Banner Season: Blues force extras, edge out Warriors to claim 2023 title

Graphic on predominantly blue background featuring Toronto team banner photo from the 2023 OUA Baseball Championship, large white text in the lower third that reads, 'CHAMPIONS', and the OUA Baseball Championship logo on a small white square in the bottom left corner
October 15, 2023

Hamilton, Ont. (via McMaster Marauders) – After having the original gold medal game delayed by 24 hours due to inclement weather, the Toronto Varsity Blues and Waterloo Warriors went toe-to-toe on Sunday in the 2023 conference title game, needing an extra inning to declare a winner. The Varsity Blues came out on top, earning a 6-5 victory over the Warriors to regain the OUA Baseball Championship title for the seventh time in program history.

After two deadlocked innings, it was the Waterloo Warriors who opened the game’s scoring in the bottom of the third. Waterloo recorded two scores on back-to-back bases-loaded walks before Alex Seelman moved the runner on a sacrifice fly. Sean Skorupsku recorded the score to give the Warriors a 3-0 advantage.

Toronto got one back in the top of the fourth with Kristyan Puyol-Genossar scoring on an error by Waterloo’s catcher.

The Warriors regained a three-run cushion in the bottom of the sixth as Evan Morrison singled on a line drive to left field to bring Sam Shepherd in for the score.

That’s when the Varsity Blues mounted the comeback. In the top of the seventh, Toronto had six consecutive batters reach base with two of those runners crossing home plate. Aaron Kreithen hit a hard ground ball to bring Carter Hercun in for the score while just three-plate appearances later, Owen Taylor grounded into fielder’s choice to get Kreithen home, narrowing the lead to one.

One inning later, Kreithen made a difference yet again, this time grounding out to bring Puyol-Genossar in for the tying run.

With nothing decided through nine innings, the championship finale advanced to a tenth frame.

The visiting Varsity Blues were at the plate first and came out firing. Matt Myhal doubled on a line drive to right field which was enough to get Cellupica home for the go-ahead score. On the very next at-bat, Sam Aslanowicz singled on a line drive and Toronto capitalized on a Waterloo error, doubling the advantage with a Myhal score.

Waterloo didn’t make things easy, with Sam Read capitalizing on a balk by Toronto on the team’s very first at-bat in the bottom of the tenth to get within one. Toronto’s closer, Owen Taylor, recorded back-to-back strikeouts on the ensuing at-bats to secure a 6-5 victory and the Varsity Blues’ first championship title since 2021.

In the bronze medal game on Saturday morning between the McMaster Marauders and Carleton Ravens, it was the host Marauders who opened the scoring with a 2-0 advantage after one. Carleton recorded two runs of their own to tie things up after four. The Ravens added two more in the top of the fifth but it was the seventh inning where the Ottawa squad showed its dominance. Over the course of the 45 minute inning, Carleton recorded an impressive six runs to cruise to a 10-2 final and the bronze medal.