The 2014 Varsity Blues men’s baseball team is in its final run for a playoff spot with a few games remaining this season. The team currently has a record of 5-7, seventh place in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA), and has two games left in the race for the final playoff spot with six games remaining in the regular season. This puts the team on track to match last year’s 10-14 record, a season that broke the team’s four-year streak of making the OUA semifinals. The Varsity Blues capped off that four-year streak by winning the OUA championship in both 2011 and 2012.
The season started well for the Blues, as they recorded a 3-3 record in their first six OUA games. This early success was short-lived, however, as the team dropped its next four games.
Although the team is currently out of a playoff position, their strong offense may give them a chance to clinch a spot. By scoring a total of 16 runs in a double header last weekend, the team was able to sweep the McMaster Marauders and keep pace with the fourth place Waterloo Warriors.
The team’s playoff chances could be improved if their offense continues at its current pace. Before last weekend, the Blues’ bats were much quieter. The Blues rank sixth in the OUA in batting average and seventh in homeruns.
The lack of power at the plate has been buoyed by the Blues’ base stealing success with 43 stolen bases, putting the team second in OUA rankings. Lead by Steven Hersch’s eight stolen bases, the Varsity Blues have relied on their ability on the base paths to make up for low slugging percentage.
The Blues offense is driven by second-year catcher Tanner-Young Shultz, who leads the team in RBIs (11), and outfielder Jonathon Sartor, who has batted in 10 runs. The offense is also supported by the consistency of first-year Adam Odd, whose .414 batting average is sixth highest in the OUA.
The Blues pitching staff has been average this season, holding opposing teams to 4.28 runs per game. Second-year Colin Edwards’s 2.51 ERA leads the team, and Daniel Connolly leads the team in strikeouts with nine in 13.1 innings pitched.
This year’s team is coached by Jim Sheppard, who is returning for his fourth season as head coach. Sheppard has had a successful tenure with the team, coaching both the 2011 and 2012 OUA champion teams.
With the team’s playoff hopes at risk, the Varsity Blues finish off their season with home field advantage, playing double headers against Ryerson University, Waterloo University, and Western University at Dan Lang field in the final weeks of the season.
