ROAD WARRIORS FACE TOUGH TEST IN OSHAWA ON SUNDAY VS DURHAM

ETOBICOKE, ON: The Humber Hawks men's baseball team, fresh off a solid opening weekend with a 3-1 record and first place standing, will travel to Oshawa on Sunday to play the Durham Lords. This will be fifth and sixth consecutive road games to open the season, and they still have two more roadies before settling in for their home opener on September 22^nd.

THE MATCH UP

Sunday, September 16/18
Humber "HAWKS" @ Durham "LORDS"
3-1, 1^st                    2-2, 2^nd
1:00 pm & 3:30 pm
Kinsmen Stadium – Oshawa

LAST TIME OUT VS DURHAM

The two teams met on opening day at the 2017 OCAA championships in Tecumseh. With a 6-1 win, Humber went on to the OCAA silver medal, while Durham suffered back-to-back losses and was eliminated on Day 1. Steven Hough went the distance on the mound for Humber earning the complete game win. Hough was named Humber's player of the game and allowed just one run on five hits, while striking out six Durham batters. Designated hitter Dennis Dei Baning had a pair of hits including a two-run RBI double, which was the big strike for Humber in the game's opening inning. Lords Third basemen Ryan Bothwell had a single and earned player of the game recognition for Durham. Pitcher of the year award winner Brodie Harkness allowed six runs, one earned, on nine hits. He struck out five Hawks.

SCOUTING DURHAM

• The Lords boast the longest standing program in Ontario collegiate baseball, dating back to the early days of the CIBA, and were instrumental in the development of OCAA men's baseball
• Although a play-off team every year of the five years of OCAA baseball, they have missed the podium for three consecutive years, and are on an OCAA play-off losing streak of seven consecutive games
• They have had a solid start to the season, splitting opening day with the five-time champion St. Clair Saints, and then splitting two with Fanshawe
• Batting Leaders:

Average – Reagan Manley (.385)

RBI's – Alec Brown (4)

Hits – Reagan Manley, Griffin Oliver (5)

Stolen Bases - Reagan Manley, Griffin Oliver (4)

• Pitching Leaders:

Wins – Alec Brown, Jason Crouse (1)

ERA – Alec Brown (0.00)

Strikeouts – Alec Brown, Brian Wowk (6)

HAWK NOTES

• Humber was just outs away from a perfect opening weekend, but a late St. Clair rally tied the game late, and the Saints won in nine innings
• Aidan Murphy, brother of Hawk veteran Keegan and softball star Meaghan, had a terrific opening to his collegiate career, slamming a grand slam at legendary Labatt Park in London. For his efforts all weekend long, he was chosen as one of the OCAA's Three Stars of the Week
• Humber was originally scheduled to host the 2018 OCAA championships, but will now host the 2018 Canadian Collegiate Baseball championship on October 25-27 at Connorvale Park
• Batting Leaders:

Average – Brendan Lyons (.571)

RBI's – Aidan Murphy, Dennis De Baning  (6)

Hits – Aidan Murphy (5)

Stolen Bases – Liam Sutherland, Hunter Bisser (4)

• Pitching Leaders:

Wins – Brendan Lyons, Rory Pollard, Braden Taylor (1)

ERA – Braden Taylor, Rory Pollard (0.00)

Strikeouts – Brendan Lyons (9)

RECORD WATCH

• Keegan Murphy (66) and Andrew Thomson (65) are 1-2 in the all-time hits parade, and will battle each other to see who stands alone at the top, at season's end
• Justin Marra is a threat to take over the team home run record this year, just two away from tying Brian MacDonald
• Keegan Murphy, with 3 rbi's this weekend, continues to build on his all-time lead and now sits at 54

HOME OPENER

• Set your sights on Saturday, September 22/18, as Humber will host St. Clair in their home opener at Connorvale. Game times are set for 1:00 pm and 3:30 pm
• The opening games will be broadcast on the Hawks Sports Network – HSN: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/humber/