The Sault College Cougars headed south to Oshawa, Ontario on Saturday, September 9th to open the 2023 OCAA baseball season with a doubleheader against the Durham Lords.
In game one, the Sault College Cougars couldn’t keep up with Durham Lords Men’s Baseball and fell 12-1 on Saturday.
Sault College Cougars opened the scoring in the first after Will Nevills singled, scoring one run.
Durham Lords Men’s Baseball captured the lead, 4-1, in the bottom of the first after Griffin McMillan singled, and Jacob Mahoney singled, each scoring two runs.
Durham Lords Men’s Baseball scored five runs on four hits in the bottom of the second inning. Cole Cote homered to left field, scoring three runs, Mahoney doubled, scoring one run, and Mahoney scored after tagging up.
Durham Lords Men’s Baseball extended their early lead with two runs in the bottom of the third thanks to RBI singles by Zach Rivers and Cote.
Jackson Painter earned the win for Durham Lords Men’s Baseball. They allowed three hits and one run (zero earned) over five innings, striking out six and walking three. Lucas Ingratta took the loss for Sault College Cougars. They went three innings, allowing 11 runs (10 earned) on 10 hits, striking out none and walking two.
Aiden Russel, Nevills, and Liam Nordby each collected one hit for Sault College Cougars. Nevills led Sault College Cougars with one run batted in. They went 1-for-2 on the day. Sault College Cougars turned one double play in the game.
Durham Lords Men’s Baseball tallied 12 hits in the game. Cote, Rivers, Mahoney, and McMillan each collected two hits for Durham Lords Men’s Baseball. Cote drove the middle of the lineup, leading Durham Lords Men’s Baseball with four runs batted in. The number three hitter went 2-for-2 on the day.
In game two of the day, Sault College Cougars had trouble keeping up with Durham Lords Men’s Baseball in an 11-5 loss on Saturday.
Durham Lords Men’s Baseball got on the board in the bottom of the first inning after Eddie Borutskie singled, Cole Cote grounded out, Jacob Mahoney doubled, and Mason Wright singled, each scoring one run.
A single by Borutskie extended the Durham Lords Men’s Baseball lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the second inning.
Durham Lords Men’s Baseball scored five runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth inning. Borutskie drew a walk, scoring one run, Cote singled, scoring two runs, and Nick King singled, scoring two runs.
Wright earned the win for Durham Lords Men’s Baseball. They surrendered three hits and two runs over three and two-thirds innings, striking out eight and walking one. Matthew Forsey took the loss for Sault College Cougars. The right-handed pitcher went five innings, surrendering six runs (one earned) on five hits, striking out one and walking two. Thomas Bond earned the save.
Carter Gallivan seized on their opportunities, leading Sault College Cougars with two runs batted in from the number eight spot in the lineup. The third baseman went 1-for-3 on the day. Gallivan, Jayden Valle, Will Nevills, and Travis Rainey each collected one hit for Sault College Cougars. Sault College Cougars had a strong eye at the plate, piling up six walks for the game. Sault College Cougars turned one double play in the game.
Durham Lords Men’s Baseball accumulated nine hits in the game. Cote and Borutskie were a force together in the lineup, as they each collected two hits for Durham Lords Men’s Baseball. Cote and Borutskie were tough to handle back-to-back in the lineup, as each drove in three runs for Durham Lords Men’s Baseball. Baylan Mackellar stole two bases. Durham Lords Men’s Baseball ran wild on the base paths, tallying five stolen bases for the game. Durham Lords Men’s Baseball were sure-handed in the field and didn’t commit a single error. Chuck Roy had the most chances in the field with 13.
