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OFSAA baseball consolation
winners
St. Joe's goes 3-2 in their debut at the high school championship
June 5, 2026
By Rob J. Ross
WINDSOR, Ont. - It was a historic run for St. Joe's Rams baseball.
St. Joe's is the first school from Elgin County to play ball at OFSAA, the high school provincial championship.
The Rams finished the 2026 two day regional tournament as consolation winners with a 3-2 record, June 2-3, at Mic Mac Park.
"I'm just very proud of the kids. We played three games on day one. Back to back to back. That's tough," Rams manager Greg Reynaert said. "The next day the kids could have easily just mailed it in and said, "we made it," but no, they played very hard on day two and won both games. That just shows me how resilient these kids are."
On day two, St Joe's won both games, getting by St. Jean Brebeuf, 9-8, in extra innings, on a walk-off single from Easton Wilkinson, before edging A.N. Myer from Niagara Falls, 8-7, in the consolation final.
Jared Shewan and Linkin Kellington both had doubles in the final, while pitcher Connor Schaap picked up the win in relief.
St. Joe's dropped their opening game to second ranked Upper Capital College (UCC), 6-3, before rebounding to double up on St. Jean Brebeuf, 4-2.
A sixth inning two run homer secured the win for UCC.
Austin Wright put the Rams up 3-0, against St. Jean Brebeuf, on a two run double. Luke VanVelzer's RBI double gave the Rams their fourth run, after St. Jean Brebeuf scored twice.
Playing their third game within eight hours, the Rams were no match for LaSalle Villanova, falling 10-0.
"It's amazing being the first team from St Thomas," Shewan said. "Our pitching and our offence has got us here. We've been hitting well every game, throwing really well. Easton has been amazing for us. Linkin has been great and Connor."
St Joe's captured the TVRA SouthEast division crown, coming back to edge their St. Thomas rivals Parkside Stampeders, 4-3, in the final.
"That was a great feeling. That was a great game. Hard fought," Shewan said. "Thanks to Luke in the seventh inning with the walk-off."
Down 3-0 early, the Rams rallied to tie, before VanVelzer drove in the winning run.
"I was trying to get the ball in play. I hit the ball and it found a hole," said VanVelzer.
In reflection, the win over Parkside was more challenging and definitely more emotional, than the two WOSSAA games, the final held at Labatt Park in London.
St. Joe's jumped out to 6-0 leads on both Strathroy DCI, in the semifinals, for a 8-6 win and the Lucas Vikings, in the final.
Linkin Kellington tossed a complete game eight hitter over the seven innings, striking out four batters and walking three.
"We have a really good defence. We don't make too many mistakes. Timely hitting as well," said VanVelzer.
The Rams jumped out a 8-0 lead before the Vikings found the score board.
Tayven Barned had a pair of singles, drew a pair of walks and drove in three runs.
Shewan and two singles and three RBI, while Van Velzer had two singles and two RBI.
The Rams swiped eight bases in the game, three by Easton Wilkinson, who also scored three times.
"Everything has been going well. Nothing has gone bad for us. It's a been a good season," Shewan said.
A season that the Rams felt may come next year, with all players returning except Barned.
"So the future is bright for our program," Reynaert said. "Very happy about the experience they gained at OFSAA as well as how hard they battled. Very proud."
OFSAA has two regionals, with the finalists from each region advancing to the semifinals, scheduled this year to be in London during the second week of June.
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