October 17, 2021
Banner Season: Toronto turns in dominant day to top baseball's final four field as champions
Ajax, Ont. - The host University of Toronto Varsity Blues defeated the McMaster Marauders 6-2 to claim the Jason Guidon Trophy as 2021 OUA champions on Sunday evening at Ajax Sportsplex.
The Blues, who also defeated the Western Mustangs 8-4 in the semifinals on Sunday, complete a perfect 16-0 season to claim their sixth OUA title in program history and first since 2017.
"We have a great group of guys who love the game, believe in themselves and work hard," said Varsity Blues head coach Mike Didier. "They truly care about each other. We knew it was a special group from the beginning of the season. They are a young group and I am very proud of everything they have done considering the majority of our team are in their first and second year. It was an awesome season. We had a bit of adversity, battled back and believed we could do something special."
Gold-Medal Game: Toronto 6, McMaster 2 (Box Score)
The Blues started the game with a three-run barrage, chasing McMaster starting pitcher Luis Grisanti out of the game. A bases-loaded walk to Brendan Colley allowed Niko Kekatos to score the Blues third run.
McMaster answered with two in the fourth off of a throwing error from Blues catcher Kristyan Puyol-Genossar, but Toronto added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth with an Owen Taylor RBI-single.
Rookie Kevin Angers had seven strikeouts in six innings pitched for the win.
Semifinal 1: McMaster 6, Carleton 5 (Box Score)
McMaster got out to an early lead as second-year first baseman Ethan Seymour doubled two Marauders home, before finding the plate himself off of a Carleton error. The Marauders added two more in the top of the fifth, before Carleton answered back with a Quentin McRae two-RBI double in the bottom of the inning.
The Ravens brought the game within one, scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth; however, the Marauders held them off to secure the victory.
First-year pitcher Joshua Kalmin earned the save for the Marauders, throwing a flawless final inning, while McMaster starting pitcher Julian Tymochko had four strikeouts in the victory.
Semifinal 2: Toronto 8, Western 4 (Box Score)
Toronto came out firing as they hit four straight singles to take an early 5-0 lead. Western responded though, scoring four runs in the bottom half the first to cut the lead to one. A wild pitch from Western and a sacrifice fly from Brendan Colley pushed the Blues to a three-run advantage after two innings and U of T would add a single score in the top of the fourth to round out the scoring.
Fourth-year veteran Dean Christidis pitched a solid 6.2 innings in relief, striking out 11 to earn the victory.
Brendan Colley led the Blues offensively with two hits and two RBI, while Alexander Fader, Bryce O'Farrell and Ethan Tichenoff each had two hits for the Mustangs.
Award Winners
Most Valuable Player - Nik Motruk, McMaster
Most Valuable Pitcher - Dean Christidis, Toronto
Most Valuable Hitter - Niko Kekatos, Toronto
Rookie of the Year - Josh Kalmin, McMaster
Coach of the Year - Michael Didier, Toronto
All-Stars
Catcher - Kristyan Puyol-Genossar, Toronto
First Base - Ethan Seymour, McMaster
Second Base - Michael Dodaro, Western
Shortstop - Anthony Polowick, McMaster
Third Base - Brendan Colley, Toronto
Outfield - Michael Deluca, Toronto
Outfield - Michael Ong, Toronto
Outfield - Nik Motruk, McMaster
Designated Hitter - Ethan Tichenoff, Western
Starting Pitcher - Dean Christidis, Toronto
Relief Pitcher - Grant Shantz, Toronto
The Blues, who also defeated the Western Mustangs 8-4 in the semifinals on Sunday, complete a perfect 16-0 season to claim their sixth OUA title in program history and first since 2017.
"We have a great group of guys who love the game, believe in themselves and work hard," said Varsity Blues head coach Mike Didier. "They truly care about each other. We knew it was a special group from the beginning of the season. They are a young group and I am very proud of everything they have done considering the majority of our team are in their first and second year. It was an awesome season. We had a bit of adversity, battled back and believed we could do something special."
Gold-Medal Game: Toronto 6, McMaster 2 (Box Score)
The Blues started the game with a three-run barrage, chasing McMaster starting pitcher Luis Grisanti out of the game. A bases-loaded walk to Brendan Colley allowed Niko Kekatos to score the Blues third run.
McMaster answered with two in the fourth off of a throwing error from Blues catcher Kristyan Puyol-Genossar, but Toronto added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth with an Owen Taylor RBI-single.
Rookie Kevin Angers had seven strikeouts in six innings pitched for the win.
Semifinal 1: McMaster 6, Carleton 5 (Box Score)
McMaster got out to an early lead as second-year first baseman Ethan Seymour doubled two Marauders home, before finding the plate himself off of a Carleton error. The Marauders added two more in the top of the fifth, before Carleton answered back with a Quentin McRae two-RBI double in the bottom of the inning.
The Ravens brought the game within one, scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth; however, the Marauders held them off to secure the victory.
First-year pitcher Joshua Kalmin earned the save for the Marauders, throwing a flawless final inning, while McMaster starting pitcher Julian Tymochko had four strikeouts in the victory.
Semifinal 2: Toronto 8, Western 4 (Box Score)
Toronto came out firing as they hit four straight singles to take an early 5-0 lead. Western responded though, scoring four runs in the bottom half the first to cut the lead to one. A wild pitch from Western and a sacrifice fly from Brendan Colley pushed the Blues to a three-run advantage after two innings and U of T would add a single score in the top of the fourth to round out the scoring.
Fourth-year veteran Dean Christidis pitched a solid 6.2 innings in relief, striking out 11 to earn the victory.
Brendan Colley led the Blues offensively with two hits and two RBI, while Alexander Fader, Bryce O'Farrell and Ethan Tichenoff each had two hits for the Mustangs.
Award Winners
Most Valuable Player - Nik Motruk, McMaster
Most Valuable Pitcher - Dean Christidis, Toronto
Most Valuable Hitter - Niko Kekatos, Toronto
Rookie of the Year - Josh Kalmin, McMaster
Coach of the Year - Michael Didier, Toronto
All-Stars
Catcher - Kristyan Puyol-Genossar, Toronto
First Base - Ethan Seymour, McMaster
Second Base - Michael Dodaro, Western
Shortstop - Anthony Polowick, McMaster
Third Base - Brendan Colley, Toronto
Outfield - Michael Deluca, Toronto
Outfield - Michael Ong, Toronto
Outfield - Nik Motruk, McMaster
Designated Hitter - Ethan Tichenoff, Western
Starting Pitcher - Dean Christidis, Toronto
Relief Pitcher - Grant Shantz, Toronto
