Wildcats advance to OFSAA Regionals by holding off Chatham school

The Villanova Wildcats baseball team, seen here meeting during the WECSSAA title game, have advanced to OFSAA.

The St. Thomas of Villanova Wildcats boys baseball team have advanced to the OFSAA Regionals after winning at the SWOSSAA level last week.

The Wildcats were able to challenge for a spot at OFSAA last Thursday in Chatham-Kent thanks to a St. Anne victory earlier in the week and made the most of it. The Wildcats held off the Chatham Ursuline College team 10-9 May 28.

“We were up big early on,” said Villanova assistant coach Jason Reaume. “We were up 9-1. To Chatham’s credit they came back but we won 10-9.”

Reaume said keys to the game included the strong start.

“We had a very productive first few innings with patience at the plate and timely hitting,” said Reaume.

Jack Krause had a strong game on the mound, as the starting pitcher went 2-1/3 innings with five strike outs. 

Reaume said they didn’t have their best game defensively, with some lapses in the field. Those included throwing errors and poor reads on cutoffs, with Chatham Ursuline College able to claw back in the game.

Simon Rocheleau finished the game, going two innings, striking out four batters and allowing no hits or earned runs. Rocheleau also went 2-for-3 at the plate with one walk, an RBI and a run scored.

C.J. Brocoy went 2-for-4 with one run scored, one walk and a stolen base while Ben Soltis went 2-for-4 with a double, one run scored and an RBI.

Reaume said cleaning up in the field is one of the things they want to do in this week’s OFSAA Regional tournament, which is in Windsor. By doing that, other teams can’t capitalize on those types of mistakes.

They played their first game of the OFSAA Regional tournament Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. at Cullen Stadium at Mic Mac Park, after this issue of the River Town Times went to press. A win puts them in an 11:30 a.m. game at Cullen, with a loss putting them in a 2:30 p.m. game at Soulliere Field, also at Mic Mac Park.

Villanova enters as the six seed, while WECSSAA champion St. Anne is the top seed. Reaume said they played well for the most part in the WECSSAA tournament, except a loss to L’Essor, believing they ran out of pitching against St. Anne.

This is the fourth time in the last five years Villanova has made the tournament, getting to the finals in 2022 and 2023. The seniors know what it takes to advance, Reaume said, with the Grade 9 players having never had this experience before.

Wildcats advance to OFSAA Regionals by holding off Chatham school

By Ron Giofu