Estey: Gold Bat honours to Sarnia's charge of the Hit Brigade

The Sarnia Brigade won the Gold Bat tournament

June 20, 2025

Sarnia Brigade Capture 2025 CABC Gold Bat

By Dan Estey

Canadian Amateur Baseball Central

The Sarnia Brigade came within a game of winning the Canadian Amateur Baseball Central Gold Bat Tournament in 2024, but fell short in the final to the eventual provincial champion Newmarket Hawks.

This year, a different year, the host club would not be denied as they won the Gold Bat title with a 5-2 win over the Windsor Stars in the tournament finale at Stan Slack Field at Errol Russell Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Brigade got all of the offence they would need in the second inning as a three-run homer by Brennan Healy and a two-run single from veteran Ron Oneson would be all that Sarnia needed on this day.

The Stars got two runs back in the third on an RBI single from RF Noah Renaud and an RBI ground out from tournament top hitter Alec Boucher, but that would be all the offence they could get on this day.

Quinton Johnsston went 4 2/3 innings on the hill for the Brigade in collecting the win. He allowed two runs on six hits while striking out four while not walking a man. Jake Taylor went the final 2 1/3 scoreless, hitless, striking out one.

Seth Chauvin, the first of three Stars hurlers, took the loss going 1 1/3 innings allowing four runs on three hits while striking out two and walking one.

The Brigade opened the tournament with a 5-2 win over the Tecumseh Thunder Friday night, thanks to a complete game effort from Cole Brydges. He allowed two runs, scattering nine hits, striking out five and walking none.

SS Core Jackson had a pair of hits in the game while Wes Brooks had a two-run homer and Wade Babula had the other RBI for the Sarnia club.

Taylor Pappin was the hard luck loser for Tecumseh, tossing six innings allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits while striking out seven. Caden Gomes (RBI) and Patrick Kibble each had a pair of hits to pace the Thunder.

Sarnia picked up a pair of wins as they defeated the Erindale Cardinals 5-2 followed by a 5-3 victory over the Thornhill Reds of the GTBL on Saturday. Against Erindale, Wade Babula went 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on nine hits, while striking out three, to earn the win. Alex McLean went the last 1 1/3 scoreless, striking out three.

Quinton Johnston had three hits to pace the Brigade while Brad Hill had a two-run homer. Brennan Healy and Aidan George each had RBIs as well. Connor Gentes took the loss for the Cards, going four innings allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits, walking two and striking out three.

In the afternoon tilt, Sarnia put up three in the first two innings to take an early lead. The Reds battled back in the fourth with three of their own to tie the game.

The Brigade would put up two more runs in the seventh for the victory. Derek Masse started for Sarnia, going four innings allowing three runs on five hits while walking one and striking out two. Lefty Alex McLean grabbed the win in relief, going 2 2/3 innings allowing no runs on one hit walking two and striking out three. Greg Ross retired the final out for the save.

Great Lake Canadians grad INF Core Jackson (Wyoming, Ont.) was named the MVP.

Tournament MVP Jackson had three hits, including a solo homer and three RBIs to lead Sarnia. Johnston had a pair of hits and Logan Buntrock had the other RBI. Handley went the distance for the Reds, allowing five runs on seven hits with a walk and five strikeouts, taking the loss. Argenis Paz had a pair of hits and an RBI while Jacob Hillier had a two-run single to pace the Thornhill offence.

On Sunday morn, the Brigade locked horns with the Burlington Brants in the semi-finals in probably one of the best games I’ve witnessed in a while. Pitchers Mike Damchuk for Sarnia and Joel Connors for Burlington, in his second outing on the weekend, were entangled in an old school pitchers’ duel. Both went the distance as Damchuk went seven, putting up a string of seven zeroes on two hits while walking one and striking out four. Connors, the hard luck loser, went six innings allowing one run on three hits striking out 12.

The Brigade would get their sole run of the game in the first on an RBI single from Blake Butler. Jackson and Canadian Amateur Baseball Central Buntrock had the other hits for Sarnia in the game. For the Brants, Max Von Gemmigen and Anthony Rizquez had the hits in the game off of Damchuk. Buntrock had a game-saving catch in the sixth as he made a speculator grab which would have scored at least one if not two Burlington runs that inning.

The Brigade team is managed by James Grant, with third base coach Joel Ainsworth.