The rain was not the only thing that dampened the Humber baseball team in its game against the OCAA champions, the Fanshawe Falcons.
The Hawks were looking for a bounce-back win in their match against the Falcons.
But the Hawks were doused 11-4 by the Falcons in the game on Tuesday, Sept. 15 that was delayed for more than an hour by rain.
Humber had started this season with a three-game sweep against the Sault Cougars from Sept. 5-6 in Brampton and Toronto, but were handed their first defeat by Lambton Lions on Sunday, Sept. 13 at Connorvale Park, Toronto.
The team had hoped to get back on track. But the Hawks suffered their second consecutive loss and fell to 3-2 on the season.
Fanshawe heading into this game were 3-0 into the season with wins coming from both Lambton and Durham Lords. The Falcons improved to 4-0 and are first in the OCAA standings.
Humber Head coach Troy Black turned to second-year pitcher Marco Rutulis in his first-career OCAA start, to be the starting pitcher.
The first pitch was originally set for 7 p.m., but the rain pushed the start to 8:15 p.m.
The visiting team did not waste time in the top of the first inning. With the bases quickly loaded after two walks and an error, Falcons outfielder Connor Rodwin broke the deadlock with an RBI single to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third inning, Jack St. Louis singled to right field, Isaac Duva walked, and Callum Blue hit a two-run double to give the Humber the lead.
Fanshawe gained momentum and were really speeding away in the top half of the fourth inning.
Luke Allen put the Falcons back in front with a two-run single and Bradee Boughner added another run with a sacrifice fly. After a couple of walks, Coach Black pulled Rutulis off the mound and brought in right-handed pitcher Owen Marshall.
The Falcons added two more runs thanks to Owen Constantineau by lining a double to the left-field gap to extend the lead to 6-2.
Right-handed pitcher Cameron Andree struck out two of Humber’s players in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Humber continued to struggle.
Fanshawe’s offence continued to dominate Humber in the top of the sixth inning.
Hunter Wright drove in a run with a single before Connor Rodwin would continue his dominant performance with another RBI hit.
Humber would later on bring out right-handed pitcher Maxx Davidson, who would give up a two- run single delivered by Owen Wicks, helping Fanshawe grow its lead to an 11-2 advantage.
Near the end of the game, Humber would manage to get runs with the help of Caleb Eguren, who recorded an RBI on a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the sixth inning, and Braedan Fischer who scored a run from a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning.
However, the small rally couldn’t get the job done as Fanshawe closed out the 11-4 victory away from home.
Hawks’ first baseman and fourth-year player Callum Blue said the mental mistakes were the toughest hurdles they’ve faced during the game.
“A lot of mental mistakes today. Just cleaning up and practicing going forward and making sure they don’t happen again.”
Blue ended the game with one run, two hits, and two RBIs.
Humber gave up runs due to errors that were committed during the game. It was one of the main contributors to the Hawk’s loss.
Blue said the team accepted this loss and had made adjustments during the game.
“Just moving on the arm slot around, just adjusting to the speed.”
“What they’re giving you, not caving to what they have, just kind of letting them come to you. Being the bigger man,” said Blue.
With this defeat, Humber now lost its fifth straight game to Fanshawe, dating back to September 2024.
Although the Hawks lost this game by seven runs, the team out-hit the Falcons 8-6.
Fanshawe improves to 4-0 into the season, with the help of Connor Rodwin’s performance.
He ended the game with two runs, one hit and two RBIs against Humber.
Rodwin said that he felt good after this win and already has his eyes set for the upcoming game, the OCAA finals rematch against St. Clair.
“I’m feeling good, coming into the season with four wins, no losses. St. Clair’s coming at us this Friday.”
“It’s gonna be a good rematch after we beat them in the finals, I’m excited,” said Rodwin.
Fanshawe won the OCAA championship last autumn, defeating St. Clair to capture its first gold medal in program history. Fanshawe will head home and face the Saints next on their schedule.
“We always got energy here,” said Rodwin.
“We don’t have to build on that.”
After winning the first three games of the season, Humber has now hit a roadblock with two straight losses.
As they move on to their back-to-back matchup against Durham, the team will be looking forward to getting back on the winning side.
“We don’t give up. There is always something in us, like the seventh inning, putting up two runs, we’re just not quitting,” said Blue.
“There’s always something left in us. In the tank.”
