GUELPH, Ont. – A new season on the diamond awaits the Guelph Gryphons varsity baseball team, with the first official pitch of the 2025 OUA baseball season set to be thrown on Saturday, September 6 with the Gryphons heading to Dundas to take on the McMaster Marauders in a season-opening doubleheader. The Gryphons head into 2025 after a solid 2024 campaign in which they ultimately fell just short of reaching the OUA Final Four after being edged out by Brock in the OUA West Regional Qualifier. Guelph went on claim silver at nationals, falling to Carleton in the championship game of the 2024 Canadian University National Championship invitational. The 2025 OUA West Regional Qualifiers (October 3-4) will take place from Hastings Stadiums in Guelph, with the season culminating in Kitchener for the 2025 OUA Baseball Championship Tournament (Oct. 10-11).
"We have an obligation to uphold the high standards in which this program runs," says Gryphons head coach
Matt Stocco, who enters his first season as the leader of the University of Guelph baseball program. "We expect nothing but the best from our players day in and day out, both on and off the field."
Pitchers
The pitching staff of the Gryphons will be led by
Ryan Cooper who heads into his final season with the team. The management economics and finance major will help the staff as a team captain for a second consecutive year. Third-year pitcher
Max Rutherford returns as a front-line starter for the team. The Barrie native joined the squad in 2023 from Indian Hills Junior College from the US college ranks. J.J. Reynolds transfers into Guelph from the States and projects as a high-level bullpen arm for the team.
Catchers
Sawyer Whitaker provides strong leadership skills behind the plate helping guide the Gryphon pitching staff in 2025. The Mississauga native is a team captain for this season and will also play a big role offensively as a projected middle-of-the-order bat in the lineup.
Andrew Johnston returns for his second season with the team. The marketing management major is a proven two-way catcher who represented Great Britain in last year's U23 Baseball World Cup.
Infielders
Fourth-year first baseman
Owen Vickers enters his final season with the team and will provide offence in the middle of the lineup. A pair of sure-handed infielders will help shore up the middle of the diamond in
Evan Ogston and
Noah Chang. Ogston (Ottawa, ON) was the team's Rookie of the Year last season where he hit .415 with 14 steals and led the team with a .556 on-base percentage while providing exceptional defence. Chang, a political science major from Mississauga, shifts over to second base as the primary starter this season. Incoming rookie
Noah Cantwell will see time at the hot corner as he faces competition at the position.
Outfielders
Jaylen Wood is regarded as one of the top defensive outfielders in the conference and returns for his final season with the team to patrol the middle of the outfield in centre. The marketing management major brings plenty of speed to the position as he is able to cover a lot of ground. Marco de Gama will contribute to the team in a corner outfield position as he brings great speed and defensive ability. Harry Young is a promising incoming recruit to the Gryphon outfield coming from North Vancouver, BC.
The Gryphons will get their 2025 OUA regular season schedule officially underway on Saturday, September 6 as they will be in Dundas, Ontario to take on the McMaster Marauders in a doubleheader. The Gryphons will then return home to Hastings Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 7 for a doubleheader (12pm and 3pm) with Brock.
