Queen's Fastpitch closed out last season with a big win, defeating the Western Mustangs to take home gold at the OUS Championship.

The Gaels played the Mustangs earlier in the tournament—taking a 9-2 loss—but rallied together later the same day to defeat them in the championship game, walking away with a 3-2 win.

Team Captain Sarah van den Heuvel believes that the championship win was a result of a season's worth of development.

"You start the season a very different team than you end the season as. Anyone can start the season not knowing that they're going to be the provincial champions."

The Gaels opened their 2023 season with a doubleheader against the Mustangs. They dropped both games, before coming back to split a doubleheader against the Windsor Lancers the following day.

van dan Heuvel attributes these losses to a learning curve for the team.

"I think it was rough because it was our first two doubleheaders playing together. It takes some effort learning how to play with each other and knowing the types of players that you're playing with on the field. I think we have some work to do."

Despite the losses, the team's chemistry and supportive dynamic shone through in their gameplay.

"I think overall our attitude was excellent. There was nobody that was down on each other, everyone was positive and that's important because everything's not always going to go your way and you can't get down on yourself when things don't go your way."

Strong team chemistry is characteristic of Queen's Fastpitch's game style, carrying them through stressful games.

"Everyone is buying into the same idea that team chemistry really matters. Everyone is there for each other." Said van den Heuvel.

"We make sure that everybody doesn't feel like the pressure is solely on their backs. We win and loose as a team. It's no one person's responsibility, and we try out best to have fun."

The team's strategy worked, as they pulled off two wins against the York Lions the following weekend.

Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Fastpitch plans on continuing their development as a team.  

"I think there's a lot of pressure to perform again this year, but we're trying to drive home that where we are at the end of last year is not where we were at the beginning of last year. It's important for the new girls on the team, and the girls from last year, to remember that's it's a process." Said van den Heuval.

"We aren't going to be the same team that we're going to be at the end of the year. It's a process and we are building towards being the best team that we can be at the end of the year."

van den Heuvel believes that the team will only grow in the weeks leading up to the OUS Championship.

"We have a really good group of girls this year and I'm excited to see where we go."

The Gaels continue their season on Friday, Sept. 22, taking on TMU Bold in a doubleheader at Garrigan Park.