It's not too often you start a baseball season with a no-hit pitching performance and 18 runs of offence.
But that's exactly how the Saints Men's Baseball team opened their 2025 campaign in a season where the squad is looking to secure its fifth consecutive OCAA championship.
"It was a great first game. The guys were prepared and came ready to win," said Tristan Bouchat, the head coach of the Saints Men's Baseball team.
The Saints dominated in their season opening series this past weekend, notching two wins against Sheridan College while putting up 28 runs over two games, and only surrendering four.
"We got a lot of hits and did a lot of baserunning. It was good game, because we got to play everybody," remarked Bouchat. "We got to see what everybody has because everybody got in a couple innings in the field."
Aside from the offensive outpouring, star pitcher Brady Knelsen opened his season with a no-hitter, giving up a lone walk while striking out five batters.
"It's a spectacular feat the first game of the season," said Bouchat. "We fully believe Brady is the best pitcher in the province, and that every time he's out there, we feel we're going to win."
A much bigger challenge will come when the Saints play their home opener at Lacasse Park in Tecumseh Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. against the formidable Lambton Lions. The early season tilt between two of Ontario's best teams will give a good indication of where each team is at the outset of the 2025 season.
"It's an OCAA finals rematch from last year, so it's going to be exciting game featuring two teams with high expectations this year, two teams that expect to win at the end of the season," Bouchat said. "It'll be a good early battle to kind of measure up, to see where we are with the other top teams in the league."
Cameron Beale will take the mound Wednesday for the Saints.
"He's ready for it. Cameron's in his second year and he had a big summer playing for the Tecumseh Thunder, where he faced a lot of good hitters and performed really well," said Bouchat, noting the offence will also need to keep rolling.
"We need to put the balls in play when we get guys on and move them, whether it's stealing, whether it's hitting runs, and taking the extra base, when it's given to us," he said. "It's going to be a tight game tomorrow, so we've got to take advantage of any little mistake."
Looking ahead to this weekend, the Saints have a three-game set against the Sault College Cougars, where Knelsen will again take the bump, looking to keep the same form that earned him the honour of top pitcher in the OCAA last season.
"Hopefully he can attack hitters like he did and go right back at it," said Bouchat. "Brady is the model that we want everybody to be, as a human, from a work ethic perspective to somebody on the field and in the community. He's the epitome of what we want at the College. It's great to see him have the success that he's earned."
The team takes to the diamond for a double-header at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, and then again at Lacasse Park on Sunday, Sept. 14 at noon.
"We're excited to get another opportunity to get some new guys some reps, and just keep growing as a team," said Bouchat. "With such a short season, if you can find your groove early and are able to maintain that, hopefully we can just ride that streak all season."
Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara is slated to throw out the ceremonial opening pitch.
"It's great to have baseball and athletics back in the College community," said Ralph Nicoletti, the Senior Vice President of International Relations and Student Services at St. Clair College. "The young men are pumped about what's happening, and that just helps make the College experience that much better when you're able to participate in other non-academic events."
Tickets are available online at saintsathletics.ca or at the gate.
