WINDSOR, Ont. - The drive for five is alive at St. Clair.
The four-time reigning Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) champion St. Clair Saints play host to the OCAA Men's Baseball Championship presented by belairdirect this Friday and Saturday at Bert Lacasse Park in Tecumseh, Ont.
The top four teams based on the regular season standings advance to the double-knockout tournament. St. Clair is joined by Durham, Fanshawe and Humber. Each team plays a minimum of two games each. Clubs are eliminated from the competition after their second loss. Schools are seeded based on regular season record.
The team that wins both games in the opening day of the tournament advances directly to the gold medal game, with two chances to win the championship. The team that avoids a second loss wins the tournament and the OCAA title.
St. Clair Saints (14-4, 1st OCAA)
St. Clair won its fifth consecutive regular season crown thanks to the top win percentage in the OCAA (.778). But judged solely by its recent success, St. Clair had a down season, losing four games for the first time.
But no one remembers how you get there, it's how you finish. And St. Clair still holds an advantage as the top seed, and playing on its home diamond.
Third-year infielder Kevin Dion (Newmarket) was among the league leaders with a .411 batting average, while first-year outfielder Carson Burke (Tecumseh) led the team with 24 hits while contributing a league-leading 13 stolen bases.
St. Clair boasts three hurlers who threw over 20 innings each with ERAs under 2.05. Second-year player Micah Harris (Cottam) had a league-best 1.35 ERA, while fourth-year veterans Kyle Breitner (Mississauga) and Taylor Pappin (Brantford) collected 33 and 30 strikeouts, respectively, good for second and third in the OCAA.
St. Clair opens the tournament against Fanshawe. The Saints won the season series between these clubs 3-1.
Humber Hawks (15-5, 2nd OCAA)
Humber lost out on first place by the narrowest of margins, when mother nature prevented St. Clair from playing its full complement of games. Nevertheless, the Hawks should be full of confidence having defeated St. Clair three times during the regular season.
Fourth-year outfielder Andrew Thomson (Brampton) fell short of the OCAA batting title missing out on the required number of at bats, but still had an impressive .486 average in 14 games. No one in the OCAA had more hits and RBI than teammate Keegan Murphy (Brampton). The fourth-year infielder clubbed 30 hits (tying an OCAA record) and drove home 24 runs.
Second-year player Steven Hough (Toronto) had a 1.80 ERA over 35 innings of work, one of three OCAA players to allow less than two runs over seven innings.
Humber faces Durham to begin post-season play. These teams split their regular season series 2-2, with three outcomes decided by one run.
Durham Lords (13-7, 3rd OCAA)
The Durham Lords return to the post-season with a third-place finish during the regular season.
Durham has relied on the arm of fourth-year player Brodie Harkness (Bowmanville), who struck out an OCAA-best 34 batters. Harkness was third among OCAA players with a 1.85 ERA.
Third-year player Alec Brown (Bowmanville) led the Lords with a .448 batting average. First-year utility player Brian Wowk (Oshawa) batted .400 and was one of two players to hit double digits in steals with 10.
Durham has gone medal-less the last two championships.
Fanshawe Falcons (11-9, 4th OCAA)
Fanshawe has advanced to the final game of the OCAA championship the past two seasons, losing to St. Clair both times. Fanshawe faces St. Clair at least one more time to open the championship.
The Falcons boast the top two individual players that qualify for the batting crown. Fourth-year shortstop Carlos Arteaga (London) led the OCAA with a .436 average (with a .542 OBP), followed closely by teammate Zev Weisdorf (London). The second-year middle infielder batted .429.
Tyler Wood (Niagara Falls), Tyler Rymal (Oakville) and Kale Bilger (London) were the workhorses on the mound for Fanshawe this season, combining for 69.2 innings and 55 strikeouts.
Championship Website: www.ocaa.com/championships/base/2017-18/index
Live Webcast: we-tv.ca
Championship Schedule
Friday, October 20
Game 1: Durham vs. Humber - 11 a.m.
Game 2: Fanshawe vs. St. Clair - 1:30 p.m.
Game 3: Losers of Games 1 and 2 - 4 p.m.
Game 4: Winners of Games 1 and 2 - 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 21
OCAA Bronze Medal Game
Winner of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4 - 10 a.m.
*Loser awarded Bronze, winner advances to Gold Medal Game
OCAA Gold Medal Game(s)
Winner of Game 4 vs. Winner of Bronze Medal Game - 1 p.m.
*A second Gold Medal Game will be played at 3:30 p.m. if necessary
- OCAA -
ABOUT ONTARIO COLLEGES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is the recognized leader in intercollegiate athletics in the province, dedicated to student-athlete and sport development. The OCAA has 29 members sponsoring 12 varsity sports.
For additional information please contact:
Josh Bell-Webster
Marketing and Communications
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
Fax: 416-426-7308
E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com