Pitching stole the show across the opening two games of the 2026 GBSSA Baseball Championship Series, highlighted by a stellar shutdown performance by Lucas Sproule.
The Collingwood (SCAA) pitcher was extremely efficient in a 4-0 Game 2 win, tossing 6.1 shutout innings while striking out a whopping 15 Holy Trinity (CSASC) hitters and allowing just one hit and one walk.
Sproule said there was a bit of pressure knowing the team needed the win to keep its season alive, but after his performance, his focus was already on Game 3.
"I believe we're the best out there and we came to play and we've got to bring it tomorrow," he told Barrie360 postgame. "
It was a clutch performance for the defending champion Fighting Owls, who needed the win to force a deciding third game after losing the first game of the series 4-2 earlier in the day.
For the Tigers, a solid starting effort by Daniele Censori in Game 1 set them up for the early advantage. He threw 4.1 innings, allowing just one hit and two walks while striking out three.
Monday marked the first time in program history that Holy Trinity had played for a regional title. The Tigers upset Lady of the Bay 10-4 in the CSASC Final on Thursday after finishing tied for fourth (4-3) in regular season.
Meanwhile, Collingwood entered as the defending GBSSA champion, having topped St. Joseph's in the 2025 championship series in three games. The Owls finished the 2026 SCAA season tied for second (4-2) in the West division before topping Bradford 14-4 in the SCAA final on Thursday.
The GBSSA Baseball Championship is played as a best-of-three series, unlike other team sports which use a single-game format.
CLICK HERE FOR GAME 1 SUMMARY
GBSSA CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - GAME 1
Holy Trinity 000 110 2 4 9 2
Collingwood 000 000 2 2 4 2
Censori (W,1-0), Coutts (5, S,1);
Zirk (L,0-1), Brownridge (6), B. McCarl (7).
HRs: HTCHS — Paré (1); CCI — None.
CLICK HERE FOR GAME 2 SUMMARY
GBSSA CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - GAME 2
Collingwood 002 000 2 4 10 0
Holy Trinity 000 000 0 0 1 2
Sproule (W,1-0), B.McCarl (7);
Pasquali (L,0-1), Sagert (4).
HRs: CCI — None; HTCHS — None.
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GAME 1 (SEVEN INNINGS)
Tristan Khan gave the Tigers an early chance to score in the first inning with a double to deep left, but was easily gunned down at third after trying to stretch it into a triple. The team squandered another opportunity the next inning, loading the bases with nobody out on two infield singles and an error, but failing to get one across.
Holy Trinity stranded two runners in scoring positio before it got on the board first with a fourth-inning solo home run by Jack Pare, compelling the Tigers' dugout to erupt in celebration.
Collingwood was held hitless through 3.1 innings by Censori, who allowed stymied Owls hitters for much of the game.
The Tigers added on another run on a sacrifice fly in the fifth, although it appeared Fisher Pilatzke left early from third base before scoring. Collingwood's coaching staff argued to no avail, saying that he wasn't even watching Kaya Weinper make the catch in left field.
Holy Trinity broke it open in the top of the seventh thanks to a four hit frame capped off by RBI singles by Lucas Deniet and Jacob Cowie. Those were runs the Tigers were glad to get after the Owls put up two in a last-ditch comeback effort in the bottom half of the inning.
Tim Herman drove in one in the frame in a sacrifice fly, while Cole Elmes brought the Owls' other run home on a groundout.
GAME 2 (SEVEN INNINGS)
Collingwood grabbed a quick 2-0 lead in the third, both runs being driven in by Holden Muscat on a two-out single.
The Owls threatened again the following inning and forced the Tigers to dip into their bullpen with Jadyn Sagert. However, she stranded two in scoring position and held Collingwood at bay until the seventh.
Meanwhile, Sproule was perfect through 4.2 innings, racking up 10 of his 15 strikeouts in that span. He didn't allow a hit until Pilatzke broke through with two outs in the sixth. Sproule was replaced only because his pitch count reached 77 (in respect to Ontario Baseball Association youth arm care rules).
Especially after the win earlier in the day, Holy Trinity's offense was clearly frustrated. The bottom third of the team's order was 0-for-6 with six strikeouts.
Those frustrations seemed to appear early in the sixth with some apparent choice words from Tigers second baseman David McBeth, who allegedly swore at home plate umpire Gary Mason following an unfavourable third strike call.
McBeth was quietly ejected, and will be forced to serve a one-game suspension for Game 3 as a result.
Brownridge then stole third, with Pilatzke's throw to third sailing wide of the play, leading to a run.
In the final inning, Holy Trinity's defense started to deteriorate. A one-out flyball to left field off the bat of Maddux Brownridge was lost high in the sky by Jack Paré, leading to a double. He eventually came into score on an RBI groundout by PJ Flynn.
A few pitches later, William Khan dropped a popup in foul territory hit by Sproule, who later walked. Sproule then stole third base and immediately came into score after Pilatzke's throw went wide of the play and into left field.
For the game, Muscat and Brownridge each went 2-for-4, with Brownridge's performance including a double and two runs. Flynn also doubled and added a stolen base and an RBI across his four at bats.
UP NEXT
Both teams will face off in Midhurst for the GBSSA championship in a winner-take-all game Tuesday afternoon. Collingwood will reprise its role as the designated home team for Game 3.
"[We've] got to go out there, be ourselves, play like we have all season, and take care of business," Sproule said.
