SASKATOON — Reigning national women’s softball champions, the South East Steelers, repeated as provincial champs in 2025, which led them to Softball Canada National Championships in Saskatoon July 28-Aug. 3.
Carnduff's Steelers are the first Saskatchewan-based team to ever win Softball Canada Women’s A title three years in a row.
Players from the team were chosen for the event's all-star awards and included Carmen Hughes, awarded all-star infield; Deanna Gerrard was named all-star catcher and Jordie Chartrand was named top pitcher of the championship event.
The Steelers were dominant, going 6-0 in round-robin play, setting them up for playoffs. The team defeated Quebec in the final game by a score of 6-0.
The Saskatchewan women’s team showcased their talent and desire to repeat as women’s A Canadian champion, winning the 1 vs 2 game and the final.
The Steelers opened the tournament with a 6-2 victory over the Saskatoon Prairie Pirates. Katie Korstrom struck out 12 batters in the victory. The Steelers then beat Quebec 5-2 in the first of three meetings between the two teams. Mackenzie Roach went 3-for-3, including a home run, in the victory.
The Steelers continued to roll July 31 with a 5-1 win over Ontario's Oakville Angels, the team the Steelers defeated in the national final the previous two years. Gerrard went 3-3 in the victory. Their other game July 31 was a 6-2 win over another Saskatchewan team, the host Saskatoon Stealth.
The Steelers wrapped up the round robin with two more convincing victories. The first was a 13-3 win over the Saskatoon Tigers – the fourth Saskatchewan team entered. Hughes had three hits and drove in four runs. Their final round-robin game was a 9-2 victory over Alberta's Red Deer Bandits; Gerard was strong again with three hits, including a home run.
The Steelers advanced to the 1-2 playoff game against Quebec. The Steelers won that game as well, 6-1, to reach the final. Quebec recovered to defeat the host Stealth 2-0 in the semifinal, so the Steelers and Quebec met again in the final. Chartrand struck out 13 batters and gave up just three hits to blank Quebec.
The Saskatoon Stealth earned a bronze medal at the women's championship.
