GUELPH, Ont. - A new season of OUA baseball has arrived, with the Guelph Gryphons varsity baseball team set to throw out the first pitch of the 2023 OUA regular season schedule this weekend, beginning on Saturday, September 9, 2023. The Grypphons will get their 2023 campaign underway in Dundas with a doubleheader against the McMaster Marauders at Volunteer Field on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 9). The Gryphons enter the 2023 season fresh off of their best regular season in program history in 2022, which saw the Gryphons post a sensational 16-2 record during their 18-game regulars season schedule a season ago, to go along with a 7-0 record in 2022 against non-conference competition. The 2022 postseason run for the Gryphons would come to an end in a hard-fought, 1-0 loss to the Queen's Gaels is the 2022 OUA semifinals. The Gryphons would claim OUA bronze after taking down the Waterloo Warriors, 16-11, in the 3rd-place game at last year's OUA Baseball Championship Tournament.

"Coming off a historic season for this program we are very excited to get back at it," says Gryphon head coach Dean Mariani, who enters his 6th season as manager of the U of G baseball program. "Although we did graduate some very impactful players we have gained a lot of talent that can come in and contribute right away. We will be looking to get everyone established within the Gryphon culture and get these new faces to understand the way we play the game. If we can get everyone on the same page we are confident that this group can have a lot of success in 2023. This, in combination with a group of returning student-athletes who I have never seen more motivated after how last season came to a close, we are really looking forward to seeing what this team can do."
 

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Gryphon Pitchers

The Gryphon pitching rotation experienced perhaps the most significant growth of any positional group over the offseason. After a strong 2022 season the team has brought in six transfers from south of the boarder to compliment a trio of returning student-athletes. The team returns 6-foot-6 third-year Goderich native Bennett Moore to the rotation as well as 5-foot-10 management economics and finance major Ryan Cooper. Following the graduation of the Gryphons' 2022 ace, Peter Zytner, a trio of starting pitchers have joined the team who all have the potential to be top of the rotation players and the talent to be productive immediately. Right-handed pitcher Jacob Corby joins the team from Three Rivers Junior College in Connecticut, where the Thornhill, Ontario native pitched 17 innings for the Raiders, allowing 20 hits and recording 12 strikeouts in the 2021-22 season. Left-handed pitcher Ryhs Montgomery also joins the team from down south where the 6-foot-6 Mississauga native played for the Connors State Cowboys of NCAA Division I. Finally, the Gryphons welcome Max Rutherford from Indian Hills Junior College. Rutherford did not suit up for the Warriors in 2022-23 but joins the U of G squad as a two-time provincial champion with Innisdale Secondary School and a three-time tournament MVP. The 2023 season will also see former bullpen arm, Daniel Meron shift to closer following the departure of David Bruinsma. Meron, a 5-foot-10 third-year criminal justice major, has the track record and pedigree to make the transition a successful one. 

Gryphon Catchers

At catcher. the Gryphons return Oakville native Robbie Gauthier for his fifth and final season with the program. Gauthier is a premier catcher in the conference, and arguably the best defensively of any other athlete in the OUA. The management economics and finance major brings great receiving ability and an extremely talented arm behind the plate. In addition to his play at home plate,, Gauthier is also no stranger to the offence where he adds a power to the U of G lineup. In a preseason tournament at the University of Toronto in early September 2023, Gauthier came through with a three-run double to help seal the tournament win for the Gryphons. His most impactful ability however is his ability to work with and learn a pitchers strength and weaknesses, a talent that should serve him well in 2023 with the plethora of new pitching talent joining the team. 

Gryphon Infielders

Leading the way for the Gryphon infield in 2023 is third-year third baseman, Sam Brown, who after a sensational 2022 will be leaned on once again in 2023. Brown, a Toronto native studying sport and event management, produced one of the best individual seasons in program history last year. Brown took home several awards including OUA MVP and the OUA's Most Valuable Hitter after leading the conference in several statistical categories, making him the first Gryphon to be named Most Valuable Player in the conference and the third to earn the title of most valuable hitter. Following the conclusion of the 2022-23 athletics season, Brown was then honoured as the University of Guelph's President's Trophy award winner (top performing male student-athlete across all sports in both academics and athletics). At first base, the Gryphons will see the return of veteran infielder Arthur Kowara who returns for his fifth season with the team (fourth year of eligibility). The 6-foot-4 Etobicoke native is one of the conferences best power hitters and will be looked to carry the middle of the Gryphon batting lineup. The 2023 season will also see the return of Gryphon captain Braedon Walsh, who will share the team captaincy along with second baseman Nicholas Jaeggin and Ryan Brown. A spark plug in the U of G lineup, Walsh is one of the premier defensive short stops in the OUA, and will be relied upon both on the field as well as in the dugout this season. 

Gryphon Outfielders

The centre of the Gryphon outfield will feature a familiar face, with 2022 team Rookie of the Year, Jaylen Wood, roaming centre. Wood takes over for Ashton Patterson, a staple of the Gryphon baseball program for the past several years who graduated at the conclusion of last season. The 5-foot-8 marketing management major should fill the role nicely, with his impressive speed and ability to cover ground, Wood has the talent to cover the gaps in the Gryphon outfield. The Gryphons will be looking for Wood to take the next step in his second season with the team, both in his play as well as his leadership role in the dugout. Alongside Wood covering the outfield is fourth-year Oakville native and right fielder Owen Ellis. Ellis brings a strong, physical presence to the Gryphon batting lineup in addition to possessing the tools necessary to be a productive fielder with a great running ability and strong arm. Ellis returns to the Gryphons after an impressive summer with the Guelph Silvercreeks, which included a trip to nationals in Manitoba where he helped capture a bronze medal. 
 

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The Gryphons get their 2023 regular season underway on Saturday, September 9 when they head down Highway 6 for a doubleheader with the McMaster Marauders at Volunteer Field in Dundas. The team will then return home on Sunday (Sept. 10) to take on the Carleton Ravens at Hastings Field, their home ballpark, in back-to-back games set to start at 11am and 2pm.