It might be a little early to refer to Clarke Preston as the first recruitment home run in the young tenure of new Laurentian Voyageurs' head coach Patrick Whalen - but perhaps we can credit him with a ground-rule double.
After serving as an assistant coach on a team that rostered only 17 players in 2024, Whalen took over the reins from Brayden MacEwan after just one year, becoming the fourth head coach in a five year stretch for the program (Kirby Smith - 2021-2022; Steve Donahue - 2023).
Returning just five players, the former Waterloo Warrior has managed to add some depth to the roster (currently stands at 23), with both Preston (pitcher / outfielder) and shortstop Devan Madore among his most prized acquisitions.
A lanky 17 year-old from Newmarket, Preston substantiated the faith of his new coaching staff with a masterful complete game four-hitter a couple of weeks back as the Voyageurs recorded their first victory of the fall, toppling the Ottawa Gee Gees 5-1.
"I had guys off-balance the entire night," said Preston, who focused on hockey until he reached grade nine, the first year in which he dipped his toes in the rep baseball scene.
"I love the off-speed stuff - and mixing in the sinker with the change-up was a good look."
Luke Arruda paced the L.U. attack, going 2/2 while scoring a run and driving one in as well.
"We showed a lot of grit," said Preston. "All of our runs came in the last three innings."
Fourth-year Sudbury product Ryan Lacasse (OF/P) continues to find a way to contribute, driving in a run as part of a 1/3 performance. The 20 year-old who intends to play one more year while completing his final year of Physical Education & Concurrent Education studies in 2026-2027 is definitely among those who can see light at the end of the tunnel.
"We're not getting the results just yet - and it might not happen this year," said Lacasse. "But everybody is coming back next year. We only have one graduating guy."
We've had games this year where the pitching and defense is on and we can't hit - or vice-versa," he continued. "We're always missing something and that kills us every time."
"Pretty much every game that we've played, we've been in the game," noted coach Whalen. For as much as he was excited to welcome long-time local talent Devan Madore back from the SUNY Niagara Thunderwolves, Whalen also knows that attracting quality pitching is key.
That said, he remains adament it can be done.
"There is an excellent environemtn here in Sudbury, different than down south with the outdoors and everything," he said. "I try and build a relationship beforehand."
"It's crazy that give how young we are as a group, that we have managed to mend together so well," chimed in Lacasse. "We have fun playing ball together - and we do so many things, outside of baseball, as a group."
Rounding out the 2025 roster are Pearce King, Lucas Carriere, Nathan Cluff, Ethan Brisbois, Charlie Lo Presti, Anthony Gutscher, Cam Den Hoed, Dylan Rudge, Noah O'Brien, Fynn Patterson, Noah Portelance, Dillon Rosset, Vaughn Thomson, James Dixon, William Arsenault, Kyle Kennedy, Carson Tardio, Noah Leveille and Jonathan O'Reilly.
Laurentian will be in the GTA this coming weekend, contesting the OUA Central Region Qualifier along with the TMU Bold, York Lions and the University of Toronto Blues, with the top two playing for gold Sunday afternoon at the Teramoto Ball Park in Brampton.
