It was a script fit for Hollywood: Two runs down, two outs and two strikes, based loaded, in the last inning of the deciding game.
St. Clair College Saints, with Perth County’s Kamryn Coombs representing the tying run on second base, needed a miracle.
Zahnyah Jackson’s walk-off double was the answer, clearing the bases for a 5-4 win over Humber College at the Canadian Collegiate Softball Association championships.
It was the program’s fourth national title.
Coombs, a Listowel District Secondary School graduate and Atwood resident, had three hits and scored two runs in the championship game.
Coombs told MyStratfordNow she had the best view in the house watching Jackson connect on the winning hit.
“We had faith in Zahnyah. We all have so much confidence. Seeing it and experiencing it was amazing.”
Saints coach Dwayne Dawson said it was a surreal ending to a tournament featuring several universities and some traditional powerhouse college softball teams from the western provinces.
Dawson said the Saints won the title without any superstars.
“Lot’s of great players, don’t get me wrong, we are a balanced team. We come at you with pitching, defence and offence. I think that’s part of the key to some our success is just having that group that believes in one another. Everybody is capable of getting in there and doing their part.”
The coach said Coombs is a versatile player.
“She catches for us. She plays second base. She plays the outfield. It’s a bat that we don’t want out of the lineup.”
At nationals in Oshawa, Coombs was primarily in the outfield.
Coombs batted .453 in her first year, .382 last year and is carrying a .418 average this year while leading the league in RBIs.
Dawson said she has provided a lot of leadership to the younger players, acting as a mentor to freshman, and leading by example.
“I don’t have enough accolades for her. She is a hard-nosed ballplayer but she is a true team player, too. I would take a full team of Kam’s because they are willing to do whatever is asked of them.”
Coombs graduated last year from the Protection Security Investigations program, and is currently enrolled in Police Foundations.
A law enforcement career is a possibility, she said.
There is still some softball left for the Saints, though, with provincial bragging rights left.
The Saints host the OCAA playoffs next week.
“The challenge now is to be able to refocus ourselves,” Dawson said.
“You achieve such a goal, the highlight of your season, but your season is not done.”
