The Sault College Cougars baseball program travelled to London, Ontario, over the October 3rd and 4th weekend for a three-game OCAA road series against the Fanshawe Falcons, entering the weekend still searching for their first victory of the 2026 OCAA baseball season.
The Cougars played a pair of games on Saturday before wrapping up the three-game set Sunday morning at Norm Aldridge Field. Despite some solid individual performances at the plate and on the mound, Sault College was unable to break through offensively, dropping all three games to the Falcons by scores of 3-0, 3-0 and 10-0.
Game One — Falcons Take 3-0 Decision
The opening game of the weekend took place Saturday, October 3rd, with Fanshawe eventually breaking through in the fifth inning.
After four scoreless innings, the Falcons put together the game’s first scoring opportunity when Zack Whalen doubled to drive in Luke Allen, giving Fanshawe a 1-0 lead.
The Falcons added another run later in the inning when Holden Heipel recorded a sacrifice fly to centre field, allowing Whalen to cross the plate and make it 2-0.
Fanshawe added its final run in the sixth inning when Travis Rainey singled home Owen Constantineau, extending the lead to 3-0.
The Cougars were held off the scoreboard despite collecting hits from Gabriel Eichmann and Kolton Tremblay, who each went 1-for-2 at the plate.
For Fanshawe, Allen led the way offensively, going 2-for-3 with a run scored. Whalen finished 1-for-2 with a run, while Heipel and Rainey each recorded an RBI. Constantineau, Blake Cooper and Charlie Bowman also collected hits.
On the mound for Sault College, Brennan West faced 21 batters and threw 79 pitches, including 58 strikes. Frankie Buda followed, facing five batters and throwing 17 pitches, nine for strikes.
Fanshawe used three pitchers to complete the shutout. Alex Miller faced 10 batters and threw 40 pitches, 30 for strikes. Cameron Andree faced three batters, throwing five pitches, all of them strikes, before Connor Rodwin closed things out by facing 13 batters and throwing 67 pitches, including 37 strikes.
Game Two — Fanshawe Earns Another 3-0 Win
The Cougars returned to the diamond Saturday afternoon for the second game of the weekend, once again looking to secure their first OCAA victory of the season.
Fanshawe struck first in the opening inning when Holden Heipel stole home, putting the Falcons ahead 1-0.
The score remained there until the third inning, when Connor Rodwin tripled to bring home Owen Constantineau and increase the Fanshawe advantage to 2-0.
The Falcons added another run later in the inning. Rainey hit a sacrifice fly to centre field, allowing Rodwin to score and give Fanshawe a 3-0 lead.
That proved to be enough as the Falcons pitching staff kept the Cougars off the scoreboard for the second consecutive game.
Sault College’s biggest offensive performance came from Ryan Tays, who went 3-for-3 at the plate. Ben Weaterbee also collected a hit in three at-bats.
Constantineau went 2-for-3 for Fanshawe, while Rainey finished 2-for-2 with an RBI. Rodwin recorded a triple, an RBI and a run scored, while Heipel and Brody VanRybroeck also contributed offensively.
Tyson Lay started on the mound for Sault College, facing 25 batters and throwing 79 pitches, 47 of which were strikes. Olavi Ojanpera followed, facing three batters and throwing 12 pitches with seven strikes.
Fanshawe used three pitchers in the second game. Heipel faced nine batters and threw 39 pitches, 29 for strikes. Jag Turner faced eight batters and threw 24 pitches, with 14 strikes, while Kaleb Seguin faced eight batters and threw 26 pitches, including 19 strikes.
Game Three — Falcons Complete Sweep
The final game of the weekend was played Sunday morning at Norm Aldridge Field, with the Cougars hoping to close the road trip with a victory.
Instead, Fanshawe’s offence came alive early and the Falcons went on to secure a 10-0 victory and complete the three-game sweep.
Heipel opened the scoring in the first inning with a home run, putting Fanshawe ahead 1-0.
The Falcons quickly added to their advantage when Rainey doubled to bring home Rodwin, making it 2-0.
Fanshawe broke the game open in the fourth inning.
Charlie Bowman singled to score Luke Allen, followed by Heipel singling home Bowman to make it 4-0. Constantineau then delivered a two-run double, bringing home Hunter Wright and Heipel and extending the lead to 6-0.
Rodwin followed with a single that drove in Constantineau, making it 7-0 after four innings.
The Falcons continued the offensive attack in the fifth. Bowman grounded out to the pitcher to bring home Nolan Rice, making it 8-0. Heipel then tripled to score Allen before Mason Fulcher singled home Heipel, giving Fanshawe a 10-0 advantage.
The Cougars managed two hits in the game, both coming from Gabriel Eichmann, who went 2-for-2.
Heipel was the offensive standout for Fanshawe, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBIs. Bowman finished 2-for-3 with three runs and two RBIs, while Constantineau went 2-for-3 with a run and two RBIs.
Rodwin added two hits, a run and an RBI, while Allen recorded a hit and scored twice. Rainey, Fulcher and the other Falcons hitters also contributed to the offensive outburst.
John Gignac started for Sault College and faced 20 batters, throwing 77 pitches with 44 strikes. Ryan Tays followed, facing nine batters and throwing 39 pitches, including 18 strikes.
Fanshawe’s CJ Bain started the game and faced 12 batters, throwing 48 pitches with 34 strikes. Owen Wicks finished the contest, facing six batters and throwing 27 pitches, 17 for strikes.
Cougars Return Home to Close Out Season
With the three-game road trip now complete, the Cougars will return home to Sault Ste. Marie for their final OCAA regular-season games of 2026.
Sault College will host the Lambton Lions at Sinclair Yards on October 9th and 10th for a three-game homestand.
After a difficult weekend in London, the Cougars will have one final opportunity to close out the regular season on home soil and look to secure their first OCAA victory of the 2026 campaign.
