Vikes softball caps season with fifth place finish

October 10, 2025

VICTORIA - The University of Victoria women’s softball team closed out its fifth official season in the Canadian Collegiate Softball Association (CCSA) with a 16–9 record and a fifth-place finish at the conference championship in Calgary, Alberta.

The Vikes continued their climb among the league’s top contenders, ranking third in total wins, second in runs scored (201), and second in run differential (+63). Their consistent offensive power showed early when they handed eventual champions UBC Okanagan one of their only losses of the season, a decisive 7–4 victory in week two.

At the CCSA championship, the Vikes finished strong with a 7–0 win in their final game, ending the weekend via the runs-ahead rule. Fifth-year first baseman Dani Boudreau crossed the plate for the go-ahead run, driven in by fourth-year pitcher and utility player Sophie Hepner—a fitting finish for two veteran leaders. The pair also earned major recognition for their individual performances.

Hepner captured the league’s Most Outstanding Player (MOP) award—one of the CCSA’s highest honours and a testament to her all-around impact as both a pitcher and utility player. At the championship tournament, she also earned Second Team All-Star and First Team Utility selections.

Boudreau claimed the league’s Gold Glove award for the second consecutive year, recognizing her as the top defensive player in the league. She also secured a Second Team All-Star nod at first base for her outstanding play during the championship tournament.

Other Vikes honoured included Lauren Parsons (First Team All-Star, LF), Madison Hillman (Second Team All-Star, 3B), and Alex Buckham, Jada Ponte, Payton Regier, and Hepner on the All-Academic Team for their excellence in the classroom.

“The team impressed me by their selflessness and to play as a team. They worked on hitting as a team, stringing their hits together, and batting their teammates in from scoring position and not leaving them stranded on base. This was evident from the abundance of offensive power this team had, and under stressful situations, resulting in outstanding quality at bats, and runs batted in with two outs,” said head coach Lori Zehr.

“They also demonstrated the greatest commitment and carried their championship culture on and off the field, setting a great example for future athletes.”

Five seniors—Boudreau, Hepner, Buckham, Emma Floer, and Taylor Poole—will graduate this year, leaving a legacy of leadership, performance, and pride that has helped the Vikes establish themselves as a competitive force in the national league.

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