Johnstown Jewels
A small-town girls softball team shocked the province with a perfect record at the 2025 OSSTA Provincials in Milton, Ontario last month. The Johnstown Jewels, a team run by five parents, has only been around for two seasons. With no league backing, they held open tryouts at the old Leo Boivin hockey rink in February, paying for the rental out-of-pocket.
Fourteen girls aged 13–15 tried out, and 12 were selected. They practiced Sundays at Leo Boivin in winter and at the Johnstown Diamonds in spring.
Seeded in the lower half of the 32-team provincial tournament, the Jewels won all six games. They upset top-ranked North Bay 6–3, rallied past Whitby 3–2, and beat Stouffville 8–3 in the final.
Their pitcher and catcher played every inning, combining for 578 pitches.
“This is the biggest tournament in OSSTA history,” said the announcer. “And beating Stouffville? That’s an accomplishment.”
The Jewels’ story is one of grit, resilience, and community pride.
Here is the full interview with coaches Jason Ault and Kelly Vandervelt: