Now in her fourth year with the Cambrian Golden Shield Ladies Fastball team, 23 year-old first baseman Laurel Myers is looking to try something new this year. And she believes that 2005 may well be the year in which Cambrian makes a return trip to the OCAA championships.

A native of Drumbo (Ontario), Myers says she’s played fastball now for nearly 19 years, dating back to her days of T-ball. “I’ve played for most of my life…my dad and brother both played as well” said Myers, adding that she’s generally played first base in the family tradition. “With my dad and brother playing first, I always had a really good trapper broken in” she laughs.

An all-around athlete in high-school who competed in volleyball, basketball and soccer, Myers is completing her second year of the Journalism degree to go along with a degree in “Sustainable Outdoor Recreation” earned earlier in her stay at Cambrian College. And while she’s been through her share of losses at the Sudbury college, she sees reason for optimism this year.

“The coaching is a dramatic difference” notes Myers of the addition of long-time local fastball player Mickey Chartrand at the helm of the team. “He makes us want to play harder…and we are learning so much.” Myers immediately noticed the additional work the team has done on some of the game’s finer points, including substantial time spent on bunting practice.

In addition to her on-field production at the plate, Myers is clearly one of the leaders of this squad, providing little hesitation for Chartrand to name the outgoing veteran as team captain. “I see my role as captain as trying to help keep the girls motivated, especially when we’re at bat and the coaches are out on the field” explains Myers.

Sporting a 3-4 record as the season heads into the final two weeks of play, Cambrian College holds the fourth and final playoff position. And you can rest assured that Laurel Myers does everything she can to ensure they remain exactly there.
 

Laurel Myers, Women's Fastball
 

“I see my role as captain as trying to help keep the girls motivated, especially when we’re at bat and the coaches are out on the field”