OCAA Men's Baseball Championship
Gold Medal Game – St. Clair defeated Durham 6-4
 
OSHAWA, Ont. – The St. Clair Saints won their second consecutive Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) men's baseball championship with a 6-4 victory over the Durham Lords in the gold medal game.
 
After the Saints cruised through day one with two wins with a combined score of 20-1, they were pushed to the brink in the gold medal game as a comeback effort was needed to win the title. With Durham holding a 3-1 lead after three straight RBI doubles, the Lords seemed to awaken the sleeping Giant as St. Clair posted four runs in the bottom half of the third inning to take a 5-3 lead.
 
After St. Clair added an insurance run in the fourth, Durham found themselves down three. The Lords managed to put together a late game rally, and had the go-ahead run at the plate in the top of the seventh. However, championship MVP Rob Cooper got OCAA all-star Ben DeBoer to fly out to left field for the final out of the game.
 
Crannel Jerald, who was named the player of the game, was 2-for-2 with a walk, while making four assists defensively at third base. Cooper and Chris Horwood would also had multi-hit games for St. Clair, each going 2-for-4 while combining for two runs scored. Drake Sunderland recorded the win, coming into the game in relief in the fourth inning.
 
Thomas Fearon was 3-for-4 with one RBI and a run scored, earning the player of the game honours for Durham. Starting pitcher Jordan Edmonds was credited with the loss.
 
The Lords advanced to the gold medal game with a 3-2 come from behind win over the Fanshawe Falcons to begin day two. Ryan Norris had a gutsy performance, pitching the complete game, allowing only two earned runs on six Fanshawe hits.  Durham's Spencer Green's walk with the bases loaded capped off a two-run sixth inning, which proved to be the game-winning runs.
 
The game ended with Fanshawe trying to be a little too aggressive on the bases, trying to advance from first to third off a two-out single. The Falcon runner got caught trying to stretch it out, as Aaron McQuillen, Fearon and DeBoer connected on an outstanding relay from right field.
 
Following the gold medal game, the championship all-star team was announced. Rob Cooper took home the MVP award, while his teammates Joel Cooper and Jerald were named all-stars. Wesley Hardwick and Norris received the all-star honour for Durham along with Fanshawe starting pitcher Travis Rice.

This is the second straight year Durham had to settle for a second place finish, as they fell to the Saints last year by a score of 5-2 in the championship final. For Fanshawe, it was a successful inaugural season in OCAA baseball as they earned the bronze medal.
 
St. Clair and Durham will advance to the OUA/OCAA Baseball Championship, scheduled to take place in Windsor next weekend.
 
OCAA CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL RESULTS
 
Gold – St. Clair Saints
Silver – Durham Lords
Bronze – Fanshawe Falcons
4^th Place – Humber Hawks

Friday, October 17
Game 1 - 11 a.m. - Fanshawe defeated Humber 3-1 Box Score
Players of the Game: Travis Rice (FAN) & James Byrnes (HUM)

Game 2 - 1:30 p.m. - St. Clair defeated Durham 9-0 Box Score
Players of the Game: Kyle Breitner (SCC) & Wesley Hardwick (DUR)

Game 3 - 4 p.m. - Durham defeated Humber 6-5 Box Score
Players of the Game: Ilija Bozinovski (DUR) & Casey Espana (HUM)

Game 4 - 6:30 p.m. - St. Clair defeated Fanshawe 11-1 Box Score
Players of the Game: Sean Refflinghaus (FAN) & Anthony Buonaiuto (SCC)
 
Saturday, October 18
 
OCAA Bronze Medal Game 
Durham defeated Fanshawe 3-2 Box Score
Players of the Game: Ryan Norris (DUR) & Carlos Arteaja (FAN)
 
OCAA Gold Medal Game
St. Clair defeated Durham 6-4 Box Score
Players of the Game: Crannel Jerald (SCC) & Thomas Fearon (DUR)

Championship MVP
Rob Cooper - St. Clair Saints

Championship All-Stars
Crannel Jerald - St. Clair Saints
Joel Cooper - St. Clair Saints
Ryan Norris - Durham Lords
Wesley Hardwick - Durham Lords
Travis Rice - Fanshawe Falcons