October 31, 2018

The Canes’ entered the 2018 National Collegiate Baseball Championship with confidence sky-high coming off a perfect 10-0 regular season.  However, an extra-innings loss in their opening game against the eventual national champions from Humber College, derailed the ‘Canes for the remainder of the event.  They would eventually finish in a tie for fifth.

In game one, the Hurricanes blew in and jumped on the Humber Hawks, scoring three runs in their first at-bat. Humber, as it did all day long, battled back and held a 4-3 lead after scoring twice in both the third and fourth inning. Holland, refusing to let Humber tack on, threw a four-spot on the board. The Hurricanes were aggressive, forcing the OCAA champion Hawks into a couple of misplays along the way.

Down by three, Humber used a bout of wildness by a pair of Holland pitchers and some well-timed pass balls to score three to knot up the game. In the bottom of the sixth, with the time limit coming into play, it was Hawk relief ace Matt Stoddart who snuffed out a bases loaded situation and forcing extra innings.

Humber combined some aggressive base running and a couple of key hits to score three runs and take a 10-7 lead. Holland, by way of the international tie break rule were granted runners on first and second with no outs. Stoddart finished the game, just as he finished the scary sixth inning by not allowing a Hurricanes runner to cross the plate.

J.J. Oram was chosen as the Holland Hurricanes player of the game in the 10-7 loss.

The Hurricanes, as in game one, raced out to an early lead, holding a 4-0 lead after their first at-bat. But, just as they did earlier in the day, they were unable to hold or build on the difference. By the end of the third it was the Quebec school that fought all of the way back to lead 6-5. Ahuntsic put up a five-spot in the fifth to salt away the game.

The game was not pretty at points, as the two teams combined to commit five errors on the night.

Brett Brittany was the Hurricanes Player of the Game in the 11-5 loss.

In the quarter-finals, the Fanshawe Falcons ran away with the game early on their way to a 13-0 mercy win over Hurricanes. With the win, Fanshawe advanced to the semi-finals, while the Hurricanes were forced to play in the fifth/sixth placement game.

Hurricanes player of the game was Johnny Savidant.

On Saturday, the Indiens and Hurricanes took the field but due to poor weather/field conditions, the game was stopped and not resumed.

Although a disappointing championship, the Hurricanes will look to rebound for the 2019 season.

To connect with the baseball Hurricanes please visit www.twitter.com/canesmbaseball.

For more information on the Holland Hurricanes please visit www.hollandcollege.com/athletics,www.facebook.com/hollandhurricanes,www.twitter.com/hc_hurricanesand www.instagram.com/hollandhurricanes.

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