SARNIA – Home sweet home.

Catcher Ava Thompson, who hails from nearby Wyoming, has announced her commitment to Head Coach Greg Shortt and the Lambton Women’s Softball Program for the 2023 season. Thompson opted to stay close to home to pursue her post-secondary education while playing softball at the post-secondary level.

Thompson joins pitcher Kylee Shortt (Wyoming, Ont.) in the 2023 recruiting class for the Lions. There’s an unprecedented level of familiarity between Thompson and Shortt that they will bring with them to the Lions. The pair are longtime teammates, classmates, and friends, and have been a formidable battery unit for the Wyoming Wranglers as they’ve grown up together.

“I’m really excited to have Ava join our program,” said Shortt. “I’ve coached her since she was 10 years old, and she’s always got a smile on her face but she’s a competitor and plays the game hard every time out.”

“The pitchers have to work hard but catching is just as grueling of a position on those four-game weekends and in doubleheaders, so to add another talented player at that position is great.”

Thompson will be enrolled in the Social Service Worker Program at Lambton College after graduating from Lambton Central Collegiate & Vocational Institute.

The combination of playing close to home while taking a program that she’s been interested in for some time was too good of an opportunity to pass up for Thompson.

“I’ve always enjoyed helping people, kids especially,” added Thompson. “The opportunity to have my family close by while I play softball and study is exciting.”

Thompson played softball in the Wyoming Wranglers system as she grew up and is yet another local student-athlete that has opted to stay in Sarnia-Lambton as they continue their educational and athletic careers. Keeping local players in the area was one of the main focuses for Shortt and his coaching staff with the Women’s Softball program, and they’ve done just that.

The 2022 season was the first in the OCAA for the Lions, and while they missed out on the post-season, they had a shot at the playoffs on the final weekend of the regular season. With that experience now under their belts, Shortt and the Lions have their sights set on a spot in the playoffs in 2023, and the addition of Thompson will go a long way in helping the group achieve their goals.

Welcome to The Den, Ava!