Last weekend’s UBC Women’s Softball team home opener on their new on-campus Collings Field had a heavy Richmond influence both on and off the diamond.
Three players - Kaitlyn Eng, Shae Sever and Emilie Sherritt – as well as assistant coach Jordan Britten-Yung were part of the opening day roster at the new field.
The team had previously been playing home games at Softball City, which is an hour’s drive away in South Surrey.
Eng – a freshman and graduate of Steveston-London secondary who’s studying Arts at UBC - plays in the outfield and was recently described by her coach as being “a very strong, line-drive hitter” who has “fleet of foot in the outfield.”
While Sever, also a freshman who graduated out of McRoberts secondary and is studying Kinesiology this fall, is primarily a pitcher, but is also an accomplished short stop billed by her coach as being a “quality player in both positions.”
Sherritt – a senior out of McMath secondary who played all eight years in the Richmond Islanders program and is studying Arts - transferred from Douglas College after leading the Royals softball team to a third place finish in the GNAC conference. She was described by her coach as an “exceptional defensive player and a quality hitter.”
As for the opening game itself, fellow Richmond Islander Nicole Salas gave the fans an energizing start to the game with a two-run home run over the left field fence, followed shortly by Sherritt’s bases loaded, two RBI double in the first inning.
Sever then singled to RF in the sixth and pitched two solid innings, keeping the score tied.
