MEN’S BASEBALL ASSUME THE ROLE OF ROAD WARRIORS AS SEASON BEGINS

ETOBICOKE, ON: The Humber men's baseball team will open the season on Saturday, September 9th in London against the Fanshawe Falcons, and then travel to Windsor on Sunday to take on the five-time champion St. Clair Saints. They will play four more road games before playing their home opener on September 22.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 VS FANSHAWE

THE MATCHUP

Humber "HAWKS" @ Fanshawe "FALCONS"
Saturday, September 8/18
1:00 pm & 3:30 pm
Labatt Park – London, Ontario

LAST TIME OUT VS FANSHAWE

The two teams met in the semi-final (Bronze Medal Game) last year. Fanshawe ran out to a 6-0 lead just after an inning and a half, but Humber responded with seven unanswered runs, including one in the bottom of the seventh to walk-off with the victory. The Falcons claimed bronze, while Humber advanced to the 2018 OCAA Gold Medal game. Four Hawks had multiple hits in the game, including a game-high three by Dennis De Baning. Steven Hough pitched four shutout innings for the win.

SCOUTING FANSHAWE

• The two teams split the four regular season match-ups last year, with Humber winning twice at home in comfortable fashion, but then dropping two one-run affairs in London
• Fanshawe finished in fourth place, with a record of eleven wins and nine losses
• The Falcons boasted the league batting champion in Carlos Artega. Artega was the lone league all-star from Fanshawe

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 VS ST. CLAIR

THE MATCHUP

Humber "HAWKS" @ St. Clair "SAINTS"
Sunday, September 9/18
1:00 pm & 3:30 pm
Bert Lacasse Park – Tecumseh, Ontario

LAST TIME OUT VS ST.CLAIR

It was the Saints that took the last game between the two teams, in the OCAA title game. The score of 1-0 indicates a tightly contested match, and it was, only to be decided by a third strike pass ball that saw the player from third score when the catcher completed the strikeout by a toss to first base. Both teams were tied up by solid pitching performance, perhaps two of the best pitched games of the year by both squads. Of note, St. Clair dominated Friday's game at the championships in the battle of undefeated teams, by a lopsided score of 10-0.

SCOUTING ST. CLAIR

• The Saints have won all five men's baseball championships since the sport's inception in 2013
• Windsor is a hotbed of baseball, known nationwide for its success on every age level, allowing St. Clair to have access to an abundance of skilled players year in, and year out
• Their big loss comes in the graduation of arguably the best pitcher in OCAA history in Kyle Breitner. His records proceed him, and although the Saints will march out a solid pitching staff, he will be missed
• Dave Cooper returns as the St. Clair bench boss, and he has only experienced incredible success, with his only significant loss being at the inaugural National Collegiate Invitational two years ago to Fanshawe. The Saints did respond under his guidance last year to claim the crown in Oshawa

HAWK NOTES

• Humber had a very strong regular season in match-ups with the Saints last year, taking the season series 3-1, including a sweep of the Saints on their home turf
• Long-time assistant coach Matt Ferreira takes over the reins from two-time OCAA Coach of the Year Denny Berni
• Returning for the Hawks are four 2017 OCAA All-Stars, led by OCAA Player of the Year Liam Sutherland
• The strength of the Hawks teams will be on the mound, with the return of the big three in starters – Steven Hough, Brendan Lyons and Rory Pollard. Matt Stoddart will once again be looked upon to close games for the Humber squad

LIVE STREAM

There will not be a broadcast available for the games this weekend, but please note that all Hawks men's home games will be available on HSN – Hawks Sports Network

OCAA MEN'S BASEBALL WEBSITE

For scores, standing, statistics and more:

http://ocaa.com/sports/bsb/index