BRAMPTON, Ont. – Marina Christie (Pickering, Ont.) has been named the OCAA softball batting champion – the first player from Durham College to receive the honour since 2012.
 
Melissa Semeniuk was the last Lord to win the award.
 
Christie finished the season with a .520 batting average, appearing in 18 games for Durham. She finished with 26 hits in 50 at bats, picking up four doubles, three triples and earned seven RBI.
 
Also, named to the league all-star team were human resources major Ashley Black (Waterloo, Ont.) and nursing major Jaimie Clarke (Elmvale, Ont.).
 
Black appeared in 14 games for the Lords on the mound this year. Over eight complete games she had eight wins and four losses. She struck out 37 batters and finished with a 3.20 ERA.
 
Clarke, in her second year with the Lords, has been the go-to at second base for Durham. She appeared in all 24 league games, finishing with a .299 batting average. She had 17 RBI, which put her tied for 10^th in the OCAA. She also had two doubles, two triples, a home run and 22 runs scored on 23 hits.
 
This is the first time each player has been named an OCAA all-star or received a major award.
 
"We're excited for each player and any time someone from our program is recognized for their hard work it's a testament to the things we're doing here at Durham College and the hard work our players put in each day," said Durham College athletic director Ken Babcock. "I'm proud of Marina, Ashley and Jaimie. I want to wish them and the team good luck this weekend as I know they're now refocusing on their opening game on Friday."
 
Durham faces the host Humber Hawks on Friday at 11 a.m. in Brampton. The winner of the opening game will play at 5 p.m. against the winner of the St. Clair and Mohawk game. The losers play at 3 p.m. in the double-knockout format.