UVic women’s softball set to host CCSA Softball National Championship

October 2, 2023

VICTORIA - The University of Victoria women's softball team, along with the Western Collegiate Softball Association (WCSA), welcomes the best in college softball for the 2023 Canadian Collegiate Softball Association National Championship (CCSA) taking place from Oct. 6-8 at Langford's Centennial Park.

Eight teams from across the nation will ascend on Langford for the three-day event, including the University of British Columbia Okanagan, the University of Calgary, Queens University, Western University, Humber College, Durham College, St. Clair College, and the University of Victoria.

The CCSA National Championship format is unique as it is an invitational for the previous year's conference medallists to compete for a national title.

The UVic women's softball team will experience a lot of firsts next weekend. Not only are the Vikes first-time hosts, but it will also be their first time competing at nationals since entering the league in 2020, falling just shy of a qualifying position in their first two seasons, taking back-to-back bronze medals at the Western Canadian Softball Championship.

"We're really excited to be hosting nationals this year. Unfortunately, some of our athletes who helped us qualify last season have since graduated, but we've got a great group of young athletes with lots of talent," said Lori Zehr, women's softball head coach.

“We hope this event attracts young kids from the community and shows them that softball can be played at this level in Canada.”

"Our goal is to compete at the national level, the highest level of college softball in the country, and to walk away with a great experience. We hope this event attracts young kids from the community and shows them that softball can be played at this level in Canada," she continued.

The top-seeded University of British Colombia Okanagan (19-1) is back for another year. Heavy favourites coming into the weekend, the UBCO Heat were almost undefeated during the 2023 regular season, dropping only one game to the Vikes on Sept. 23.

The University of Western Ontario and Queens University will represent the Ontario University Softball League. Western (13-0) is a five-time champion at the national tournament and is currently first in the OUS West Division.

Last year's championship hosts and reigning national champions from St. Clair College (16-0) who are undefeated this season, will be joined from the Ontario college ranks by Durham (17-3) and Humber College (13-3).

Pool play starts Friday, Oct. 6 at 10:00 a.m. and stretches into Saturday morning before quarterfinals begin at 3:00 p.m. Teams will be back on the field for semifinals Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. with the bronze and gold medal games at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.

The Vikes open their tournament on Friday, Oct. 6, at 1:00 p.m. against last year's Western Conference champions, the University of Calgary and play back-to-back against the University of Westen Ontario at 3:00 p.m.

All National Championship games will be played at Langford's Centennial Park and livestream coverage can be found here.