Earlier this month, Sault College announced that baseball would be added to the list of varsity sports competing in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) for the 2022-2023 season, and Mike Lebel will take the lead.
With over 20 years of coaching experience, including time as an associate scout for the Cleveland Indians and Toronto Blue Jays, Sault College is excited to build this program with a reputable head coach. Lebel has a long list of accomplishments including seven provincial championships and six finalist titles. He has helped 40 players move on to all levels of college baseball within Canada and the United States and three of Lebel’s players were drafted by Major League Baseball; Aaron Fera (Toronto Blue Jays), Tyler Binkley (New York Mets) and Kai Tuomi (Washington Nationals).
“I am excited to have the opportunity to develop a Men’s Baseball program at Sault College. I look forward to working with the student-athletes who would like to further their education while playing baseball at the college level. This program will provide students, citizens and minor baseball players a chance to watch college baseball, which will benefit all of us.” says Lebel.
Lebel has a strong staff joining him including current General Manager for the 18U Soo Black Sox Chris Walls as the Manager of Baseball Operations, Strength and Conditioning Coach Tyler Belanger, and Dom Buonomo as Equipment Manager. Derek (Bucky) Tomljanovich and Jon Carson will act as recruiters for the team.
The coaching staff is already hard at work creating a strong program. Lebel states, “My plan is to build a sustainable program with a winning mind set. We may be new to the OCAA, but we will build a culture of high expectations for the coaches and athletes. We will approach every game with the preparation of being competitive and a tough team to play against.”
Steve McLeod, Fitness & Facilities Coordinator for Sault College, was a key player in baseball being added to the list of varsity sports. McLeod commented on the upcoming inaugural season: “The addition of men’s baseball in the fall of 2022 will allow our students an additional opportunity to play post-secondary sport while receiving a premier education at Sault College. The Cougars are excited to have Mike and his staff on board to launch this program and we’re looking forward to developing a stronger relationship with the local baseball community and Soo Minor Baseball Association.”
The Cougars plan to start training camp in August 2022. For more information, please contact baseball@saultcollege.ca.
Source: Sault College Athletics
