OSHAWA, Ont. - Entering the final day of the 2019 OCAA baseball championship as the lowest seeded team remaining, the Durham College men's baseball team fought their way to a silver medal result and a berth to the National College Baseball Championship, hosted next weekend by Humber College.
The Lords opened the second day of competition at the provincial championship downing the second-seeded St. Clair Saints for the second time in as many days, winning 4-1 in extra innings to advance to a gold medal showdown with the Humber Hawks
Riding the high of the early morning win, the Lords went on to upset the top seeded Hawks 3-1. However, due to the tournaments double elimination format they would need to make it back-to-back wins to lay claim to the gold medal.
In the second contest of the day versus the Hawks, Durham was hot out of the gates again, quickly jumping ahead 2-0 in the first inning. The Hawks would not be denied their second straight OCAA banner though as they shutout the Lords the rest of the way to win 9-2.
The final OCAA competition for head coach
Sam Dempster as he gets set to enter retirement following the 2019 season this fall, the legendary coach has never missed qualifying for the provincial championship as the bench boss for the Lords, claiming his third silver medal in seven seasons since the switch to the OCAA league format. Dempster led the Lords to the national champiionship in 2011 and retires after 28 years of service.
Lords second baseman
Jordan D'Amico (Courtice, Ont.) was named a tournament all-star alongside teammate
Jake Legros (Whitby, Ont.). D'Amico finished the weekend with seven hits, including a monster Day 2 home run, knocking in four RBI and scoring three runs himself. Meanwhile, Legros earned the important Day 2 morning victory over the Saints to propel the Lords into the silver position. In the morning outing he held St. Clair to zero earned runs on six hits in eight innings. Legros also provided solid defence at third base and three hits, one run, and one RBI in the batter's box.
Finishing top two in the province, DC has now qualified to compete at the National College Baseball Championship. Dates, times, and opponents to follow.
GAME 1
• A huge solo jack from D'Amico tied the game 1-1 in the fourth inning. He finished 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
• Durham took advantage of Saints defensive mistakes in the eighth inning, scoring three runs from a a hit by pitch and error.
GAME 2
• 2019 OCAA batting champion
Fernando Suarez Muniz (Whitby, Ont.) and 2019 OCAA all-star
Sam Cawker (Courtice, Ont.) were each 2-for-3 in the win, with Suarez securing an RBI and Cawker registering a run.
• Tournament all-star Liam Sutherland scored the lone Hawks RBI, finishing 2-for-4.
GAME 3
• Suarez and Cawker scored the lone two RBI for the Lords.
• Six Hawks players registered an RBI, led by tournament all-star Hunter Bisser who was 2-for-3 with two walks, two RBI, adn two runs.
GAME 1
• OCAA championship tournament all-star Legros held the Saints to just one unearned run, striking out five batters, while allowing six hits.
• Travis Snyder was handed the loss for the Saints.
GAME 2
• DC starting pitcher
Josh Krstulovich (Brampton, Ont.) went seven complete innings, giving up one unearned run in the victory.
GAME 3
•
Jake Storry (Port Perry, Ont) was handed the loss, with
Riley Gray (Caledonia, Ont.) appearing in relief.
• Tournament MVP Steven Hough held the Lords to just the two runs on six hits through six innings of work.
Overall Record: 18-9 (W-L)
Conference Record: 12-6
Next match: National College Baseball Championship
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