Two weeks into the season, and the WCSA is already serving up storylines. While returning stars anchor their programs as expected, there are a number of first-year faces stepping onto the field who are turning heads early. Whether it’s a freshman phenom making an immediate impact or a transfer finding new life with a new program, this year’s newcomer class is proving that contribution isn’t tied to senority.
While there is still lots of season left to make an impact, these are the names already forcing their way into the conversation. Here’s a look at the newcomers making the most noise through the WCSA’s opening weeks.
Abbygale Sherridan, Mount Royal University
Abbygale Sheridan arrives with two seasons of experience at Yakima Valley College, and it shows. She’s been one of the most dangerous hitters in this entire newcomer class. She’s batting .478 across 29 plate appearances, with a .586 OBP and .739 slugging percentage combining for a 1.325 OPS, numbers that stack up with anyone featured in this piece so far. Her 11 hits include 3 doubles and a home run, and with 16 quality at-bats, she’s clearly not just getting hits on soft contact. Add in 6 stolen bases, and Sheridan looks like a genuine offensive weapon…someone who can beat you with power, patience, or speed depending on the situation.
Abbygale’s coaching staff highlight how Abbygale is a multifaceted athlete who brings pop to their lineup: “Abbygale (known on our bench as “AG”) came to us from a JUCO in the States, where she not only played fastpitch but basketball as well. She attends MRU’s anthropology program with the hopes of transferring into education in the future. Her first hit as an MRU cougar was a solo HR.”
Her versatility behind the plate and up the middle only adds to her value, splitting time between catcher and shortstop for Mount Royal. With a start like this, Sheridan looks like one of the clearest breakout newcomers in the league.
Katie Nelson, UBC Okanagan
UBCO’s newcomer class isn’t limited to freshmen. Katie Nelson, a third-year transfer from Douglas College, has been one of the most consistent bats in the entire conference. Her .529 batting average ranks third-best in the WCSA through the season’s opening weeks, backed by a .619 on-base percentage and a 1.207 OPS. Nelson isn’t hunting for the long ball; her game is built on squaring up pitches and putting the ball in play, reflected in 10 quality at-bats out of 21 plate appearances. She’s collected 9 hits and driven in 7 runs, showing she can produce even without eye-popping power numbers.
Her coaching staff has embraced what she brings beyond the batter’s box. “Katie Nelson, a third-year transfer student, has joined UBCO with determination, leadership, and a positive attitude that any coach would be thrilled to have. Her presence at the plate and second base makes her a player to watch this season.”
Transfers with this kind of polish don’t always get labeled “newcomers,” but Nelson’s impact says otherwise. If she keeps squaring up at this same rate, expect her name to stay near the top of the league’s batting leaderboard into playoffs, and expect opposing pitchers to have no easy answers for her at the plate.
Courtney Frohaug, University of Saskatchewan
Courtney Frohaug has quickly become one of the most complete infielders in this newcomer class, holding down the left side of U of S’s diamond while producing at the plate in nearly every category. She’s hitting .407 across 30 plate appearances with a .467 OBP and a .704 slugging percentage, adding up to a 1.170 OPS that ranks among the best of any player featured so far. Her 11 hits include 2 doubles and 2 home runs, and 17 quality at-bats out of 30 trips to the plate show she’s consistently squaring up the ball rather than getting lucky bounces. She’s chipped in 6 RBIs and 2 stolen bases, rounding out a well-balanced offensive profile.
Defensively, she’s just as steady, posting a .958 fielding percentage with 13 putouts split between shortstop and third base, two of the hottest spots on the field.
Her coach was quick to highlight both her game and her presence in the dugout. “Courtney is local to Saskatoon. We are thrilled she chose to stay and play in Canada after two seasons in the USA. Courtney plays SS and 3rd, is a strong hitter, with good bat control, and great glove control defensively. She is a great teammate, always laughing, and is always positive.”
A local product who chose to build her college career at home, Frohaug is already showing why U of S is thrilled to have her — and with power, contact, and defensive range all working together, she looks like a foundational piece for the program moving forward.
