Three local softball players earned national championships late last month.

Nic McGrayne and Aiden Reddick took home gold medals from the 2023 U20 Canadian Men’s Fast Pitch tournament hosted in Napanee while Meloni Crandall led her squad to a 2023 Canadian Women’s Slo-Pitch title in Dorchester, ON.

With his team leading 1-0 and serving as the club’s backstop, Mr. McGrayne cracked a long home run to centre field in the finals against the Tavistock Athletics to give the host Express a 2-0 lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

Mr. Reddick, who was flawless at the hot corner all week for the Express, fielded an infield pop up in the bottom of the 7th inning of a 2-0 game to seal the win and set off a joyous celebration amongst the Napanee faithful.

McGrayne hit .333 for the Express over 18 plate appearances.

Meanwhile, Ms. Crandall’s Sensor Health/WireOne Electric Mountainview Angels met up with defending champions SIS Adrenaline out of British Columbia in the Canadian Championship finals in a battle to two undefeated teams in the double elimination play downs.

Mountainview dumped SIS Adrenaline 11-5 in Game One and defeated the BC-based opponent 7-5 in Game Two to collect the national title.

Ms. Crandall, who is also the General Manager of the Prince Edward Fitness and Aquatic Centre,  pitched all 14 innings of the two championship games and went a combined 2-5 at the plate. The Picton native hit .432 for the entire tournament, earning MVP honours from the organizing committee.