Banner Season: Warriors, Blues secure semifinal wins to set up championship rematch

Ajax, Ont. (via Toronto Varsity Blues) – The host University of Toronto Varsity Blues and the Waterloo Warriors were each victorious on Day 1 of the OUA Baseball Final Four on Saturday, October 11 at Ajax Sportsplex.

The Blues defeated the Queen’s Gaels 15-4 in the first semifinal, while the Warriors topped the Brock Badgers 12-3 in the second semifinal to punch their tickets to tomorrow’s championship final at 1 p.m.

The Badgers and Gaels will battle for bronze at 9:00 a.m.

Semifinal 1: Toronto 15, Queen’s 4

Lead by the dominant pitching of Kevin Angers, the Blues stormed past the Gaels in the opening game of the tournament. Angers struck out six batters through six and two-thirds innings pitched, allowing just two earned runs.

Jakob Cellupica and Carter Hercun drove in three runs each for the Blues, with Spenser Ross bringing home two. Sam Aslanowicz, Owen Taylor, Kirk Gibson, Ben Mossburg, and Tyler Wingfield all recorded one RBI each.

Nicholas Hum went 3-for-3 at the plate for the Gaels, and Jonah Brotman drove in two runs.

Semifinal 2: Waterloo 12, Brock 10 

The Warriors and Badgers battled out a tight contest for the first five innings of the second semifinal, with the Badgers tying the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth.

Waterloo lefthanded starting pitcher Jacob Ray kept his Warriors in the game during the five innings that he pitched, allowing just three runs and striking out seven. The Warriors exploded for nine runs in the top of the sixth inning, breaking the game wide open and not looking back.

The Badgers responded with one run in the seventh inning and six in the ninth, including a three-run home run from Reid Lunney with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but their comeback effort fell short, with Aidan Armitage closing out the game.

Adam Rusch went 3-for-3 for Waterloo, scoring two runs and driving in two. Nolan Misa also picked up three hits.

Cole Carpenter drove in three runs on three hits for Brock, and Lunney had two hits.

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

Saturday, October 12
Bronze Medal Game (7 Innings): Brock vs Queen’s - 9:00 a.m.
Gold-Medal Game: Waterloo vs Toronto - 1:00 p.m.