Willa Bonsall, UBC Okanagan
Bonsall’s debut has been nothing short of electric. Through 25 plate appearances, she’s hitting .417 with a .440 on-base percentage and a jaw-dropping .833 slugging mark, good for a 1.273 OPS. Her 10 hits include a double, three triples, and a home run — a spread that speaks to legitimate power and gap-to-gap speed rather than one-note production. She’s also swiped 5 bases and has yet to commit an error in the outfield, giving her a clean 1.000 fielding percentage to go along with the offensive fireworks.
Her coaching staff has taken notice early. “Despite being a first-year student, Willa Bonsall has already made a significant impact on the field with UBCO. Her competitive mindset and strong athletic composure will be a formidable force this season.”
If she keeps this pace anywhere close to intact through the remainder of the season, Bonsall won’t just be a “newcomer to watch” — she’ll be a name atop the WCSA leaderboards, freshman or not.
Alex Thain, SAIT
SAIT first year Alex Thain has made herself the backbone of the Trojans’ infield defense. She’s started all seven games at shortstop, handling 22 total chances with 15 putouts, 4 assists, and a pair of double plays turned along the way — good for an .864 fielding percentage, a solid mark for a demanding position that requires a lot of field coverage and sees a lot of hot shots. At the plate, she’s been steady rather than flashy, hitting .313 with a .389 on-base percentage across 19 plate appearances, with 10 of those coming as quality at-bats. Her .701 OPS reflects a hitter who’s getting on base consistently and giving her team quality looks, even without the extra-base pop some of her fellow newcomers have shown.
Her coaching staff has focused on what she brings up the middle. “Alexandra ‘Alex’ Thain is a 1st year player with the SAIT Trojans who has been SAIT’s shortstop for all 7 games played this year, and defensively has given the Trojans high quality, solid defense.”
Shortstop is a tough, responsibility-laden position to trust to a true freshman, and Thain has answered the call every game so far. If her defensive reliability continues while her bat rounds into form, she could quickly become the type of two-way anchor SAIT builds its infield around for years.
Kaitlyn Penner, University of Victoria
Pitching depth can make or break a season, and UVic transfer Kaitlyn Penner has given the Vikes exactly that early on. Across 10 innings of work, she’s posted the second-best ERA in the entire WCSA at 2.10, a genuinely rare feat in a conference known for big hitting. In a league full of high batting averages and slugging numbers like the ones already featured in this piece, keeping an ERA under 2.20 is no small task, and it says a lot about Penner’s ability to work efficiently under pressure. Her 1.70 WHIP and .341 BAA tell the rest of the story: she isn’t racking up strikeouts (just 3 so far), but she’s pitching to contact and trusting the defense behind her to make plays, a smart strategy when the hitters on the other side of the plate are swinging as well as they do in this league.
Her coaching staff has praised the maturity she’s brought to every facet of her game. “Kaitlyn came to us as a transfer from Douglas College. We’re excited about the experience and maturity she’s brings to the team, in the circle, offensively, and as an upper year athlete. She has a cool head and puts in the work consistently.”
In a hitters’ league, run prevention is at a premium, and Penner is already proving she can deliver it. If she keeps commanding the circle the way she has, expect her to anchor UVic’s rotation and to hold her ground near the top of that ERA leaderboard as the season continues.
Avery Lamb, UBC Okanagan
Another Heat freshman making an early impression, Avery “Patty” Lamb has settled into the left side of the infield like a veteran. Through 14 plate appearances, she’s hitting .400 with a remarkable .571 on-base percentage and a 1.171 OPS — numbers driven by patience as much as power, with 3 walks already to her name. She’s tallied 11 quality at-bats, a sign that her production isn’t a product of luck but of discipline. Her lone extra-base hit, a triple, and 2 RBIs round out a tidy start to her collegiate career.
Her coaching staff sees a bigger story behind the stat line. “This second-generation athlete is following in her sister’s footsteps as she enters the infield with an unmatched presence. Ready to excel in her first year, UBCO is fortunate to have Patty in their lineup and wearing Blue this season.”
