SARNIA – Provincial recognition for the rook.
First year pitcher/infielder Kale Murray (Mitchell, Ont.) has been selected as the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Male Rookie of the Year across all sports for the 2024-25 season. Murray was selected as this year’s recipient of the award by the league’s Awards Committee.
Murray is the first Lambton student-athlete to receive the award.
Throughout the 2024 season, Murray’s two-way abilities were on full display from the first game of the season. He was among the league leaders in many different categories, both as a pitcher and as a hitter, ranking inside the top-15 in 24 different categories during the year.
On the mound, he ended the regular season tied for the league lead in wins (5) while also leading the league with five complete games. Murray finished third among pitchers with a 2.80 ERA over 35 innings pitched, and his 35 strikeouts ranked third in the league.
At the plate, he led all OCAA players with 24 RBIs while posting a .400 batting average across 45 at-bats. He scored 16 runs, many of which to help his own cause on the mound, and racked up 18 hits, five of which went for extra bases.
In his first-career OCAA start, Murray threw an extra-inning complete game on the road in London against Fanshawe, helping the Lions open the season with a 7-4 win. His first home start came on September 15th against George Brown, where he spun a five-hit shutout, while also going 2-4 at the plate with three RBIs, to help the Lions pick up a 14-0 win.
In the post-season, Murray was up to his usual antics on the mound. He started three games over the course of the 2024 OCAA Men’s Baseball Championship, posting a 2-0 record and helping the Lions bring home a Silver Medal on their home diamond. His standout performance was a 68-pitch shutout against Durham in the semifinals, helping the Lions advance to the Gold Medal Game.
Murray started the Gold Medal Game just 30 minutes after his seven-inning shutout against the Lords.
It was a rookie season to remember for Murray, as he racked up several individual accolades to go with the team Silver Medal. He was named the OCAA Men’s Baseball Rookie of the Year, along with being named to the All-Rookie Team and a Second Team All-Star. In the postseason, he was named an OCAA Championship All-Star while also achieving OCAA All-Academic status for his efforts in the classroom.
Murray will be honoured as the 2024-25 OCAA Male Rookie of the Year in May at the 2025 OCAA Hall of Fame Banquet.
For more information, or for any media inquiries within Lambton College Athletics, please contact:
Tyler Bennett
Lambton College Sports Information & Marketing Coordinator
tyler.bennett@lambtoncollege.ca