OSHAWA, Ont. – In a rematch of the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) gold medal game, the Fanshawe Falcons defeated the St. Clair Saints 2-1 to win the inaugural National College Baseball Championship hosted by Durham College.
This was the first time in five years that St. Clair did not win a major tournament that they were in as they entered the event as the four-time OCAA champions, 2013/2014 OUA/OCAA champions and 2012 CIBA champions. St. Clair beat Fanshawe 7-4 in this year's OCAA final.
The Falcons relied on strong pitching and great defence in the championship game as they held the Saints to their lowest run total of the season.
St. Clair held a 1-0 lead scoring off a wild pitch in the bottom of the second inning, but Fanshawe would respond with two runs of their own in the top of the third. In the rally, the Falcons would ring off four straight singles.
Pitchers Bryan Hames, Tyler Rymal and Robert Doyle shut down the Saints offence over the next five innings, holding the green and gold to just four hits. Following the tournament, Hames was named the Most Valuable Player.
St. Clair starting pitcher Shane Courtney was impressive for the Saints, allowing two earned runs on seven hits and a walk.
Earlier in the day, the Falcons advanced to the finals with a 5-0 victory over the host Durham Lords where Kyle Zimmer pitched a complete game shutout.
St. Clair advanced to the final in dramatic fashion, with a walk-off 2-1 win over the Holland Hurricanes. Kyle Breitner allowed just one hit against the Hurricanes, which was a solo home-run by Josh MacDonald.
MAJOR AWARD WINNERS
MVP - Bryan Hames (Fanshawe)
Top Pitcher - Kyle Breitner (St. Clair)
Gold Glove - Carlos Arteaja (Fanshawe)
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
C - Jesse Holman (Holland)
1B - Bryan Hames (Fanshawe)
2B - Zev Weisdorf (Fanshawe)
SS - Jay Oram (Holland)
3B - Max Ayarza (St. Clair)
OF - Josh MacDonald (Holland)
OF - Kevin Dion (St. Clair)
OF - Tyler Wood (Fanshawe)
DH -
Jack Rankin (Durham)
LHP - Kyle Zimmer (Fanshawe)
RHP - Kyle Breitner (St. Clair)
