The Fanshawe Falcons won it all in Ontario College Athletics Association baseball for the first time in team history.
The Falcons started the playoff run on Friday against the Durham Lords. Fanshawe’s Jud McGowan and Trent Lamb opened the game with a combined three RBI’s in the first inning. Holden Heipel and Alex Miller pitched well on the mound, helping Fanshawe win 3-2 and advance to the next round.
Next round was a little tougher for Fanshawe, going up against the defending champions, the St. Clair Saints. Fanshawe had the lead, winning 2-1 after the third inning, with Nolan Rice scoring twice. The Saints ran away with the game in the fourth, with the final score being a 6-2 win for St. Clair.
The team had to take on the Lambton Lions next in the bronze medal game. Lambton and Fanshawe tied for the best record in the league, both being 12-6. Six different batters knocked in a run, helping Fanshawe win 12-5, leaving Lambton with the bronze medal.
Jud McGowan (credit Fanshawe baseball Instagram)
Fanshawe needed to win two straight against St. Clair, and started off strong, with McGowan, Baltrusiunas and Rainey all getting an RBI in the first inning. The two teams traded runs, being a tied game going into the seventh inning. Travis Rainey hit a single in the seventh inning, knocking in two runners, giving the Falcons a 7-5 lead. Fanshawe pitched a hitless inning, winning the game and forcing a game two.
In game two, Fanshawe started strong with a 5-0, keeping St. Clair scoreless until the fifth inning. The Saints fought back, tying the game going into the seventh inning. Bases were loaded with two out, and Connor Rodwin was up to bat. He got a hit, scoring two and taking the lead.
The Falcons were up 7-5 going into the bottom of the seventh inning. St. Clair Saint Andrew Sleiman opened with a triple to start the bottom of the inning. Next at bat Sleiman scored on a sacrifice play.
Fanshawe needed two more outs to win the gold medal.
Pitcher Kaleb Seguin struck out the final two batters. Falcons rushed the field, celebrating their accomplishment as a team.
“The feeling of relief when that last called strike was in there is pretty unexplainable… if you listen to the audio of the video… most of the guys are more relieved than crazy excited because it was such a competitive day of baseball,” said Jud McGowan, who won championship MVP.
2025 OCAA baseball champions (credit: ocaa.com)
The team earned their first OCAA medal in three seasons, and head coach Brian Harvey credited the players determination for the winning season.
“Everybody has bought in to what we asked them to do in certain situations, whether it’s hitting or pitching… this truly was a win for all the players and the team in terms of grit and finding a way to better each other everyday.”
Along with Jud McGowan winning championship MVP, Nolan Rice and Marcus Normandin were OCAA Championship All-Stars.
