Box Score (Ajax, ON) - The Waterloo Warriors men's baseball team fought hard in the OUA Championship game, but ultimately fell 15-5 to the University of Toronto Varsity Blues, securing OUA silver for the second consecutive year in a rematch of last year's final. 

Waterloo came out strong early in the game, with Nolan Misa and Sean Skorupski setting the tone in the first inning. Skorupski delivered a clutch RBI single that allowed Misa to score, giving the Warriors an early 2-0 lead. The Warriors' aggressive base-running and smart situational hitting were on full display, as the team capitalized on every opportunity to keep the pressure on their opponents.

In the 5th inning, Sam Shephard (Belle River/) came through with a double on fly ball to the right field, scoring for Alessandro Strazzeri, and Misa advancing to third cutting into the Varsity Blues' lead. This was a turning point where Shephard's sharp line drive to right field kept the Warriors within striking distance, showcasing his ability to perform under pressure. 

Klaus Aplevich (Siegen/), Sam Grant (Toronto/), Sam Shephard (Belle River/), Misa, Skorupski, and Strazzeri each colected one hit for the Warriors. 

On the defensive side, Grant and Aplevich made significant contributions, with multiple groundouts and flyouts to prevent further damage. In particular, Aplevich's sharp plays—fielding a lineout and a pop-out—provided some crucial outs that gave the Warriors opportunities to stay in the game.

Despite trailing, the Warriors continued to battle late into the game, though the Varsity Blues eventually held on for the win, the Warriors showed resilience.

As the Waterloo Warriors reflect on their showing in the OUA Championship, they now turn their focus to the upcoming Nationals, which will be hosted in Waterloo and Guelph next week. The Warriors will look to build on their back-to-back OUA silver medals and make a deep run on the national stage in front of their home crowd. With momentum from a successful season and the advantage of hosting, the team will be eager to showcase their talent and fight for a national title.