, the team really got to understand their teammates and figure out how to have fun playing together.
Kate credits Kamryn for her success with the team bonding. Kate notes that when it seemed like the team was struggling in their last tournament in Lethbridge, Kamryn took initiative to call an emergency team meeting and sort through what was going on. The leadership shown by the older teammates and ability to take charge when things got rough truly allowed them to come back better than before and end their regular season off strong.
Kamryn details that the model of the HEAT team last year really paved the way for their successes this year. She adds that because the seniors last year prioritized everyone’s friendship and their identity off the field, that the senior teammates really knew what to focus on and strengthen this season.
Both girls realize that the competition has never been so fierce, talking extensively about the noticeable difference in intensity that the other teams have been playing this season. Kamryn admits that this is partially due to their National title, but that the HEAT does not let that intimidate them. Going into the tournament in Oshawa, Kamryn advises,
“Our coach always says that people out of sync pull the rope in different directions, I think it’s important that we pull the rope in the same direction. We have to keep it simple, because we know how to play softball, and we have to just take it one game at a time.”
Both girls finally stress that the team’s mantra to get them through these important tournaments is simple, to show a hunger for competition, and a want to win.
