Knelsen-Allard combine for no-hitter as St. Clair explodes in tournament opening win

What an opening statement from the St. Clair College baseball team. Brady Knelsen pitched four dominant innings of no-hit ball, and Marquez Allard slammed the door in the fifth, as the Saints blanked Sheridan 12-0 in their tournament opener of the OCAA championship at Lacasse Park Thursday night.

Brady Knelsen and Marquez Allard combine for no-hitter

It was a tight 1-0 game heading into the bottom of the third — until the floodgates opened.

With two outs and a runner on, Mitch McCosh hit a routine ball to third, but a botched throw to first allowed Kanaan Gale to score from third. The error cracked the game wide open.

Andrew Sleiman followed with a booming triple to the wall in deep centre, bringing home McCosh with ease.

"It all felt like it was going to build up to one big hit," Sleiman told Powerplay Sports. "Luckily I came through and gave the team a big hit there."

Finn Russett added a perfectly placed bunt to score Sleiman, and from there, the onslaught continued. St. Clair would pour in 11 runs in the third inning alone.

McCosh and Sleiman both finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate with 3 RBIs apiece.

"It's a statement game," said Sleiman. "We weren't as good as we were last year with the record and stuff. It just felt good to put the league on notice and show them what we can do."

Allard closed things out in the fifth with two strikeouts to complete the combined no-hitter.

The Saints return to the diamond tomorrow and will play Lambton at 10 at Lacasse Park. .

Interview with Brady Knelsen, player of the game brought to you by Unifor Local 444.