Going undefeated at this weekend's OUA Regional Qualifier, the Varsity Blues baseball team booked their ticket to the OUA Championship in Hamilton next weekend.

After finishing round robin play earlier in the day (Oct. 8) with a convincing win over Laurentian, the Blues found themselves in another showdown with the TMU Bold for the regional final, with the winner advancing to the provincial showcase.

U of T and TMU opened the crucial Sunday contest with back-and-forth offence as the Bold held a 6-5 advantage at the end of two innings. But a six run third inning and nine run fifth inning propelled the Blues ahead, securing a 23-7 win and another chance at a provincial banner. Throughout the four games played this weekend as part of the regional qualifier, the Toronto offence outscored opponents 61-16.

Leading the charge in the regional final was third-year outfielder Lemuel Beach who finished the game going 3-for-5, recording a two RBI double in the first inning, a two RBI single in the fifth, and finally a one run single in the fourth. Across 16 hits in the game, six different Blues recorded multiple hits. Additional highlight performances: Sam Aslanowicz recorded two RBI and three runs on three hits and a walk; Niko Kekatos had three RBI and three runs on two hits and two walks; and Kristyan Puyol-Genossar had three RBI and two runs from two hits and a walk.

On the mound, Blues veteran Kevin Angers went four innings with two strikeouts, allowing five earned runs on seven hits and four walk. Second-year pitcher Easton Kirkpatrick worked one inning in relief, conceding one hit while striking out two.

Toronto will join Carleton, Waterloo, and McMaster next weekend in Hamilton at Bernie Arbour Stadium to determine the next provincial champion. U of T will open their championship schedule with a semifinal matchup on Friday, Oct. 13 versus the west qualifier and championship host Marauders, with first pitch in Hamilton scheduled for 10 a.m.