Estey: Hudvagner , Lee, Lumley, Ruttle lead Stars Selects 22

Windsor Stars, Windsor Selects Win Can Am Season Openers

Ryan Lee had a 3-run HR in the win for the Selects

By Dan Estey

Canadian Baseball Network

The Can Am Baseball League out of the Windsor area, kicked off its 2026 regular season Wednesday night and the Windsor Stars and Windsor Selects 22U collecting opening day victories in their respective games.

The Stars took on the Windsor Athletics and it was a tight affair at Rev. Ronald Cullen Stadium. The Stars opened the scoring in the top of the first inning on an RBI single from Mitch Hudvagner. That lead though was short lived as the A’s plated three runs in the bottom of the first on an RBI ground out from Shane Munro and two more on a error for a 3=1 lead.

WAA extended its lead in the fourth on an RBI single off the bat of Mitchell Zimmerman to make the lead 4-1. The Stars kept plugging away though and plated a run in the fifth inning using a pair of walks and a passed ball to cut the lead after five innings. In the seventh, the Stars completed the comeback scoring three runs on a passed ball and a pair of RBI singles from Alec Boucher and Josh Hudvagner for a 5-4 victory.

Offensively for the Stars, they were led by Jake Lumley who was 2-for-3 with a pair of singles and a walk. Mitch Hudvagner and Josh Hudvagner were both 1-for-2 with a single and an RBI. Veteran OF Noah Renaud was 1-for-2 with a run scored.

Veteran SS Frank Jeney was 2-for-2 with a pair of walks and a run scored to lead the way for the A’s. Mitchell Zimmerman was also 2-for-2 with a pair of singles and an RBI while Chris Rinaldi-Ross was 1-for-4 with a single. Jake Columbe was 1-for-3 with a double.

On the mound, the Stars used five different arms on the night. Right hander Jack Zimmerman drew the start going two innings allowing three runs -- one earned -- on three hits while walking one and striking out two. Noah Pickering and Josh Shepley each followed with an inning after that. Brock Whitson threw the next two scoreless collecting the win. He allowed zero hits, walking one and striking out two. Chris Renaud gained the save, with a scoreless seventh walking two and striking out one.

Mitchell Zimmerman, the second of three Athletics hurlers, took the loss throwing 1 1/3 innings allowing three runs on three hits while walking two and striking out one. Cole Hillier drew the starting assignment for WAA and went 5 1/3 innings allowing two runs -- one earned == on four hits while walking two and striking out four batters.

Meanwhile, down the road at Lacasse Park, the Tecumseh Thunder opened 2026 hosting the Selects 22U team. The Selects got the bats going in the second due to a walk, a single followed by a three-run homer off the bat of Ryan Lee for an early 3-0 lead. The Thunder would get their first run in the third on a Noah Ruttle double follwoed by a Kaeaton Ruttle single cutting the lead to 3-1. The Selects got that run back in the fifth as they would load the bases with a pair of singles and a walk and score on a sacrifice fly. Tecumseh answered back with an RBI single from Patrick Kribble cutting the lead to 4-2. They would make things initeresting in the botom of the seventh as Keagan Knowler who swatted his first home run to come up short with a 4-3 loss.

Offensively for the Thunder, they were led by Roberto Duncan and Keaton Ruttle who were both 2-for-4 each with a pair of singles. Duncan scored a run with Ruttle collecting an RBI. Patrick Kibble was 1-for-2 with an RBI while Noah Ruttle was 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Keagan Knowler was also 1-for-4 with a solo HR while Myles Miller,

On the hill, veteran right hander Chris Horvath took the loss in this one. He tossed three innings allowing three runs on two hits while walking two and striking out two Selects batters. Kyle Brietner tossed the next three innings allowing one run on two hits while walking two and striking out five. Mike Hamlin tossed a clean seventh for Tecumseh. Mike Grondin started and earned the win for the Selects tossing four innings. Brady Knelsen came in to clean things up and collect the save.