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Mustangs drop the ball in OUA championship

Although “there’s no place like home” may apply in Oz, the Mustangs men’s baseball team was unable to produce any magic this past Saturday at Labatt Park.

Seeking their fifth Ontario University Athletics title in six years, the ‘Stangs looked strong heading into the final after a convincing 4–2 win over the Waterloo Warriors Friday night.

Friday’s game saw Mustangs pitcher Andrew Bergman load the bases up in the first inning, leading to a quick 2–0 Warriors lead. Luckily for the Mustangs, the bats came out and Bergman regained his composure on the mound, ending the day with four strikeouts.

“It was a great feeling to be able to pitch well and help the team advance to the finals,” Bergman said.

The game also saw diminutive second–baseman Kevin Annet playing the long ball, crushing Warrior’s pitcher Anthony Douris’ offering over the fence in centre–field.

But the hits would dry up for the Mustangs in Saturday’s final against the Brock Badgers. Led by the efficient pitching of Jason Champ, the Badgers took advantage of several uncharacteristic Mustangs errors to score runs and shut the home team down.

Brock broke things open in the fifth, with a single off the bat of Badgers right fielder Daniel Forte starting off a three–run inning. The salvo of singles drove Mustangs pitcher Adam Paish off the mound, leaving relief pitcher Bryn McDonnell to end the inning.

Home field was able to confer a small advantage in the sixth inning, when Mustangs outfielder Andrew Thomson hit what should have been an easy out to Badger’s second–baseman Jeff Kosta. Instead of making the easy throw to first, Kosta launched the ball into Brock’s dugout. Upon retrieval, Brock first–baseman Adam Velocci attempted to stop Thomson from advancing to third, but instead threw the ball over the third–baseman’s head. As the Mustangs’ bench cheered, Thomson scampered home with a memorable “home run.”

But there would be little else to cheer about for the rest of the afternoon, as OUA all-star reliever Justin Ayles came in to close.

As the innings moved on, the Brock bench inched closer to the field, unconsciously thinking of the OUA championship that was so close. Mustang’s first baseman Robert Wakefield grounded into a season–ending double play to end the game.

“It was definitely not the result we were aiming for,” Ian Campbell, Mustangs left–fielder, said. “It leaves a sour taste in your mouth to have another team dance on your field.”

The win sends the Badgers to the Canadian Interuniversity Baseball Association national championship in Windsor.

Graphic by Anders Kravis



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