SAINTS FOUR-PEAT IN OCAA MEN'S BASEBALL

SARNIA, Ont. - The St. Clair Saints won their fourth consecutive Ontario Colleges Athletic Association men's baseball title on Saturday, and ninth overall, defeating the Lambton Lions 4-2 in the gold medal game of the double-elimination championship.

Tied 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning, OCAA Championship MVP Spencer Morin (LaSalle) hit a two-out triple as Kanaan Gale (Leamington) scored what turned out to be the winning run from first base. Morin then crossed home on a Rowan Glasgow (LaSalle) single for added insurance.

In three games at the championship Morin batted .778 going 7-for-9, including six hits, in two victories against the Lions. The centerfielder also had a triple in a 10-9 win over the Centennial Colts on Friday. Overall Morgan contributed four RBI, four runs and two stolen bases.

Michael Grondin (Windsor) pitched 5 1/3 innings to pick up the win in the gold medal game, allowing two earned runs on eight hits and one walk. Jonas Le Clair (Windsor) pitched the rest of the way for the Saints, striking out two in collecting the save.

Lambton opened the scoring in the top of the third, as Luke Murray (Mitchell) drove home Kale Murray (Mitchell) on an RBI single. But the Saints took the lead in the bottom of the inning as Henry Real (Panama) and Owen Levesque (Windsor) both recorded RBI singles.

The Lions tied it again in the fourth, as Logan Buntrock (Sarnia) drove in Tyler Gould (Stratford) with a single. Lambton fell behind again in the bottom of the inning, and was unable to rally in the later innings.

Despite the loss, the Lions did win their first-ever OCAA medal in their fifth season of men's baseball.

For the Saints, they have won a medal at every OCAA Men's Baseball Championship dating back to 2013. St. Clair finishes 2024 with an overall OCAA record of 23-1, winning three straight at the championship.

Glasgow and Jake Heinbuch (Stratford) of St. Clair along with Kale Murray and Buntrock of Lambton were named OCAA Championship All-Stars.

Earlier on Saturday, Lambton earned its spot in the final knocking off the Durham Lords for the second time in as many days.

Kale Murray pitched a complete game three-hitter, leading the Lions to a 7-0 win. Murray also helped at the plate with a pair of hits, including a double, driving in two RBI while scoring once.

Wes Brooks (Sarnia) got things rolling for the Lions offensively with a solo home run in the first inning. Brooks had three hits in the game, including a double, scoring three times while contributing two RBI.

The Lords received the OCAA bronze medal for the second straight season. Griffin Oliver (Oshawa) of Durham was named an OCAA Championship All-Star.

OCAA Championship Website: www.ocaa.com/base

OCAA MEN'S BASEBALL AWARDS

OCAA Men's Baseball Championship MVP
Spencer Morin, St. Clair

OCAA Men's Baseball Championship All-Stars
Logan Buntrock, Lambton
Rowan Glasgow, St. Clair
Jake Heinbuch, St. Clair
Kale Murray, Lambton
Griffin Oliver, Durham

2024 OCAA MEN'S BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Thursday, Oct. 17
Game 1: Lambton def. Fanshawe 5-3
Game 2: Centennial def. Humber 3-2

Friday, October 18
Game 3: St. Clair def. Centennial 10-9
Game 4: Lambton def. Durham 8-6
Game 5: Durham def. Centennial 4-1
Game 6: St. Clair def. Lambton 7-1

Saturday, October 19
OCAA Bronze Medal Game
Lambton def. Durham 7-0
*Loser awarded Bronze, winner advances to Gold Medal Game

OCAA Gold Medal Game
St. Clair def. Lambton 4-2

- OCAA -

ABOUT ONTARIO COLLEGES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

For over 50 years, the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association has been a dedicated leader in amateur athletics through the provision of quality varsity and recreational athletic opportunities at the collegiate level.

For additional information please contact:
Josh Bell-Webster
Marketing and Communications
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com