The Can Am Baseball League, based out of the Windsor area, kicked off its 2026 regular season on Wednesday night and it was the Windsor Stars and Windsor Selects 22U collecting opening day victories in their repsective games. 

At Rev. Ronald Cullen Stadium in Windsor, the Windsor Stars took on the Windsor Athletics and it was a tight affair throughout the evening in this one. The Stars, the visitors in this contest, opened the scoring in the top of the 1st inning on the power of an RBI single from Mitch Hudvagner for a 1 - 0 lead. That lead though was short lived as the A's plated three runs in the bottom of the first frame on an RBI groundout from Shane Munro and two runs that scored on a error for a 3 - 1 lead. 

After a pair of scoreless innings, WAA would extend their lead in the 4th inning as an RBI single off the bat of Mitchell Zimmerman would put the lead now at 4 - 1. The Stars would keep pluggin away though and plated a run in the 5th inning using a pair of walks and a passed ball to cut the lead to 4 - 2 after five innings. In the 7th inning, the Stars would complete the comeback scoring three runs on a passed ball and a pair of RBI singles from Alec Boucher and Josh Hudvagner for a 5 - 4 victory. 

Offensively for the Stars, they were led by Jake Lumley who was 2-for-3 with a pair of singles and a walk. Mitch Hudvagner and Josh Hudvagner were both 1-for-2 with a single and an RBI while Alec Boucher and Josh Anderson were both 1-for-4 with Boucher scoring a run and colelcting an RBI. Veteran OF Noah Renaud was 1-for-2 with a run scored while Jeremy Orton (run) and Kyle Marusic (two runs) rounded out the offense on this evening.

Veteran SS Frank Jeney was 2-for-2 with a pair of walks and a run scored to lead the way for the Windsor A's. Mitchell Zimmerman was also 2-for-2 with a pair of singles and an RBI while Chris Rinaldi-Ross was 1-for-4 with a single. Jake Columbe was 1-for-3 with a double while David Weber was also 1-for-3 with a run scored. Shane Munro had an RBI single in four plate appearances while Andrew Nantau wrapped up the offense with a pair of walks and a run scored. 

On the mound, the Stars used five different arms on the night. Right hander Jack Zimmerman drew the start going two innings allowing three runs (one earned) on three hits while walking one and striking out two. Noah Pickering and Josh Shepley each followed with an inning after that. Pickering only allowed one hit while Shepley allowed one run (earned) on two hits and collected a strikeout. Brock Whitson would throw the next two innings collecting the win. He allowed no runs or hits while walking one and striking out two. Chris Renaud would toss the 7th inning allowing no runs on one hit while walking two and striking out one to collect the save.

Mitchell Zimmerman, the second of three Athletics hurlers, took the loss throwing 1 1/3 innings allowing three runs (all earned) on three hits while walking two and striking out one. Cole Hillier drew the starting assignment for WAA and went 5 1/3 innings allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits while walking two and striking out four batters. Mitch Prsa threw the last 1/3 of an inning to record the final out in the 7th inning. 

Meanwhile, down the road at Lacasse Park, the Tecumseh Thunder opened their 2026 Can Am League season as they hosted the Windsor Selects 22U team. After a scoreless opening frame, the Selects got the bats going in the 2nd inning as they used a walk and a single followed by a 3-run HR off the bat of Ryan Lee for an early 3 - 0 lead. The Thunder would get their first run of the game in the home half of the 3rd inning on a Noah Ruttle double follwoed by a Kaeaton Ruttle single cutting the lead to 3 - 1. The Selects would get that run back in the 5th inning as they would load the bases with a pair of single and a walk and score a run on a sacrifice fly. Tecumseh would answer back in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single from Patrick Kribble cutting the lead to 4 - 2. They would make things initeresting in the botom of the 7th inning as well as Keagan Knowler who swat his first big fly of the season but the Thunder would come up just short with a 4 - 3 loss. 

Offensively for the Thunder, they were led by Roberto Duncan and Keaton Ruttle who were both 2-for-4 each with a pair of singles. Duncan scored a run with Ruttle collecting an RBI. Patrick Kibble was 1-for-2 with an RBI while Noah ruttle was 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Keagan Knowler was also 1-for-4 with a solo HR while Myles Miller, Caden Gomes, and Tyler Ruttle each collected a hit to round out the Thunder offense. Ryan Lee led the Windsor Selects offense going 1-for-2 with a 3-run HR. 

On the hill, veteran right hander Chris Horvath drew the start for the Thunder and took the loss in this one. He tossed three innings allowing three runs (all earned) on two hits while walking two and striking out two Selects batters. Kyle Brietner tossed the next three innings allowing one run (earned) on two hits while walking two and striking out five. Mike Hamlin tossed a clean 7th inning for Tecumseh. Mike Grondin started and earned the win for the Selects tossing four innings. Brady Knelsen came in to clean things up and collect the save. 

Can Am League action picks back up on Friday evening with two games on the league docket. The Windsor Stars (1 - 0) will host the Windsor Selects 22U (1 - 0) at Rev. Ronald Cullen Field while at Lacasse Park the Tecumseh Thunder (0 - 1) will host the Windsor Athletics (0 - 1) with both teams searching for their first win of the season. Both games, weather permitting, are scheduled for a 7:00pm first pitch.