OSHAWA, Ont. – The Durham College women's softball program has announced its first recruit from its 2026 class, welcoming third baseman Becca Sawyer to the roster.
A Courtice native, Sawyer returns home after two successful seasons in the United States, competing at both Chesapeake College and the NCAA's D'Youville University.
"After a couple of successful seasons on the states side we are fortunate Becca decided to come home to complete her education and post-secondary softball playing career at Durham College. I have coached high level summer club ball against Becca for a number of seasons and I am very aware of how good she is both offensively and defensively. Becca should fit into our line up quite nicely and I would expect her to be an opening day starter," said head coach Jamie Baker.
Sawyer arrives with an extensive résumé at the collegiate level. At Chesapeake, she posted a standout .508 batting average over 132 at bats, collecting 67 hits, 12 doubles, three triples, five home runs, and 17 stolen bases. Her performance earned her places on the All-Maryland JUCO Team, the All-Region 20 Division II Team, and multiple NJCAA All-Academic lists.
She continued her strong play at D'Youville, starting 40 games and helping the Saints capture their first-ever East Coast Conference championship. Sawyer contributed 24 hits, 20 runs, 13 RBIs, and five extra-base hits while maintaining a .938 fielding percentage. Her success extended into the classroom, earning Dean's List honours in both semesters and the D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award.
Among her many highlights, Sawyer points to a pivotal defensive moment during the East Coast Conference semifinals as her biggest athletic thrill. With the game in a tense situation, she leaped to snag a line drive rocketed over her head, a catch that prevented a two-run double and completely shifted the momentum. She describes the play as one of the proudest moments of her career.
"I chose Durham College because after spending two years studying in the United States, I felt it was in my best interest to come home. Durham is close to my family, and being here gives my closest supporters the chance to finally watch me play in person instead of through a screen," she said.
She also values the academic fit, noting that the program will help her pursue a future career in speech pathology.
The Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School graduate will join the Lords this fall as she enters the Behavioral Science Technician program.
