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Q - You had a really hard beginning to the season with tons of time off due to rainouts and your opponents' forfeiting games, how frustrating was it for your team and how did you get through it?

A - It was honestly really tough I think the worst part was that it meant we had a lot of at bats missed and innings not pitched. I think when people see forfeit they think “oh well at least you got the wins”, but it meant we were really rusty a lot of times. It felt like we had almost 3 separate start ups this season and that was the toughest part. We had a lot of lineup tweaking trying to get guys in more ‘fastball heavy’ spots in the order to get that timing back. We had guys throwing side sessions in the bullpen during the game just to get throws in. We almost actually considered having a practice so you can really sense the desperation there!! A positive for us was it gave us 4 games against Vaughan at the end of the year, with a true home and home on back to back nights and we even completed a suspended game at their park just to get the games in. That has historically been a tough venue to win at and so playing ‘uncomfortable meaningful’ baseball late August is never a bad thing. 

Q - Can you describe the roller coaster of emotions that your team went through in the final series.

A - You know we really felt like we squandered an opportunity Saturday when Whitby came to us. Jabo pitched unbelievably and gave up 0 earned runs, and not to take anything away from Chris Wotten who was virtually unhittable after the 1st inning. It was a true veteran pitching duel and it was great baseball but it felt like we hung Jabo out to dry. He went 2-3 with a double and pitched 7 innings with 0 ER and to lose that game 3-2 was tough but all the credit in the world to Whitby for closing that game out! But we kind of just turned the page and said to ourselves if we can just take game 2 in Whitby and just plant a seed of doubt then we will take our chances in a one and done - who wouldn’t? So we went all in game 2 and it wasn’t pretty at times but we seemed to always be doing just enough. Palma, who has been hard on himself this playoffs just refused to lose and as that game wore on we had a sense of purpose and we just found a way to get it done. Sealed with an unbelievable catch by Justin Rattray to end the game! Game 3 I mean holy moly behind big again and then an 8 run 5th to put us up only to have Whitby come back and hit a walk off 3 run home run in the last inning was gut wrenching but we left it all on the field and it was honestly one of the craziest games I have ever been a part of, just such good baseball all around from both teams. 

Q - The Orioles made an incredible run through the playoffs. What will you remember most about each series (Vikings, Twins, Canadians)?

A - I think it goes back to our August and as I referred to before because of rainouts we played 5 games in 8 days (including 2 in Whitby) to go straight to OBA provincials playing 4 more games there, and then came back to play 2 more against Vaughan after that and managed to go 4-2-1 in league play and 6-4-1 overall to leave us in a decent spot to finish 1st place in the Western Conference. I don’t know if everyone knows how close that fight was for 1st place but there were scenarios heading into that final weekend where we could have finished anywhere from 1st to 4th place which is insane to think of and we knew our only chance at 1st was to beat Martingrove 3 times on that Sunday and we managed to do that, got some help and secured home field through the 1st 2 rounds which was huge for us. 

That Vikings series started with a loss - a very good start from Sach on the Vikings and I remember leaving the field and saying nothing has changed. All they did was win their game at home like they were supposed to and we had this confidence heading home Sunday like we knew it was all going to be fine. We got a great performance from Jabo in game 2 and game 3 was one of the craziest baseball games we had ever been a part of. We were down 4 separate times in that game including being down 3 in the bottom of the 7th inning. I remember getting HBP to lead of the 7th and after that our lineup just approached the game like there was no way we were going to lose and when we tied it up I remember Capp going down 0-2 and fighting off 3 straight pitches to keep the count alive and then a wild pitch to end it really summed up the unpredictability of that game and that series. If we had not been the home team we would not have the last bats and I don’t know if we come out on top. It took every single person in our lineup to come back and win that game we literally used everyone - and needed too. After losing 2 in the finals on Sunday to Vikings the year before, to be able to do the same thing to them a year later was a cool moment. It was a very tough first series. 

The Twins series was just a classic Twins/Orioles shootout. I feel like every year we talk about just how scary the Twins are when their bats are alive and their pitchers are in the zone and it started off that way. We were WAY down in game 1 I think 7-2 after 1 and 8-3 after 2 and Palma dug deep and kept us reachable after 4 innings down 9-3. I cannot emphasize enough how big the performance from John Brady was in this game. He pitched 3 innings I think 23 pitches total and 0 hits and 0 runs, we scored 8 straight and won 11-9. It was a great team moment for us! Game 2 was another pitchers duel Westlake vs Jabo and Westlake was just too good. It was special. Game 3 my brother said he wanted the ball and we knew he was going to give us everything he had and it was another gritty performance and we scratched and clawed and did just enough to come out on top. John Brady again came in with what we thought might have been a fractured throwing arm haha and managed to get final 3 outs. It was a special feeling to get back to the finals again. It was a special series, a true Ninth line battle with all the games there. It was a special atmosphere from start to finish. 

