SARNIA – Making it official.

First baseman Mitchell Montague has officially announced his commitment to Head Coach Al Bezaire and the Lambton Men’s Baseball Program for the 2023 season.

Montague is the second name in the 2023 recruiting class for Bezaire and his coaching staff. Montague joins Jake Noble (Grimsby, Ont.) in the inaugural recruiting class for Bezaire as Head Coach of the Baseball Program.

Both Montague and Noble will join the Lions after taking the diamond for the Bullettproof Baseball Academy in Welland.

“I’m obviously really excited for this next chapter,” said Montague, after officially putting pen to paper and making his commitment official during Lambton College’s Spring Open House. “I toured a few other schools, but the atmosphere at Lambton College was really inviting and (Coach) Al was welcoming right from the start and I felt right at home.”

Montague, a native of Welland, comes to Lambton College from Welland Centennial Secondary School. He will be enrolled in the Millwright Mechanical Technician Program.

The combination of athletics and the Millwright program was a big factor in Montague’s decision to choose Lambton College over some of the other schools that he considered.

This past summer, Montague and his teammates had a slogan for the six-foot-two first baseman at the plate – big boys hit big bombs. While he knows that the jump to collegiate baseball is a big one, and home runs will be hard to come by, Montague is excited for the challenges that lie ahead of him, and he has begun putting in the work behind the scenes in anticipation of his first season in the OCAA.

Adding depth to the infield rotation, especially at the corners, was an area of focus for Bezaire on the recruiting trail. The addition of Montague at first base brings more depth to the position and adds a bit of power to the lineup at the plate.

The Lions are coming off a 2022 season that saw the Lions continue to make positive strides as a program. With Bezaire taking over as Head Coach this season, and with a large roster turnover, there’s ample opportunity for newcomers like Montague to play a meaningful role right away, and a renewed excitement around the Men’s Baseball program with things wide open on the depth chart.

Welcome to The Den, Mitchell!