SAINTS PLAYING FOR GOLD IN OCAA MEN'S BASEBALL

TECUMSEH, Ont. — The St. Clair Saints are on the cusp of another Ontario Colleges Athletic Association title, advancing to the gold medal game of the 2025 OCAA Men's Baseball Championship.

The Saints defeated the first-place Lambton Lions 12-6 and then the No. 2-seed Fanshawe Falcons 6-2 at Lacasse Park on Friday. Down 4-2 to the Lions, St. Clair rallied for four runs in the fifth inning and six runs in the sixth to pull out the win. First-year first baseman Ryan Querbach (Belle River) hit a two-run single in the fifth to tie the game and fourth-year centre-fielder Andrew Sleiman (Leamington) hit a two RBI double in the sixth.

St. Clair was also behind 2-1 against Fanshawe before rallying for three runs in the fourth and two more insurance runs in the sixth. Querbach doubled to score two, giving the Saints the lead for good.

In the double knockout tournament, the Saints get two chances for a championship-clinching victory. St. Clair has won four straight OCAA championships and nine in total.

The Saints will face either the Lions or Falcons for the gold medal. The Lions edged the Durham Lords 4-3 on a walk-off hit by third-year OCAA all-star first baseman Wesley Brooks (Sarnia) to earn their berth to the medal round. Earlier in the day, the Falcons won a close decision against the Lords 3-2. Second-year pitcher Alex Miller allowed no runs in 2.1 innings of relief to close out the win for Fanshawe.

St. Clair avoided elimination earlier in the tournament by defeating the Sheridan Bruins 12-0 on Thursday in the championship play-in game. The Lords advanced to Day 2 of the competition by defeating the Humber Hawks 8-3.

The Falcons and Lions will clash in the OCAA bronze medal game to begin Day 3 of the championship on Saturday, with the winner advancing to face St. Clair for the gold. Both teams had identical 12-6 records during the regular season, with Lambton winning the tiebreaker winning two of three against Fanshawe. Neither program has won an OCAA championship.

All games are being streamed on YouTube via OCAA LIVE.

Live Webcast: www.ocaa.com/live

Thursday, October 16
Game #1: Durham def. Humber 8-3
Game #2: St. Clair def. Sheridan 12-0

Friday, October 17
Game #3: St. Clair def. Lambton 12-6
Game #4: Fanshawe def. Durham 3-2
Game #5: Lambton def. Durham 4-3
Game #6: St. Clair def. Fanshawe 6-2

Saturday, October 18
OCAA Bronze Medal Game
Game #7: Fanshawe vs. Lambton - 10 a.m.
Losing team presented OCAA Bronze Medal at conclusion of game

OCAA Gold Medal Game(s)
Game #8: Winner Game #7 vs. St. Clair - 1 p.m.
Game #9*: Winner Game #7 vs. St. Clair - 3:30 p.m.
*If necessary
OCAA Gold and Silver Medals presented at the conclusion of final game

- OCAA -

ABOUT ONTARIO COLLEGES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

For nearly 60 years, the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association has been a dedicated leader in amateur athletics through the provision of quality varsity and recreational athletic opportunities at the collegiate level.

For additional information please contact:
Josh Bell-Webster
Marketing and Communications
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com