Hosting their annual Labour Day Classic preseason event at Dan Laing Field, the University of Toronto Varsity Blues baseball team competed in three games versus the Guelph Gryphons, Queen's Gaels, and Laurier Golden Hawks this weekend.

Beginning with an early Saturday (Aug. 31) morning tilt versus the Gryphons, U of T fell by a final score of 9-1. The visitors were buoyed by a quick start, which say them tally eight runs across the opening two innings. Meanwhile, the Blues utilized the preseason contest as an opportunity to test out a number of arms with three different pitchers appearing across the six inning game, including an impressive four strikeout effort from Tyson Espiritu Santo. Third-year Blues veteran Sam Aslanowicz tallied the lone RBI for Toronto.

Shifting to a late afternoon showdown with the Gaels, Toronto came out on top by a final score of 9-5. At the plate, six different U of T batters recorded an RBI, led by a team-high two RBI from Ben Mossberg. Efficient in his appearances in the batter's box, Mossberg also added two walks and two runs to his day. Toronto utilized another three different pitchers, with starter Kento Moriyoshi playing the bulk of the game with three strikeouts and four earned runs across four innings.

The Blues preseason weekend ended with a tough fought 7-6 loss versus the Golden Hawks on Sunday (Sept. 1) morning. Toronto took a quick lead in the game scoring three runs in the first inning. However, a four run third inning for the visitors then started a back-and-forth contest which concluded with Laurier tallying a game-winning RBI single in the top of the seventh. Carter Hercun led the offence for the Blues, registering a two RBI sacrifice fly during Toronto's first inning of scoring. Continuing the trend on the mound, another four U of T pitchers were used with Connor Broughton recording six strikeouts across three innings to lead the Blues pitching effort.

Toronto will now begin their regular season schedule, heading to the nation's capital next weekend to compete in back-to-back doubleheaders. The Blues will first challenge the Carleton Ravens on Saturday (Sept. 7), before then facing the Ottawa Gee-Gees on Sunday (Sept. 8).