SARNIA – Adding a lefty to the mix.
Logan Klompstra has officially announced his commitment to Head Coach Al Bezaire and the Lambton Men’s Baseball Program for the 2023 season and beyond.
Klompstra is the fifth commitment in the 2023 recruiting class for Bezaire and his coaching staff. Klompstra will join the likes of Jake Noble (Grimsby, Ont.), Mitchell Montague (Welland, Ont.), Beau Elliott (Belle River, Ont.), and Tyler Gould (Stratford, Ont.) as a newcomer in a Lions uniform when the 2023 season kicks off in just over two weeks.
“We’re really excited to add a quality left-handed arm to our pitching staff,” said Bezaire. “Seeing individual success this year as a Premier Baseball League of Ontario (PBLO) All-Star, and coming from a well-respected Sarnia Brigade organization, we hope to see Logan lead by example.”
“He provides a quiet confidence, a desire to win, and he has a real chance to be an anchor for our pitching staff.”
Klompstra, a five-foot-nine lefthander from Sombra, joins the Lions after playing for the Sarnia Brigade Midget 18U PBLO team this past summer. Klompstra and the Brigade finished third in the regular season standings with a 16-11 record, and they finished with the highest scoring offense in the 18U Division during the regular season (237 runs for).
Then, they were able to turn their regular season performance into some post-season success. Klompstra and the 18U Program won a Silver Medal for the second year in a row.
Now, looking ahead to the 2023 OCAA season, Klompstra is excited for the opportunities that lie ahead.
“I’m pretty excited,” said Klompstra, who grew up not too far from the Bezaire family. “I’ve got a few of my boys that are playing here already and that are going to be playing here this year, so I’m looking forward to playing here at Lambton.”
“This summer, we had a level (with the Brigade) that we wanted to achieve. Now, with a college program, we’ll have to step it up to another level to perform at the level we know we’re capable of.”
In addition to pitching, Klompstra gives the Lions another versatile outfielder who can play in multiple spots.
As he’s developed through the baseball community in and around Sarnia-Lambton, Klompstra has both played alongside and learned from the Bezaire family at various levels. Now, he’ll have the opportunity to play for Coach Bezaire in a Lions uniform, keeping the Klompstra-Bezaire family connection through baseball alive and well in the process.
Academically, Klompstra will be enrolled in the Welding Techniques program at Lambton College.
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.
Bolstering their starting rotation was a key focus this off-season, and the commitment of Klompstra helps to solidify their group of starters significantly heading into the new season.
Welcome to The Den, Logan!