A trio of former Delta Heat standouts have wasted little time in making an impression with the UBC women’s softball team.
Megan Hendrickson, Hanna Hansen and Olivia Malesku all chipped in UBC’s season-opening 4-1 win over Western Washington on Friday in Bellingham.
The first-year players have taken their careers to UBC after an outstanding run through the youth level with the 2001 Delta Heat that concluded with a win at the USA Regional Championships in Eugene, Oregon last summer.
Hendrickson, a South Delta Secondary graduate, worked three innings of relief to earn the save. She allowed one hit and one run while striking out four.
At the plate, Malesku delivered a clutch two-run single in the fourth inning. Hansen drove in her team’s final run with a single in the sixth.
The Delta Secondary graduates played first base and left field respectively. Malesku will also see time at catcher where she spent much of her career with the Heat.
The UBC roster features plenty more local flavour includes SDSS grads Damara Begin (pitcher) and Nicole Salas (catcher/infielder). The team is coached by Tsawwassen’s Gord Collings and his daughter Paige Collings.
Next up for the Thunderbirds is five games in Oahu, starting off with a doubleheader against Hawaii Pacific. They are back at home Feb. 28 to 29 to take on Oregon’s Northwest Christian in a four-game series at Softball City in South Surrey.
