SARNIA – Shoring up the middle.
Middle infielder Tyler Gould has officially announced his commitment to Head Coach Al Bezaire and the Lambton Men’s Baseball Program for the 2023 season and beyond.
Gould is the fourth commitment in the 2023 recruiting class for Bezaire, his first as Head Coach. Gould will join the likes of Jake Noble (Grimsby, Ont.), Mitchell Montague (Welland, Ont.), and Beau Elliott (Belle River, Ont.) as a newcomer with the Lions when September rolls around and the first pitch is thrown in the 2023 season.
“We are extremely happy to welcome Tyler to Lambton College, as he encapsulates the type of player that we want to help build this program,” said Bezaire. “With his experience spending time at a junior college in New York state and coming off a provincial championship with the Kitchener Panthers 22U team last season, Tyler has the experience of what it takes to be part of a winning culture.”
Gould, who hails from Stratford, comes to Lambton College after spending time at Genesee Community College in Batavia, New York. The graduate of Stratford Central Secondary School spent a semester with the Cougars in the NJCAA before returning home to Canada ahead of Genesee taking part in the 2023 season.
Currently, Gould is once again playing for the Kitchener Panthers 22U team, a group that’s looking to defend its provincial title from a summer ago.
Now, as he gets set to don Lambton blue in the fall, Gould is excited about the opportunities that lie ahead of him.
“I’m really excited to come to Lambton College,” said Gould. “I feel like I’ll bring a lot of leadership to the team after having spent some time at the JUCO level, and I’ll bring some intensity and a lot of heart to the group.”
“I’ve been playing baseball since I was four years old, I just love the game. Being a Border Agent is something I’ve wanted to do my entire life, so I’m looking forward to studying in the Border Services program.”
Coach Bezaire is also looking forward to adding Gould’s experience and leadership to the Lions roster.
“We are hoping that he will bring that experience to our club, and with his scrappy style of play, he will lead by example on and off the field while anchoring our infield and hitting in the top part of our order,” added Bezaire. “He’s a versatile, hardnosed ballplayer who comes highly recommended by his summer team coach and is certainly a player we are hoping can take this program to the next level.”
Gould adds an element of versatility to the roster with his ability to play at both second base and shortstop. Then, with his bat and speed on the basepaths, Gould gives Bezaire and his coaching staff options in the lineup as he can hit throughout the lineup.
The Lions are coming off a 2022 season that saw the group continue to make positive strides as a program. However, with a significant roster turnover expected ahead of the 2023 season, there will be ample opportunity for newcomers to play a significant role from day one.
The addition of Gould not only gives the Lions a boost on the field and in the lineup, but it also adds another dose of veteran leadership and experience to the roster that will help to solidify the foundation of the program for years to come.
Welcome to The Den, Tyler!