The Whitby series was just so tough. Game 1 was just a special game for the pitchers. Game 2 I have referenced already and I think the special part for me was that game 3. Again down early 5-1 and then 7-3 and it stayed that way until the 4th where we again turned to John Brady who had gotten us out of countless jams all playoffs long and he really just kept us relevant in that game. We got a gutty performance from Capp who really didn’t pitch much all year. He has for years been our in-game leader and he calls a great game behind the dish, he always does and rarely gets the respect and recognition he deserves for that, but he did what we needed to do, he kept us within striking distance. We kind of had this running joke that the game didn’t seem to start for us all playoffs until we were down at least 4 in the 5th inning and so the 8 run 5th inning all with 2 outs was just the epitome of what our playoff run was special and gritty. Mike Shuryn cashing in the first runs with a 10 pitch at bat, 4 full count walks, Rob Fougere had the day of his life I think on base all but 1 AB, stealing 10 bases and scoring multiple runs, all while breaking a rib on a HBP taking 2 more at bats and just refusing to leave the game, topped off with Cane hitting a 3 run home run - from a 23 year old kid in that moment was a special thing. It really felt like our time had come but Whitby had other plans and that ending is what makes baseball great and heartbreaking at the same time. 

Q - Your run was keyed by a total team effort, were there any particular accomplishments by specific guys that you wanted to mention?

A -  Honestly I could talk forever about this and I would hate to forget something and it took all 15 guys contributing and fighting for each other to make the run we did and I think I will leave it at that. 

Q - What makes your team so resilient and allows you guys to come back so often when it looks like you might be down and out? (Feel free to mention individual guys if you want)

A -  You know this team has been through a lot over the past 12 seasons. We have gone from searching the parking lot for 9 guys to what I consider at least as one of the strongest teams in OSBA right now and it really is a testament to our resiliency. We have become a really tight knit baseball family and it makes a big difference when you feel like you are playing for all of the guys around you as well as yourself. We have embraced the role of ‘underdog’ for quite some time and it is tough when you show up to the park and it feels like teams look down on you because you haven’t had much success - that is just sports, and it has been a lot of tough work changing that perception but I think we feel like we are over that hump. We have enjoyed slowly climbing up the standings beating teams who at first seemed like we could never hope to beat. I think until this season (I might be wrong but I am not far off in saying this,) I don’t think we had ever won a playoff series…there were a lot of formats but the series have eluded us for a long time. We added the OBA provincials a while ago now and it really has taught us a game is never over until it is over. We have veteran leaders who have tried to instill this sense of passion and playing the game the right way and for a lot of the season they made up our middle infield for a good chunk of our games this year - Frank Pirillo and Sean Mathé. Their leadership and accountability for all of us has made an immeasurable difference over the past few years. A common infield combination we have often joked that we have the oldest infield in Ontario at times with Me (37), Sean (38), Frank (39) and Steve Jablonski (44). The way Jabo still plays this game - as hard as anyone I know at the age of 44 never ceases to amaze me, I think he throws faster every year haha. We only have 3 original Orioles left - myself, Geoff McCallum and Mike Shuryn who both turned 40 this year and it says a lot about the belief that those 2 guys have in us that they were willing to stick around through all the ups and downs. It has been a blessing to stay united with John Brady who I actually played t-ball with in my first ever season and for the game to bring us back together after so many years has been a cool thing and John has proven himself time and time again and especially this season - further cementing his crown as all time Orioles Saves leader. We have always been a team that was willing to play any position and just try and do what we can to help the team win and I hope all the guys know how much I value that.  We really do feel no matter the scenario, the weather, the location, or the situation we have the guys who will fight for each other and never give up. To be this close and to lose it the way we did will be a tough test but I know we have the guys who are up for the challenge and we are excited for whatever next season brings. These guys are a pleasure to not only play for but to coach as well, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. 

MILTON ORIOLES vs WHITBY CANADIANS 

WHITBY CANADIANS win series 2-1

GAME #1

CANADIANS - 3   ORIOLES - 2

WP - CHRIS WOTTEN (CG)   LP - STEVE JABLONSKI (CG)

GAME #2

ORIOLES - 9   CANADIANS - 7

WP - JOEL PALMA (CG)   LP - THOMAS ATKINSON (CG)

GAME #3

ORIOLES - 11  CANADIANS - 12

WP - RYAN GEORGE  LP - JOHN BRADY

HR - ETHAN CANE (ORIOLES) RYAN GEORGE (WHITBY) (WALK OFF 3 RUN HR TO WIN THE GAME)

WHITBY CANADIANS 2025 OSBA CHAMPIONS!

CLARINGTON CUBS vs WHITBY CANADIANS 

CANADIANS win series 2-0

GAME #1

CANADIANS - 13   CUBS - 3

WP - CHRIS WOTTEN (CG)   LP - TRISTIAN WILLCOCKS 

GAME #2

CUBS - 4   CANADIANS - 5

WP - THOMAS ATKINSON   LP - TAYLOR FITZE (CG)   S - RYAN GEORGE

MISSISSAUGA SW TWINS vs MILTON ORIOLES 

ORIOLES win series 2-1

GAME #1

ORIOLES - 11   TWINS - 9

WP - JOHN BRADY   LP - STUART KINGSTON (CG)

GAME #2

TWINS - 6   ORIOLES - 2

WP - PETE WESTLAKE (CG)  LP - STEVE JABLONSKI (CG)

GAME #3

TWINS - 9   ORIOLES - 11

WP - SEAN MATHE   LP - PETE WESTLAKE    S - JOHN BRADY