Bullpen struggles continue as Baseball splits with Lambton
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lambton | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 1 |
|
Humber | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | X | 9 | 7 | 3 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lambton | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 3 |
|
Humber | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 1 |
By: Fernando Bossoes
Humber Athletics Communications
ETOBICOKE – Humber baseball (5-6, 5th OCAA) is off to the worst start to the season in program history. On Wednesday evening, the Hawks dropped their first-ever game to the Lambton Lions (10-2, 1st OCAA) at Connorvale Park, settling for a doubleheader split.
Rookie catcher Lee Grey shone in game one, going two-for-three at the dish and matching his career-high five RBIs. At the same time, Jack St. Louis etched his name in Humber's history books by setting a new program record with his 28th stolen base, surpassing the previous mark of 27 held by Daniel Campos.
Despite the setback in game two, Mexican-born pitcher Juan Diego Lagunes struck out nine batters, which is the most by a Humber pitcher in a single game this season.
Game one (Humber 9, Lambton 6)
It has been a rough start to the season for Humber baseball. Sitting fifth in the OCAA with the worst start in program history and still searching for their first win at home, the Hawks were in desperate need of a momentum shift as the postseason race tightened.
Hosting the top-ranked Lambton Lions at Connorvale Park, the Hawks knew this would be a tough ball game, but dropping another doubleheader risked leaving Humber tied with Sheridan for the final postseason wildcard spot.
The high-pressure stakes ignited the Hawks to a fast start. Rookie catcher Lee Grey ripped a two-RBI double in the bottom of the first and later stole home to give Humber an early three-run lead.
The lead didn't last long, as the Lions stepped on the gas in the top of the third. OCAA batting leader Logan Buntrock cashed an RBI single before lefty Wesley Brooks crushed a three-run homer to put Lambton in front, 4-3. The home run moved Brooks to the top of the OCAA home run leaderboard.
Humber didn't let the home run rattle them, though, and Grey answered in the bottom half with a sacrifice fly that brought Isaac Duva across to score. In the fourth inning, senior David Boatto launched a deep drive over the left-field fence to put the Hawks back in the lead.
For a team that has been steady defensively all season, Lambton's pitching staff showed cracks. By the bottom of the fifth, the Lions had already turned to a pair of relievers while watching the Hawks tack on a sixth run.
Their bats, however, stayed hot, pulling even at 6-6 in the top of the sixth. But Grey, who sparked Humber early, delivered again with a clutch two-run single. Marcus Herback followed with an RBI single to push the lead to 9-6.
From there, reliever Callum Blue took care of business. Entering in the sixth, Blue shut the door to secure Humber's first home win of the season.
Game two (Lambton 11, Humber 8)
Head coach Troy Black handed the ball to third-year pitcher Juan Diego Lagunes. The Mexico native left-hander came out throwing 'fuego,' striking out four batters in the first two innings.
In the bottom of the second, the Hawks backed him up as senior Boatto smashed an RBI double to deep centre field to open the scoring.
The Lions wasted little time responding. In the third, despite Lagunes staying sharp, a defensive miscue allowed a runner on first to steal second while another came home from third to even the ball game.
The Hawks knew that run threatened to shift the momentum toward the top-ranked Lions, so Humber answered immediately. In the home half, it was an RBI parade. Blue, Boatto, Justin Groves and Jack Young all came through with run-scoring singles to put the Hawks ahead 5-1.
Lagunes continued to deal, retiring three more batters in the fourth to bring his strikeout total to nine. Blue then drove in his second RBI of the night and Xavier Whittle scored on a Lambton error, extending Humber's lead to 7-1.
But just when the Hawks looked poised for a sweep to reignite their season, the Lions found their game in the fifth. Rookie reliever Marco Rutulis took over for Lagunes and allowed four runs. Coach Black then turned to the bullpen again, but Lucas Bridger also struggled, giving up three more runs as Lambton took the lead at 8-7.
Trailing for the first time, Humber's bats went cold while the Lions kept pressing, adding three more runs in the sixth.
The Hawks cashed one back in the bottom of the seventh on a wild pitch that scored Boatto, but it was too little, too late.
The Lions completed the comeback and earned their first-ever win at Connorvale Park, 11-8.
Game Notes
- Humber holds an 11-3 all-time record against Lambton.
- The Hawks dropped their first-ever game to Lambton at Connorvale Park, now sitting with a 5-1 all-time record at home against the Lions.
- This is the Hawks' worst start to the season in program history.
- Humber snapped a four-game home losing streak, the longest in program history.
- Jack St. Louis set a new program record with 28 career stolen bases.
- Lee Grey tied his career-high five RBIs in game one.
- Isaac Duva sits third in the OCAA with 10 stolen bases, followed by Jack St. Louis in fourth with nine.
- Xavier Whittle has the third-best batting average in the league, sitting at .433.
- As a staff, the Hawks have the third worst ERA in the conference at 5.41.
What's Next?
The Hawks won't have much time to rest, as they travel to Oshawa tomorrow to take on the Durham Lords (6-6, 4th OCAA). The first pitch is set for 6 p.m.
