Banner Season: Blues down Warriors for second straight year to claim title

Ajax, Ont. (via Toronto Varsity Blues) – The host University of Toronto Varsity Blues defeated the Waterloo Warriors 15-5 to claim the Jason Guindon Trophy as 2024 OUA champions on Saturday, October 12 at Ajax Sportsplex.

The Blues, who also defeated the Queen’s Gaels 15-4 in the semifinals on Friday, claim their eighth OUA title in program history and third in the past four years.  

The Brock Badgers claimed the bronze medal with a 9-5 victory over the Queen’s Gaels.

Gold-Medal Game: Toronto 15, Waterloo 5 (Box Score)

The Toronto Varsity Blues were victorious in the gold medal game for the second consecutive season, taking down the Waterloo Warriors 15-5.

The Warriors opened the scoring in the first inning on a Sean Skorupski two-run double.

The Blues responded with four runs in the top of the fourth inning to take a 4-2 lead, with Ryan Hsu hitting a crucial two-run single.

Hsu added another two-run knock in the top of the fifth inning, and the Warriors closed the gap in the bottom half by creating three runs of their own via sacrifice fly, fielding error, and a passed ball.

The Blues added two more in the top of the sixth before their pitching took over for the remainder of the game. Connor Broughton and Paul Kosztowniak tossed a combined three and two-thirds hitless frames for Toronto, with Ethan Kwong closing things out in the ninth.

Hsu led the way for the Blues, driving in six runs on three hits. Leadoff hitter Sam Aslanowicz picked up four knocks of his own, while Owen Taylor walked six times. Catcher Matt Fischer scored four times.

Klaus Aplevich went 1-2 with two walks and an RBI for the Warriors. Skorupski drove in two of the Warriors’ four runs.

Bronze-Medal Game: Brock 9, Queen’s 5 (Box Score)

The Brock Badgers defeated the Queen’s Gaels 9-5 in the OUA Championship Bronze-Medal Game for their first medal since 2016, led by starting pitcher Jack Tiessen’s 136-pitch complete game.

The Badgers struck first on an RBI double by Flynn Matheson in the bottom of the second inning. Queen’s responded with a run of their own in the top of the third and fourth. Brock upped the ante with a three-run bottom of the third and two-run fourth to take a 6-2 lead that they would not relinquish.

The Badgers put the game away in the bottom of the sixth, scoring three runs off of an RBI double from Ethan Pasco and a two-RBI double from Reid Lunney.

Owen Sartor of the Gaels launched a two-run home run in the top of the seventh, but Tiessen finished what he started by keeping the Gaels out of striking distance, giving the Badgers the victory.

Jacob Finlayson started for the Gaels and pitched the first four innings, with Jack White taking on the final two frames. Tiessen struck out eight in his seven innings of work, allowing just three earned runs, eight hits against, and three walks.

Friday, October 11
Semifinal 1: Toronto 15, Queen’s 4
Semifinal 2: Waterloo 12, Brock 10

Saturday, October 12
Bronze Medal Game (7 Innings): Brock 9, Queen’s 5
Gold-Medal Game: Toronto 15, Waterloo 5

MAJOR AWARDS

Most Valuable Player - Owen Taylor, Toronto
Most Valuable Pitcher - Kevin Angers, Toronto
Most Valuable Hitter - Ryan Hsu, Toronto
Rookie of the Year - Jack Cohen, Brock
Coach of the Year - Andrew Needles, Toronto

ALL-STARS

C - Adam Rusch, Waterloo
1B - Carter Hercun, Toronto
2B - Ryan Hsu , Toronto
SS - Jakob Cellupica, Toronto
3B - Jonah Brotman, Queen’s
3B - Spenser Ross, Toronto
OF - Owen Taylor, Toronto
OF - Sam Aslanowicz, Toronto
OF - Nolan Phelan, Brock
DH - Kirk Gibson, Toronto
SP - Kevin Angers, Toronto
RP - Jack Cohen, Brock