After years of being right on the cusp, the Etobicoke Rangers have punched their ticket to the Canadian Men's Baseball Championship Tournament in Regina, Saskatchewan after a very successful weekend in Windsor. The Rangers club will be going as Ontario Team #2 as they dropped the 2025 Men's AAA National Qualifying Tournament Final Sunday afternoon to the Leaside Leafs by a score of 12 - 2. Etobicoke forced the final game on Monday after handing Leaside their first loss of the tournament Monday morning by a score of 3 - 0. 

On Friday, the Rangers opened their 2025 Elimination Tournament with an all COBA Major matchup against the Erindale Cardinals. Etobicoke made some quick work of the Cards in this one as they won the game by a score of 15 - 0. The winning pitcher for the Rangers was Max Skoropadsky while the losing pitcher for Erindale was Eric Alcaraz. There were no hitting stats available for this game. 

With the win, Etobicoke (1 - 0) had another game that Friday night as they locked horns with the Kendal Eagles (1 - 0) of the Greater Toronto Baseball League. The Rangers picked up their second win of the day defeating the hard hitting Eagles by a score of 9 - 3. Veteran Andrew Hyde was the winning pitcher for the Rangers throwing a complete game allowing three runs (all earned) on nine hits. He walked two batters while striking out two. Lucas Nichols took the loss for Kendal allowing six runs (two earned) in one inning of work. At the plate, the Rangers were led by Alex Thrower who was 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs while Eric Thrower, Michael Ferracuti (2 RBI) and David Boatto (RBI) all had two hits. Evan Magill was 2-for-4 for Kendal with a run scored while Cruz Lopez had a 2-run HR. 

On Saturday, the Rangers (2 - 0) were back in action as they took on the Tecumseh Thunder (2 - 0). In an extremely close back and forth match-up, Etobicoke prevailed in this game by a score of 4 - 3. The winning pitcher in this game was Max Zentil as he tossed a complete game allowing three runs (all earned) on five hits. He walked two batters while striking out six batters. Cameron Beale took the loss for the Tecumseh giving up 4 runs (2 earned) in 4 2/3 innings of work. For Etobicoke, Alex Thrower and Daniel Murphy each had two hits to lead the way offensively. Five different players collected hits for the Thunder in this game. 

The Rangers (3 - 0) now cruised into Saturday night and a date with the Sarnia Brigade (2 - 0) at Cullen Stadium. This one was an instant classic between two provincial powerhouses with the Sarnia Brigade coming out of this one with a 10 - 9 win in nine innings. Veteran Mike Damchuk took the win for the Brigade in relief of Cole Brydges going 3 2/3 innings and allowing two runs (both earned) on four hits. Mark Rizzotto took the loss for Etobicoke throwing three innings allowing one run (earned) on six hits. Offensively, the Rangers were led by Dan Franceschetti who had three hits and three RBIs. Mark Capone (2 RBI) and Daniel Murphy (RBI) both had two hits as well. Carter Aarts had three hits and a run scored to lead the way for Sarnia. 

On to Super Sunday for Etobicoke (3 - 1), as they locked up with the Ajax Spartans of the Greater Toronto Baseball League. This was a huge back and forth affair. The Rangers jumped out to an early 12 - 2 lead in this one after two innings but the pesky Spartans kept chipping away in this one as they got it to 12 - 7 after six innings and then clawed all the way back as they scored five runs in the 7th inning to tie the game 12 - 12. The Rangers were able to push a run across extra innings and take this game by a score of 13 - 12. Unfortunately, there were no game details that were available for this game. 

After all of that excitement, the Rangers (4 - 1) earned the bye through the Final 5 and then had a game that night against the host Windsor Stars. In a game broadcasted on the CABC Baseball YouTube Channel, the Rangers punched their ticket to the Canadian Men's Baseball Championships with a 3 - 1 win over the Stars. Justin Stonkus was a beast on the mound as he threw a complete game allowing one run (earned) scattering six hits. He walked three batters while striking out three. Josh Shepley took the loss for the Stars allowing three runs (all earned) on four hits in 3 1/3 innings of work. At the plate, the Rangers were led by Eric Thrower, Ryan Panas and David Boatto who all had a hit and an RBI. Mitch Hudvanger had the sole RBI for the Stars as a run scored when he was hit by pitch. 

The Rangers (5 - 1) now advanced to Championship Monday as they took on the Leaside Leafs (5 - 0) in the Ontario Men's AAA Provincial Final with the Leafs needing to be defeated twice. In game one, Etobicoke got just enough offence and a trio of pitchers held the Leaside bats at bay in a 3 - 0 victory. Julian Tymocho drew the start for the Rangers on the hill. He went 1 2/3 innings allowing 0 runs on one hit while walking four and striking out one. Justin Teichman earned the win throwing 2 1/3 innings allowing no runs on two hits and striking out one. Mark Rizzotto earned the save throwing the last three innings allowing no runs on one hit and had one strikeout. Veteran Jorge Frugoni took the loss for the Leafs throwing six innings allowing three runs (one earned) on eight hits and striking out three. Alex Thrower had a hit and a pair of RBIs to lead Etobicoke's offence while Tanner Young-Schultz had a hit and the other Rangers RBI. Ben Jones, Ben Baker and Michael De Luca had the hits for Leaside. 

With the win, Etobicoke (6 - 1) forced a winner take all final game against the Leafs. After being held to three hits and no runs in the previous game, Leaside came out swinging in this game as they defeated Etobicoke by a score of 12 - 2. Max Skoropadsky drew the start and took the loss for the Rangers going one inning allowing three runs (all earned) on two hits while walking two and striking out no one. Eric Thrower followed Skoropadsky to the mound also throwing an inning allowing six runs (all earned) on three hits and walking two. Mike Asta threw the final 2 1/3 innings allowing three runs (all earned) on five hits striking out teo and walking one. Chris Goodale earned his second win of the weekend throwing five innings allowing two runs (none earned) on three hits while walking five and striking out four. David Boatto, Michael Ferracuti and Mark Capone all had a hit for Etobicoke with Cappy and Dan Franceschetti each collecting an RBI. Ryan Ricci and Dan Goldberg both had a 3-run HR for Leaside while Mac Mitchell had a walkoff 2-run HR in the 5th inning. 

In the end a very tired and weary Etobicoke club finished up the 2025 National Qualifying Tournament with a 6 - 2 record and punch their ticket to the Canadian Men's Baseball Championships in Regina, Saskatchewan for the first time since 2004. A huge congratulations to Coaches Naeem Siddiq, John Ferracuti, Bill "Bounce" Thomspon and Joe Costa as well as the fine group of players whom I played against for a number of years in the COBA Major Baseball League. You are all a bunch of beauties and are very deserving of this. A special "fist bump" to veteran 2B Mark Capone. A silent leader and one person that I have all the respect for in the world. So happy for you Cappy!!

To all of the Etobicoke Alumni who were follwoing along on the livestreams, I could feel your love and support for the team. The General, Big JJ, Kris Dorion, AJ, and Kyle Angelow just to name a few that I can remember firing off messages to me I am glad you all enjoyed the games and was happy I could be your eyes in Windsor. I would be lying if I said that I didn't shed a few tears while writing this as the first person that came to mind when seeing the Etobicoke Rangers club finally get it done was Steve "Whitey" Breitner. After all of the times coming "that close" with Whitey at the helm the team finally got it done for him and even though he is not here I can tell you he is having a few Carly Lights upstairs and celebrating along with all of you. To end off with one of his famous quotes "Gentlemen, how often?" Congrats Boys and best of luck in Regina!!