OSHAWA, Ont. – Durham College will welcome the top collegiate softball programs in the country this fall as the college hosts the 2026 Canadian Collegiate Softball Association (CCSA) National Championship from October 9-11.

Joining the host Durham Lords at the national championship will be Humber Polytechnic, St. Clair College, Wilfrid Laurier University, Western University, University of Saskatchewan, University of Calgary and University of British Columbia-Okanagan.

The championship will take place entirely on Durham College's campus across two turf facilities: Babcock Field and Vaso's Field.

Babcock Field will act as the primary championship venue and has undergone significant upgrades in recent years to elevate both the athlete and spectator experience.

The facility features a full turf infield and outfield, allowing for reliable playing conditions throughout the weekend while supporting a fast-paced, high-level brand of softball. Championship participants and fans will also benefit from enhanced amenities across the venue, including improved lighting, expanded seating areas, batting cages, a modern digital scoreboard and dedicated media infrastructure to support event coverage from across the country.

Just a short walk away, Vaso's Field will provide Durham College with a unique second championship site capable of hosting softball competition entirely on campus.

While traditionally home to championship soccer and lacrosse events, the venue will be specially converted for softball competition during nationals, creating a seamless two-venue championship environment for teams, staff and spectators alike.

"We're excited to welcome student-athletes, coaches and fans from across Canada to Durham College for the national championship," said Scott Dennis, Director, Athletics & Recreation. "This event is an opportunity to showcase not only the strength of post-secondary softball in Canada, but also the incredible facilities and championship experience we're proud to provide here in Oshawa. Hosting an event of this calibre is something our department takes great pride in and we're looking forward to creating a memorable weekend for everyone involved."

The Durham Lords enter the championship as one of the most successful softball programs in Canadian collegiate history. Provincially, the Lords have captured 22 OCAA championships and earned 40 total provincial medals.

On the national stage, Durham has collected six CCSA medal finishes since 2010, highlighted by the program's first national gold medal in 2024 after completing an undefeated double gold season.

UBC Okanagan enters the championship as defending national champions, whereas Calgary and Saskatchewan earned silver and bronze, respectively, at the 2025 championship.

"For our program, hosting nationals is incredibly special," said Head Coach Jamie Baker. "There's a lot of pride in being able to compete for a national championship on our home campus, especially with the tradition our program has built over the years. We know teams from across the country are going to experience a first-class event, and our athletes are excited for the opportunity to play in front of our supporters and the DC community."

Information regarding live streaming, championship merchandise and ticketing will be announced at a later date.

Beginning this fall, durhamlords.com will feature a dedicated championship portal serving as the central hub for schedules, event details and additional championship information.

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