With an on-base percentage north of .570, Patty is already doing exactly what you want from a member of the lineup: finding ways to get on base and put pressure on opposing defences. If she can start turning some of those quality at-bats into extra-base hits, she has the makeup to be a fixture in UBCO’s infield for years to come.
Lauren Nixon, University of Regina
Versatility is the name of the game for Lauren Nixon, and the Cougars have been putting it to full use. A switch-hitter batting in the 2-hole, she keeps opposing defenses guessing from both sides of the plate. She’s capable of slapping, dragging, bunting, or simply swinging away depending on what the situation calls for. Defensively, she’s just as valuable, holding down the bulk of the catching duties while sliding over to first base when she’s not behind the plate. Her .979 fielding percentage and league-leading 46 putouts speak to just how much ground she’s covering defensively, regardless of position.
At the plate, Nixon is hitting .346 across 30 plate appearances, with a .400 OBP and .462 slugging percentage that reflect her contact skills and gap power alike. Her 14 quality at-bats and 3 doubles show she’s not just slapping her way on base — she’s driving the ball when the moment calls for it, and she’s already chipped in 5 RBIs and 2 stolen bases.
Her coach has been quick to highlight what she’s brought to the program. “Lauren has been a great addition to our program. She came to us after a season with Valley City and has already shown the athleticism, character and work ethic we value. She’s embraced the culture of the team from day one and has quickly become a valuable part of our group. We’re excited to watch her continue to develop and reach her full potential as a Cougar.”
A switch-hitting catcher who can beat you with contact, power, or speed on the bases is a rare combination, and with her solid defensive numbers, Nixon looks like the kind of newcomer who quickly becomes a cornerstone.
Around the League
Every WCSA program has at least one newcomer starting to carve out a role. Here’s a quick look at a couple more first-year players making their presence felt for their respective teams.
Vivi Eng, University of Calgary
As the lone rookie on a Calgary roster loaded with veteran talent, Vivi Eng hasn’t had as many chances to make her mark yet, but she’s made the most of the ones she’s gotten. In just 7 plate appearances, the speedy lefty is hitting .750 with an .857 OBP, a .750 slugging percentage, and a 1.607 OPS, adding 3 walks and 2 stolen bases for good measure. Playing time may be limited behind Calgary’s extremely veteran core, but Eng’s tools and early production suggest she’s set to become a core Calgary contributor for years to come.
Denai Grabo, University of Lethbridge
Denai Grabo has already carved out a real role in Lethbridge’s outfield as a rookie, seeing consistent time in the lineup through the season’s opening weeks. She’s hitting .200 across 17 plate appearances, with 7 quality at-bats showing she’s making solid contact even as the average catches up. With regular reps and week-to-week experience, there’s room for her numbers to climb as the season and years progress.
Just the Beginning
These names are far from the only newcomers making an impact across the WCSA this season. With rosters full of talented rookies and transfers still finding their footing, plenty of other players could easily have earned a spot on this list, and as the season ramps up, don’t be surprised if a few new names start forcing their way into the conversation. Two weeks in, one thing is clear: the future of this league is arriving fast, and it’s worth paying attention to.
Players Mentioned
Select a player to view their profile.
#1 · Catcher / Shortstop Abbygale Sheridan
Mount Royal University View profile
#16 · Outfield Willa Bonsall
UBC Okanagan View profile
#11 · 3rd Base / Shortstop Avery Lamb
UBC Okanagan View profile
#28 · 2nd / Shortstop Katie Nelson
UBC Okanagan View profile
#9 · Shortstop / Catcher Alex Thain
SAIT View profile
#20 · Infield / Pitcher Kaitlyn Penner
University of Victoria View profile
#00 · Utility / Catcher Lauren Nixon
University of Regina View profile
#28 · Shortstop Courtney Frohaug
University of Saskatchewan View profile
#9 · Shortstop / Outfield Vivi Eng
University of Calgary View profile
#25 · Catcher / Outfield Denai Grabo
University of Lethbridge View profile
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