They pushed the province’s best team to the brink – twice.
The Victoria Panthers settled for silver in Richmond over the weekend, but proved they’re a legitimate powerhouse in B.C. women’s softball.
The Panthers – a squad built entirely from local talent, including several current and former collegiate players – came up just short in the Softball BC Provincial Championships final, falling 2-1 in walk-off fashion to the powerhouse Surrey Storm, who claimed their fifth consecutive title.
After going undefeated in round-robin play with tight wins over New Westminster (4-3) and fellow Island squad SVEE (3-2), Victoria earned a top playoff seed and a first-round bye. They made quick work of Delta in the quarter-finals, cruising to a 7-0 mercy-rule victory behind dominant pitching and defence.
Then came a rematch with the Storm – the same team that denied Victoria gold at last year’s provincials. In a gritty, extra-innings semifinal, the Panthers dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker under international tiebreaker rules.
Still, Victoria refused to fold.
Backed by another lights-out pitching performance, they shut down SVEE 3-0 to claw their way into the final through the back door – where, once again, the Storm awaited.
“We’re a resilient group,” said Panthers head coach Johann Cherry. “Our pitching and defence has been our strength all season. Giving up an average of just 1.5 runs per game at provincials – that’s a credit to how locked in this group is.”
In Sunday’s championship tilt at London Park, Surrey capitalized early on a defensive miscue, taking a 1-0 lead in the first.
Victoria’s Devon Rees responded in the third with a no-doubt solo shot to left, tying the game at one. That’s how it stayed through seven innings – until Surrey delivered the walk-off hit with two outs in the bottom of the final frame.
“It was a battle all the way,” said Cherry. “We were one pitch away. It’s tough, but to be in that game and push them to the edge says a lot about our group.”
Rees had a standout tournament, launching three home runs, including two in the Panthers’ quarter-final blowout. She was flawless defensively at shortstop and instrumental in Victoria’s run to the final.
The team’s pitching trio – Jordyn Ages, Kiwi Fournier and Sophie Guiney – was untouchable all weekend. Cherry said their collective dominance was the backbone of the Panthers’ success.
“They kept us in every game,” he said. “In a tight tournament like this, where every pitch matters, that kind of consistency from the circle makes all the difference.”
This marks the third season for the Panthers program, which trains out of Saanich's Hyacinth Park and plays in the Victoria Saanich Women’s Softball Association (VSWSA).
SVEE, the only other team at the tournament from Vancouver Island, also competes in the VSWSA and claimed bronze at provincials.
Cherry said the silver medal caps off what’s been their strongest campaign yet and illustrates the growth of softball in Victoria.
“To go toe-to-toe with a program like Surrey, and to have two Island teams finish top three – that’s something to be really proud of,” said Cherry. “It shows the game is alive and well here in Victoria.”
With the season now wrapped, the Panthers are already eyeing 2026, with hopes of building toward the national championships in Blackfalds, Alta.
“This group has the talent and the drive to compete at that level,” said Cherry. “We’re just getting started.”
