Simon Fraser University’s women’s fastpitch team will have a distinct Semiahmoo Peninsula flavour next season, after the school announced five new recruits – all from the White Rock Renegades.
On Tuesday, the SFU Clan announced the signing of Renegades Megan Smith, Alex Ogg, Maria Seminario, Hannah Boulanger and Kate Ferguson to national letters of intent, calling the quintet “high-end recruits” in a news release.
“I am excited about the talent and winning attitude each of our new recruits will be bringing to our program,” said SFU head coach Mike Renney.
“With all of them playing (with) the reigning national silver medallists in White Rock this summer, they’re going to get some great experience with a well-coached team that will only better prepare them for university ball.”
The signing of the five Renegades continues an impressive recent run for the association’s under-18 program. Last summer, Renegades teams finished first and second at U18 nationals in P.E.I. with the 1998-born team defeating the ’99s in the gold-medal game.
SFU is currently preparing to begin the 2017 NCAA Div. 2 season; all five new signees are set to suit up for the Clan for the 2018 season.
Smith, a student at Victoria’s Lambrick Park Secondary, is “an all-around weapon,” according to the SFU release, and will come to the Burnaby Mountain school as one of the province’s most decorated youth softball players. Among her many credentials, Smith won an under-16 title at the 2014 Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championships – hosted in South Surrey – as well as provincial and national gold medals in 2015, and a national silver medal last summer with the Renegades ’99.
Ogg, an Earl Marriott Secondary student who plays third base for the ’Gades, is a four-time provincial champion who “possesses high-end athletic tools, particularly speed.”
Seminario, a Semiahmoo Secondary student, is an outfielder who in addition to playing for the Renegades is also a member of Surrey’s Power Zone Academy.
She was named to the all-star team at last summer’s U18 national championships.
“Maria was a recruit who grew on me each time I watched her team play,” Renney said. “I consider her a defensive specialist as an outfielder who will only get better with more experience.”
Like Seminario, Ferguson was a key contributor to the Renegades ‘99’s silver medal effort at the 2016 nationals, and was named a tournament all-star for her efforts at first base.
Aside from her softball accomplishments, the multi-sport star has also represented Vancouver’s Windermere Secondary in cross-country, basketball and volleyball.
Boulanger – who starred for the Surrey Storm before joining the Renegades program – is an infielder who won gold at the U18 nationals with the older, 1998-born Renegades squad.
