SARNIA – Hum now Booj.
Head Coach Al Bezaire has announced that second-year pitcher Cole Brydges (Sarnia, Ont.) will get the ball on the mound to start the first game of the 2023 season for the Lions when they take on the Sheridan Bruins in Mississauga on Saturday afternoon.
“I’m looking forward to getting it going here this year,” said Brydges. “Coach Al is taking over this season, we’ve got a couple new additions to the roster, and we had a lot of guys playing summer ball together to get ready for this season.”
“I’ve been throwing lots this summer, and my arm is feeling good so hopefully I can go out and give Sheridan a good game.”
On the mound last season, he made a pair of starts and posted a record of 1-1 in three total appearances. He racked up 17 strikeouts over 15.2 innings of work and averaged 7.6 strikeouts per nine innings. Brydges posted a 4.02 ERA and 1.02 WHIP.
His win came against the same team that he’ll face off against to open the 2023 campaign. On September 30th, Brydges took to the mound in Game One of the doubleheader against the Bruins. He threw a five-inning complete game shutout on the hill as the Lions earned an 11-0 win.
He allowed just three hits while striking out six Sheridan hitters.
When asked about last year’s performance against the Bruins, Brydges was quick to point out that it was a thing of the past.
“It’s obviously big, but that was last year, and I just need to see what I can do this year and hopefully do it again,” added Brydges.
To cap off his year last year, Brydges was named the program’s Pitcher of the Year and the Men’s Baseball Co-Most Valuable Player following the 2022 season at the year-end Varsity Athletics Banquet.
Brydges is one of six returnees on the Lions roster this season. This year’s roster includes several members of the Sarnia Brigade organization, Brydges included, that have played together through the summer months leading up to their 2023 debut.
When he takes to the field this season, Brydges will have a different number on his back. He has switched from last year’s #20 to #2 this year, a nod to former Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter.
The Lions and Bruins get underway at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon at Clarkson Park in Mississauga.