Simcoe’s Makayla Benz and Jeryn Shortt Earn OCAA Players of the Week After Breakout Performances

Simcoe’s Makayla Benz and Jeryn Shortt Earn OCAA Players of the Week After Breakout Performances

This past week, two athletes from Simcoe turned heads in the OCAA with performances that highlight not just their current form, but years of local work paying off. Makayla Benz and Jeryn Shortt both snagged Player of the Week recognition — for very different, but equally impressive reasons.

Makayla Benz, a right-handed pitcher for the Durham College Lords, delivered two dominant outings on the mound. Her standout moment came in a no-hitter against the Fanshawe Falcons: eight innings, just one hit allowed, and 14 strikeouts. It wasn’t just a flash; it built on a strong history. Benz played her youth softball with the Springfield Brewers and the Waterloo Ghosts, earned the U16 MVP award with the Brewers, and pitched at the U19 level with the Waterloo Ghosts in high-stakes tournaments like the Motor City Showdown and Atlantic Coast Softball Tournament.

Makayla’s achievements show the payoff of years of commitment. Her work with Springfield and Waterloo built the foundation; her ability to translate that into clutch performances for Durham demonstrates maturity and readiness. For Shortt, his continued growth from his roots with the Simcoe Giants, through high school ball with the Simcoe Sabres, into the collegiate ranks is paying dividends—he’s not just making history, he’s setting new standards for himself and his squad.

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Jeryn Shortt added to his own streak of big moments for the Lambton Lions men’s baseball team. After his historic one-hit shutout against St. Clair, Shortt’s bat came alive: he crushed two home runs

during the weekend, including a dramatic three-run go-ahead bomb in the top of the sixth to beat the Humber Hawks. That swing turned the game in Lambton’s favour and underscored his dual threat as both pitcher and power hitter.

Simcoe’s local baseball and softball community has every reason to be proud. These kinds of performances remind fans, young players, and coaches alike that success isn’t just about one good outing—it’s about accumulation: development, mindset, dedication, and seizing the moment when it counts.