Brock goes to bat for baseball
Toronto Blue Jays assistant general manager Andrew Tinnish watched his alma mater defeat a different flock of Blue Jays in the inaugural Hometown Baseball game Sunday in St. Catharines.
After the Brock graduate, recreation and leisure studies, 1999; sport management, 2001; threw out the ceremonial first pitch in the exhibition game at George Taylor Field, the Badgers came from behind to defeat the Ontario Blue Jays 11-3.
Bryn Sanford’s home run erased a 2-1 deficit and brought the crowd of more than 400 to its feet in the celebration of Brock baseball in the community.
In addition to free admission and baseball caps to the first 100 children, there was facepainting, a family fun zone and a fundraising barbecue with proceeds supporting the university’s baseball program.
The Badgers are already looking forward to next year’s Hometown Baseball game.
Brock coach Marc LePage thanked the fans who came out to support his team.
“What a fun day,” he said.
“This event means a lot to us.
“You could tell the players had an extra level of intensity in their game today.”
The Badgers outhit the Ontario Blue Jays 15-6 and starting pitcher Alex Nolan struck out six batters for Brock.
The come-from-behind victory was the team’s five win in a row and third on the weekend. On Saturday, the Badgers also sparkled on their home diamond defeating the McMaster Marauders 6-3 and 8-4 in a doubleheader.
On deck for 4-2 Brock are doubleheaders Saturday in Sudbury, against the Laurentian Voyaguers, 0-8; and Sunday in Toronto, versus the Ryerson Rams, 2-6.
Rugby
Rookie Breanna Jeremiah scored three trys, Meagan Hart, Niamh Haughey, Kaylah Moehling and Jenna Rainville two each to help Brock start the women’s rugby season 2-0 with an 84-0 victory over visiting Toronto.
Hart added four conversions, and Amarije Barnes, Katelyn Heyens and Taylor Hurd also scored trys in Saturday’s game at Alumni Field.
The Brock men were unable to feast on home cooking. They dropped a 38-20 decision to McMaster to fall to 1-2.
Carter Bondy, with two, Devon Ollson and Zac Zorbas scored trys for the Badgers.
Saturday’s schedule has the Brock women’s home to 0-2 Waterloo in a 12:30 p.m. start, while the men are in Kingston lining up against 3-0 Queen’s beginning at 1 p.m.
Field lacrosse
Kurtis Woodland scored five goals, Tyrus Rehanek collected five assists, and Brock overcome a 3-0 deficit to edge Guelph 9-8 in men’s field lacrosse.
Connor Ham clinched Brock’s second victory of the season with a powerplay goal late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s road game.
Sam Leclaire scored four goals and Woodland netted a hat trick in a 21-5 victory over visiting Wilfrid Laurier in the the season opener Saturday night.
Josh Wood didn’t held Laurier scoreless over the final two quarters as the Badgers rebounded from a 3-1 deficit.
“Josh Wood was outstanding and put us in a position to win,” head coach Tim Luey said. “It was a great character win and it showed how mentally tough this team is.”
Road losses to Guelph, 7-5, and Western, 14-4, Sunday dropped the women’s team to 1-3.
The Brock men host 1-0 Western 3 p.m. Saturday, with the women in Waterloo the following day playing Laurier at noon and McMaster at 3:15 p.m.
Soccer
Brock is hoping to return to the win column when the men’s and women’s soccer season resumes Saturday in St. Catharines.
The women followed a 2-2 draw on the road Friday against McMaster with a 2-0 loss at home to
York two days later.
Sydney Sica and Laure Kirk found the back of the net for Brock, 2-3-2.
Before their 3-2 loss to York, the Brock snapped a three-game losing streak by doubling McMaster.
Arsen Platis, on a penalty kick; and Eric Serafino, free kick; provided the offence in the game against McMaster. Shawn Johnson and Alexander Makubuya scored against York for the Badgers, now 2-5.
On tap this weekend at Alumni Field are doubleheaders Saturday against Windsor and Sunday versus Western.
Game times, women’s, 1 p.m.; men’s, 3:15 p.m.; are the same for both days.
Golf
The Brock women’s golf team won a bronze medal at the Carleton Invitational Saturday in Ottawa.
Julia Moretta shot 84 to lead the team.
Peter Leone and Adam Graham carded rounds of 74 to lead the men’s team to a fourth-place finish.
Softball
Brock lost both ends of a doubleheader to Laurier after opening a six-game home stand on the weekend with four wins.
The Badgers, who play out of Lancaster Park in St. Catharines, swept Guelph, 9-2, 11-9; Friday and Waterloo, 5-4, 11-4; Saturday before 7-0 and 5-4 losses Sunday to Laurier.
Brock faces York in a doubleheader Sunday at Brampton Fairgrounds. First pitches are set for 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Tennis
The women’s tennis team won 4-3 while the lost 6-1 at a competion in Waterloo.
Brock is home at White Oaks this weekend hosting Guelph noon Saturday and McMaster Sunday, also at noon.