CREDIT: COURTESY OF BRIAN HARVEY
From left: Paul Lytwynec joined head coach Brian Harvey to play in his last OCAA baseball game at the all-star game against the Ontario University Athletics team.

Captain of Fanshawe’s first men’s baseball team Paul Lytwynec will be returning next season as an assistant coach. He was also captain of the Western University men’s baseball team.

According to Fanshawe Athletics officer Ernie Durocher, “With his knowledge of baseball and the league, plus playing for the London Majors, I think [Lytwynec] is a great asset and it’s good to have someone like that who is affiliated with a club like that… it just makes sense.”

Lytwynec played his last game as a Fanshawe athlete and joined three other Fanshawe baseball players to participate in the Ontario College Athletics Association (OCAA) vs. Ontario University Athletics (OUA) men’s all-star game held at the Rogers Centre in Toronto on May 9.

Along with Lytwynec, Sean Refflinghaus, Travis Rice and Braeden Ferrington all play for the London Majors as well as the Fanshawe Falcons. Head coach Brian Harvey acted as one of the OCAA team’s assistant coaches for the game. Mike Lumley from Western University – who played for the Detroit Tigers – acted as an assistant coach for the OUA team. Two players from Western also went; Turner Spears, who played infield and pitcher Jordan Skavinsky.

Durocher was confident going into the game. “We’re expecting to win, but the OUA has a very good squad,” he said.

Unfortunately he was right, and the final score of the game was 8-4 for the OUA all-star team in 11 innings.

It was a back-and-forth game, with the university team scoring four definitive runs in the 11th inning. Lytwynec played as the shortstop through all 11 innings scoring a run in the sixth, and won all-star MVP for the OCAA team. Refflinghaus caught for the last six innings, Rice pitched in the third inning, while Ferrington pitched in the fifth. Neither pitchers gave up any runs.

Lytwynec was modest about winning MVP in terms of his performance during the game.

“We played pretty good as a team, and we ended up losing there in extra innings, but I think they had to give it to someone on the losing squad,” he said. “I think they chose me because I got the game tying hit, but I didn’t expect it at all.”

In October, London will host the OCAA baseball championships at Labatt Park, and head coach Brian Harvey is hopeful about his second season.

“If you don’t have high expectations something’s wrong,” Harvey said. “I’m expecting to play in the gold medal game in the OCA championships… if last year we had a bronze medal, next year I’m looking for gold.”

Roughly 15 players will be returning, and Harvey hopes to have more depth in all positions on the team in order to play all nine innings without running thin anywhere. Improving consistency between hitters is his main goal for next season.

For anyone considering trying out for varsity but concerned about their school work, “With education it’s not just what you’re learning in the classroom – it’s about the whole student experience. Academics are important, but I think getting a good balance of sometimes people are employed at the college, or you’re playing athletics, or you’re volunteering. I think it just overall contributes to your education,” Lytwynec said.

Lytwynec will assume his coaching position for the upcoming season.