October 16, 2022
Banner Season: Gaels overcome early deficit to capture first OUA baseball title
Kitchener, Ont. - For the first time in program history, the Queen's Gaels are OUA baseball champions after dethroning the defending titleholders from Toronto, 13-11.
It took a big effort to see it through, as the Blues were staked to a 5-0 lead in the first inning.
The Gaels got a pair back on a two-run home run in the third, but that was quickly negated as Toronto answered with two of their own, highlighted by a Brendan Colley solo shot.
After some continued offensive back-and-forth, Colley provided an additional power surge in the fifth inning with his second solo home run to put Toronto up 8-3.
Queen's comeback picked up momentum as the seventh inning rolled around, as the Gaels scored three runs to get within two at 8-6.
In the next frame, the Gaels finally went out in front for good by posting six runs in a bat-around inning, highlighted by a three-run homer from Evan Bertoia.
Down 12-8, the Blues cut the lead to one in the bottom half of the eighth, but that's as close as they would get, with the Gael's scoring again in the top of the ninth and then closing things out for good.
In the bronze medal game on Saturday morning, the Guelph Gryphons defeated the Waterloo Warriors 16-11.
The Gryphons took a 3-0 first inning lead and built it up to a 12-2 advantage by the fifth. Down by 10, Waterloo battled back, reducing the deficit to just 12-9 heading into the sixth.
That's as close as the Warriors would get, though, as Guelph scored four more runs down the stretch, which proved to be enough offence on the day to secure the win.
Award Winners:
Most Valuable Player - Sam Brown, Guelph
Most Valuable Pitcher - Jordan Leishman, Queen's
Most Valuable Hitter - Sam Brown, Guelph
Rookie of the Year - Max Zentil, Ottawa
Coach of the Year - Jeff Melrose, Queen's
All-Stars
C - Alex Seelman, Waterloo
1B - Nolan Misa, Waterloo
2B - Varun Kuo, Waterloo
SS - Evan Morrison, Waterloo
3B - Sam Brown, Guelph
OF - Liam Sutherland, Waterloo
OF - Rowan Radzinski, Queen's
OF - Owen Ellis, Guelph
SP - Jordan Leishman, Queen's
RP - Max Todd, Waterloo
DH - Kristyan Puyols-Gennosar, Toronto
It took a big effort to see it through, as the Blues were staked to a 5-0 lead in the first inning.
The Gaels got a pair back on a two-run home run in the third, but that was quickly negated as Toronto answered with two of their own, highlighted by a Brendan Colley solo shot.
After some continued offensive back-and-forth, Colley provided an additional power surge in the fifth inning with his second solo home run to put Toronto up 8-3.
Queen's comeback picked up momentum as the seventh inning rolled around, as the Gaels scored three runs to get within two at 8-6.
In the next frame, the Gaels finally went out in front for good by posting six runs in a bat-around inning, highlighted by a three-run homer from Evan Bertoia.
Down 12-8, the Blues cut the lead to one in the bottom half of the eighth, but that's as close as they would get, with the Gael's scoring again in the top of the ninth and then closing things out for good.
In the bronze medal game on Saturday morning, the Guelph Gryphons defeated the Waterloo Warriors 16-11.
The Gryphons took a 3-0 first inning lead and built it up to a 12-2 advantage by the fifth. Down by 10, Waterloo battled back, reducing the deficit to just 12-9 heading into the sixth.
That's as close as the Warriors would get, though, as Guelph scored four more runs down the stretch, which proved to be enough offence on the day to secure the win.
Award Winners:
Most Valuable Player - Sam Brown, Guelph
Most Valuable Pitcher - Jordan Leishman, Queen's
Most Valuable Hitter - Sam Brown, Guelph
Rookie of the Year - Max Zentil, Ottawa
Coach of the Year - Jeff Melrose, Queen's
All-Stars
C - Alex Seelman, Waterloo
1B - Nolan Misa, Waterloo
2B - Varun Kuo, Waterloo
SS - Evan Morrison, Waterloo
3B - Sam Brown, Guelph
OF - Liam Sutherland, Waterloo
OF - Rowan Radzinski, Queen's
OF - Owen Ellis, Guelph
SP - Jordan Leishman, Queen's
RP - Max Todd, Waterloo
DH - Kristyan Puyols-Gennosar, Toronto
