Baseball falls to Durham, drops to third in conference
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Durham | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 3 |
|
Humber | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 2 |
| Final (8) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Durham | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
|
Humber | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
By: Fernando Bossoes
Humber Athletics Communications
ETOBICOKE – It was a chilly, sunny Saturday afternoon at Connorvale Park, as Humber baseball (11-3, 3rd OCAA) dropped their first doubleheader loss of the season against the Durham Lords (13-1, 2nd OCAA). Fourth-year player Xavier Whittle stayed red hot, recording another home run — his fourth of the season.
The twin bill also carried a special significance as Humber continued its tradition of recognizing its graduating student-athletes in the final home game of their careers. The spotlight was on Jaykob Turner, David Boatto, Eric Alcaraz, Jayke Wong, Caleb Eguren, Ronan Hayes, Dylan White and team manager Andrew Wark. Legendary pitcher Brandon Deans was also part of the graduating class. A Mississauga native, Deans leaves behind a legacy filled with accolades, including OCAA records for most strikeouts in a game (19) and in a season (63). He is also Humber's all-time strikeout leader, the first pitcher in program history to surpass 100 career strikeouts and the first Humber player to receive the OCAA Pitcher of the Year award. Thank you, graduating student-athletes, for wearing the "H" with honour and pride.
Game one (Durham 6, Humber 4)
After a dominant road victory over the George Brown Huskies, where Xavier Whittle smashed two home runs and notched a career-high six RBIs and Brandon Deans made history — again — as the first pitcher in the program's history to surpass 100 career strikeouts (now at 113), the Hawks returned to Connorvale Park with momentum. However, they knew they were in for a challenging doubleheader against the Durham Lords, who were hot on their heels in the standings, sitting just one spot behind Humber in third. The stakes were high as the Hawks aimed to solidify their position as the postseason approached.
Early in the game, Humber's pitching staff struggled to get pitches in the strike zone. The fans in the crowd would see Durham build an early 2-0 lead with runs scored on a wild pitch and a ground-out RBI. Still, the Hawks did not let the Lords sit ahead on the score for long, as Charlie Towers cashed in Jack St. Louis with a double down the right field line and later scored on a wild pitch to even things up.
In the second inning, Humber relied on one of its senior players to jump ahead on the score. Vaughan-born David Boatto came up clutch and took advantage of an error by the catcher to score and give the Hawks a one-run lead in the bottom of the second, 3-2.
In the following frame, the Lords rallied from behind to tie the game on a fielder's choice and took the lead on miscues by the Humber defence. Durham locked in defensively in the bottom of the inning and slammed the door shut with a double play to send both teams to the fourth with the score reading the Lords up 5-3.
With two outs on the score and the bases loaded, the Hawks came close to changing the game scenario in the bottom of the fourth, but Whittle popped up, ending the threat. Durham scored another run in the top of the sixth inning, while the Hawks were unable to capitalize many runs — only with Jack St. Louis off a sacrifice fly by Justin Groves.
Humber faced a solid Durham defence and saw the opposite team capture game one with a 6-4 win.
Game two (Durham 5, Humber 2)
Senior pitcher Eric Alcaraz got his first start of the season and met a Durham offence that came out of the gates strong, recording the game's first run with a ground-out RBI. After a cold home inning for Humber, the Lords, with two outs on the score, loaded bases in the top of the second. Red-hot senior pitcher Brandon Deans came in relief and ended Durham's dreams of extending the lead.
The Hawks recorded hits in the first two innings but could not capitalize on runs. Humber would finally add a number to the scoreboard in the bottom of the third, as Peterborough-born player Groves evened the match up with a one-run double to left field, driving in Jaykob Turner.
In the bottom of the fifth frame, it looked like the Hawks would be playing defence with a quick one-two-three inning. Whittle stepped into the dish with two outs on the score and felt no pressure on his shoulders. The fourth-year player from Oakville kept his eyes on the ball and smashed a solo home run to left field, giving the Hawks a 2-1 lead.
Despite the Humber momentum, the Lords still had enough gas in the tank for a late-game comeback. After the Lords scored on a wild pitch in the top of the sixth, Durham's Quintin Earle hit a two-run single and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Chuck Roy. This put the Hawks in a complicated situation as they headed to the bottom of the frame down 5-2.
Towers would hit a single in the home half of the inning, but Humber could not score runs and dropped their first doubleheader loss of the season, 5-2.
Game Notes
- After getting swept, the Hawks drop out of wild card spot for the postseason.
- The Hawks now hold an all-time 26-21 record against Durham.
- The Hawks have concluded the 2024 season with a 7-3 record at Connorvale Park.
- Durham trims down the record at Connorvale Park to 9-8.
- Justin Groves sits third in the conference with a .474 batting average.
- Xavier Whittle leads the league with four home runs.
What's Next?
The Hawks will now head to the road for their second-last game of the regular season, a doubleheader against the Lambton Lions (9-5, 4th OCAA) on Friday, Oct. 11. The first pitch is set for 5:30 p.m.