Sanford's ninth-inning homer leads Titans to win

A ninth-inning home run by Jake Sanford (Cole Harbour, N.S.) led the Ottawa Titans to a 4-3 win over the Sussex County Minors on Friday. Photo: Ottawa Titans

July 4, 2025

Official Ottawa Titans News Release

Augusta, N.J. - In a tight series opener, a leadoff solo blast from Jake Sanford (Cole Harbour, N.S.) in the ninth inning propelled the Ottawa Titans to a massive 4-3 win over the Sussex County Miners on Friday, earning their sixth win in their last seven games.

The Titans threatened right out of the gate against rookie southpaw Jackson Balzan, courtesy of a four-pitch two-out walk to Sanford. With the runner on, Tim Holyk (Nanaimo, B.C.) smoked a double to the wall in right - with Sanford on his horse, the Miners turned a fantastic 9-4-2 relay to cut down Sanford at the plate to end the frame.

Shane Gray took the bump for his team-leading 10th start of the year - only allowing two runs in the quality start. The Miners capitalized in the third with a leadoff solo homer from Dom Johnson before Sean Roby Jr. knocked in another on a single.

The rest of the way, Gray allowed just two baserunners for his fourth quality outing of the year. In total, the righty allowed two runs on seven hits, walking two, and striking out two. Gray left in line for the win.

Dylan Driver got the Titans on the board in the fifth inning with his fourth RBI of the trip to cut the deficit in half with a single to left. In the sixth, Nolan McCarthy towered his second homer of the year to put the Titans ahead 3-2 on the two-run blast.

Zach Cameron (Hamilton, Ont.) relieved Gray and gave the Titans 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief - handing the ball off to left-hander Kaleb Hill in the eighth. The lefty allowed a double, hit a batter, and walked the other to load the bases. After striking out Keenan O'Brien for the second out, Hill walked Alec Sayre to force home the tying run - as the Miners pulled level at three.

In the ninth, Sanford hammered the first pitch of the frame from Tyler Luneke deep over the right-centre field wall for his third homer in 12 games this season to put the Titans back ahead for good.

Erasmo Piñales worked a clean ninth, retiring the side in order and preserving the win.

Sanford went 2-for-3 with a solo homer and a walk - while Driver and McCarthy also posted multi-hit games.

The Titans continue their three-game series against the Sussex County Miners on Saturday night at 6:35 p.m. at Skylands Stadium in Augusta, New Jersey.