Durham softball coach an Israeli Hall of Famer
Rosie Theriault recently became the first female inductee into the Maccabiah Games Hall of Fame. (Photo courtesy of Durham College)
Durham Lords softball assistant coach Rosie Theriault had a busy summer in the world of softball that included winning a national championship, reaching the podium at an international event and being inducted into a hall of fame.
For the second consecutive Maccabiah Games, Rosie was named head coach of the Canadian women’s open softball team.
After finishing with four wins and two losses in the preliminary round, Canada advanced to the semi-finals to play against the host Israel. Canada’s victory saw them face the Americans in the final. Canada went 1-2 against the US in the preliminary round. Despite a great effort, the Americans were too strong and Canada earned silver at the games.
Upon the Canadian team receiving their medals, Israel Softball inducted Theriault into the Maccabiah Softball Hall of Fame. She is the first woman to have earned this honour in its history.
“Israel is an amazing country,” said Theriault. “Amazing people, beautiful sights, it was an incredible opportunity for us.”
The Maccabiah Games is a multi-sport event held every four years in Israel for Jewish athletes and Israeli athletes around the world. The 2017 games in July was its 20th edition of the event and saw a total of 10,000 competing athletes.
“Most girls on the team have completed their education and begun their life journeys and careers,” said Theriault. “They only play for the love of the game and the competition, no other reason.”
Team Canada was the first ever team to defeat the United States, as well as the first team to score a run against them in the preliminary round.
“This is a friendship game,” said Theriault. “You obviously want to compete and you want to win, but at the end of the day there’s a ton of mutual respect among the teams in this sport.”
On top of Theriault’s work for Durham College and Team Canada, she is also the head coach for the Whitby Eagles senior team.
In August, the Eagles qualified for the 2017 Women’s Fast Pitch Canadian Championship through Softball Canada in Brampton.
Whitby went all the way to earn the national championship’s gold medal for the fourth time since 2012. The Eagles won the final in a 2-1 victory in 10 innings over the Calahoo Erins from Alberta. Since 2011, the Eagles were provincial champions six times, national champions four times and earned a silver on the national stage twice.
“Softball is a growing sport all around the world,” said Theriault. “It’s coming back to the Olympic Games and we couldn’t do it without the hard work of volunteers everywhere.”
The awards this summer add to an extensive resume of accomplishments for Rosie, including her induction into the Whitby Sports Hall of Fame (2004), Ontario Ringette Hall of Fame (2001), and the Queen’s Medal (1995) for community service presented by the Governor General of Canada.
Durham is incredibly proud of Rosie for a very accomplished summer. The Lords softball team opens their season on the road with a doubleheader against Fanshawe on Sept. 9, 2017.