In the 2024 OUA Far West Regional Finals in London, the Waterloo Warriors faced two tough matchups, first against the Laurier Golden Hawks and later against the Western Mustangs. The Warriors split their Friday doubleheader, falling to Laurier 4-1 but rebounding with a commanding 5-1 win over Western at Dan Pulham Field.
Game 1: Laurier Golden Hawks 4, Waterloo Warriors 1
The Warriors struggled to keep pace with the Laurier Golden Hawks, who took an early lead and held on for a 4-1 victory. The game's tone was set in the first inning when Laurier's Davis Llewellyn launched a two-run homer to right field, giving the Golden Hawks an immediate advantage.
Max Zentil earned the win for Laurier, delivering a dominant performance on the mound. He allowed just four hits and one run over seven and one-third innings while striking out 10 and walking one. Noah Young came in to secure the save.
Waterloo's Max Todd (Paris, Ontario/) took the loss, pitching six innings and allowing three runs on three hits, striking out two and walking three. Despite Todd's efforts, the Warriors' offense struggled to capitalize on opportunities.
Offensively for Waterloo, Sean Skorupski (Mississauga/), Adam Rusch (Vancouver/), Klaus Aplevich (Siegen/), and Nolan Misa (Markham/) each collected a hit, with Rusch driving in the Warriors' only run. Defensively, Waterloo was sharp, committing no errors and turning a double play, with Sam Grant (Toronto/) leading the team with five plays.
For Laurier, Llewellyn was the driving force, contributing two RBIs and going 1-for-3 at the plate. Julian Russell added two hits to lead the Golden Hawks' offense, which also saw the team steal three bases to keep the pressure on Waterloo's defense.
Game 2: Waterloo Warriors 5, Western Mustangs 1
Waterloo Warriors bounced back in the second game of their Friday doubleheader, securing a 5-1 victory over the Western Mustangs. The Warriors wasted no time, getting on the board in the first inning when Jayden Kemp (Nassau, Bahamas/) hit into a fielder's choice, allowing a run to score.
Carson Hepburn (Newmarket/) was lights out on the mound for Waterloo, going the full nine innings while allowing just four hits and one unearned run. Hepburn struck out eight and walked three in a commanding performance.
Waterloo's offense came alive, recording 11 hits in total. Klaus Aplevich (Siegen/) and Alessandro Strazzeri (Toronto/) led the way with three hits each, while Kemp, Nolan Misa (Markham/), and Cody Hagerman (Whitby/) each drove in a run.
Western's offense was limited to just four hits, with Colin Mayhew driving in their only run. Pitcher Justin Stonkus took the loss for the Mustangs, allowing two runs (one earned) over five innings while striking out three and walking two.
With the split results from Friday, the Warriors are poised to continue battling as they advance through the tournament, showcasing resilience in the face of tough competition.
