Baseball splits with Fanshawe
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Fanshawe | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
|
Humber | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | X | 11 | 8 | 1 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Fanshawe | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 2 |
|
Humber | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 2 |
By: Fernando Bossoes
Humber Athletics Communications
ETOBICOKE – Humber baseball (7-1, 2nd OCAA) had a great start against the Fanshawe Falcons (1-5, 7th OCAA), but dropped game two and split the doubleheader on Wednesday evening under the lights at Connorvale Park. Maxim Skoropadsky was all business on the mound in game one, recording seven strikeouts over five innings pitched. The Humber offence had a great day at the dish, with Xavier Whittle recording a two-run homer and Justin Groves a three-run home run.
Game one (Humber 11, Fanshawe 1)
After collecting a staggering 35 runs in the twin bill against the Seneca Sting on Friday the 13th - during which Charlie Towers tied the OCAA record with five runs in a single game - the Hawks returned to their home diamond to take on the Fanshawe Falcons, who were still seeking their first win of the season.
Fourth-year pitcher Maxim Skoropadsky started red-hot from the mound, grabbing two strikeouts and allowing no hits to send the Hawks on offence. In the home half of the frame, it would not take long for the bats to dial in. With ice in his veins, Xavier Whittle stepped into the dish and made the fans in the crowd look up to the sky, as he crushed a two-run homer to right centrefield, the second home run of his Humber career. The Hawks left the inning up 2-0.
Looking for more breathing room, Humber would jump out to a commanding lead in the third frame. Jaykob Turner started the hit parade for the Hawks, driving Towers in with a single up the middle. Vaughan native David Boatto recorded an RBI on a fielder's choice before Humber capitalized with three more runs on multiple Fanshawe miscues. Third-year outfielder Jack St. Louis smashed an RBI triple to deep center field and still had time to score on an error by the shortstop, putting Humber up by nine runs.
The Falcons would respond with a run in the top of the fifth, but the Hawks added another number to the scoreboard as St. Louis drove in the game-winner. The third-year player activated the mercy rule in the bottom of the sixth, cashing in Landen Clark to give the Hawks the win, 11-1.
Skoropadsky picked up his first win of the season and the fifth of his career, while Ryan Greco made his second appearance of the season and has yet to allow a run.
Game two (Fanshawe 6, Humber 5)
With a full moon in the sky, Humber ace Brandon Deans walked to the mound to make his 2024 debut. Deans, who threw the second perfect game in the program history and became Humber's all-time leader in strikeouts last season, continued his dominance with a one-two-three inning, retiring the first three batters with two strikeouts and a ground out. The offence would reward its pitcher, as Justin Groves hammered a three-run shot — his tenth RBI of the season. The Hawks left the first frame up 3-0.
The Humber bats cooled off after a lights-out inning, only being able to score on an error by third base in the bottom of the fifth. Fanshawe reliever Kaleb Seguin kept the Humber bats at bay, picking up five strikeouts in three innings of relief.
Fanshawe would still have a little left in the gas tank for a late push, trimming the lead down to two in the top of the sixth inning, capitalizing a Humber defensive miscues. Eric Alcaraz would come in relief in the top of the seventh and would fall victim to weak contact singles from the Falcons. With the bases loaded and only one out, Luke Sherwin got to the dish and crushed a grand slam to put the Falcons in the lead for the first time in the twin bill.
The Hawks came close to evening up the game in the bottom of the seventh, as Caleb Eguren scored after a sloppy play from the Falcons' defence. But that would not be enough, as Charlie Towers flew out to deep right field, and Fanshawe captured game two 6-5.
Humber Highlights
- Humber improves to 25-13 all-time against the Falcons.
- Justin Groves leads the OCAA with ten RBIs and a scorching .684 batting average.
- Maxim Skoropadsky recorded a career-high seven strikeouts in game one of the twin bill.
- Jack St. Louis' six stolen bases lead the conference.
What's Next?
Humber will stay home and prepare to take on the Sault College Cougars (0-4, 10th OCAA) on Sunday, Sept. 22. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. and will be streamed live on the Hawks Sports Network.
