Wildcats make it to OFSAA Regionals and win one of three games

The St. Thomas of Villanova Wildcats baseball team has been busy at Mic Mac Park recently including the WECSSAA tournament (pictured) and the OFSAA Regional tournament last week.

The St. Thomas of Villanova Wildcats baseball team is among this region of the province’s best, but they are looking to improve for next season.

The Wildcats advanced to last week’s OFSAA Regionals and came away fifth out of nine teams. They entered as the sixth seed and went 1-2 in their three games, which were all played at Mic Mac Park in Windsor. 

Villanova opened up against St. Martin last Tuesday (June 2) and lost a 10-3 decision. Assistant coach Jason Reaume said the final score doesn’t reflect how the game went.

“It was competitive until the middle innings,” said Reaume.

Reaume stated St. Martin broke open a 2-2 game as they took advantage of some Villanova mistakes and got their own timely hitting.

“It was not the outcome we were looking for,” said Reaume. “It was closer than the score indicates. If we played a cleaner game, we would have had a better chance of pulling the game out.”

Later that same day, the Wildcats went up against St. Joseph, the latter being a baseball team from the St. Thomas area. 

“We mercied them in five innings,” said Reaume. “The kids played really well in that game.”

The win over St. Joseph put Villanova in a second day matchup with Etobicoke. That Wednesday morning (June 3) game was 2-2 in the fifth inning but walks and hits by Etobicoke propelled them to a 10-2 victory.

“That ended up being our last game of the season,” said Reaume. “I was proud of the kids. They didn’t quit.”

Some of the Wildcats’ senior players were in London playing in another tournament, so coaches placed younger players including some Grade 9 talent into action.

Among the strong OFSAA Regional tournament players were Simon Rocheleau, Jack Krause and Cooper Otterman.

The young Wildcats team will miss the graduating seniors, he added, but believed they had a strong team this year.

“I just felt we left some meat on the bone,” said Reaume.

Younger players now know what to expect and the hope is between that, and the experience they pick up playing for their other teams over the summer, that they will be in an even better spot for next year. This team finished with a 13-4-1 record. 

Reaume said he is proud of the players and his fellow coaches, noting they teach players not only how to win, but how to lose. Going down with class is important, he said.

Villanova will look to build on this experience and be better next year, with the regionals being in Windsor again in 2027.

“It’s going to be a great opportunity next year,” he said.

Wildcats make it to OFSAA Regionals and win one of three games

By Ron Giofu