Posted on Oct. 10: Marauders face Toronto in OUA baseball championship

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/baseball.jpg” caption=”baseball”]In a best-of-three series, the McMaster Marauders will face the Toronto Varsity Blues this weekend in the Ontario University Athletics Baseball Championship.

McMaster and Toronto are no strangers to the post season. This
is McMaster's second straight appearance in the OUA Championship series and their seventh in eight years at the provincial championship series. For the Blues, it is the second time in three years that they have advanced to the OUA Championship series, winning the title in 2001. McMaster will look to secure its first OUA title this weekend.

Both teams enter the championship after strong showings in the
semifinals. The Marauders capitalized on strong pitching performances not allowing a single run in the two semifinal series games to sweep the Waterloo Warriors. Toronto, who survived a five-way tie for the final OUA playoff spot, upset the top ranked Brock Badgers coming from a game behind to knock of the defending champs.

Last season, in the OUA Semi-final series, the Marauders rallied
from a game behind to force a third game and then secured an upset of then second ranked Varsity Blues overcoming a late deficit in the game three to secure a 2-1 win in extra innings ending Toronto's season. The Blues will be looking to settle the score after the 2003 campaign begin in similar fashion. In the OUA season opener at SkyDome, the Marauders came from behind in the bottom of the ninth for a 9-8 victory. The Marauders also won the additional two meetings during the regular season, 2-1 and 12-2.

The OUA also announced the 2003 Baseball All-Stars, as voted on by the coaches.

McMaster secured three all-star players, including Kevin Comiskey who grabbed shortstop and third base honours, designated hitter Jeremy Paikin and starting pitcher Josh Krywionek, who had a 4-0 record and 0.76 ERA.

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