Umerah makes her presence known

In her first official game at St. Clair College, Ada Umerah launched a two-run shot to left field breaking open a tight game as the Saints went on to beat the University of Windsor 3-0 in pre-season action last weekend. It was one of those home runs you knew was exiting the park as soon as it was hit.

With the graduation of power-hitter Amy Claydon, the 18-year old from Vaughn, Ontario wants to pick up where Claydon left off. "A thousand percent," Umerah told Powerplay Sports. "I'm gonna do what I can and if that's hitting bombs then that's hitting bombs."

Umerah has long been a clean up hitter and was happy to be slotted 4th in the lineup against the Lancers. "I was excited when I saw on the lineup I was 4th. It worked out. This is great. I had to prove them right for putting me there because that's like an honour, it's an honourable spot so I was like thanks."

Umerah was recruited to be a big bat in the lineup and head coach Doug Wiseman "I expected a lot of big opportunities for her and if she cashes in on them, great. We're gonna be more successful."

The Saints won both of their exhitibition games last weekend (3-0 vs UWindsor, 1-0 vs Lambton) and are expected to be a work in progress with only six players from last year's championship team returning. Umerah is one of ten new players. "We got some really good leadership back with Shae Murphy, Judy Lafleur and Ashley Marchand and Reese Grondin is stepping up to be a really good players for us," Wiseman said. "Our goal is to get better every day. Follow the path we're laying out."

St. Clair opens their new season at home with a pair of doubleheaders this weekend. The Saints host Sheridan and Mohawk Saturday before closing out the weekend with pair against Humber and Fanshawe.