Battle at Oakes Park

On October 1st the Badgers will join forces with former Badgers head coach Mike McRae and his Canisuis Golden Griffins for a game at Oaks Park in Niagara Falls that will help raise donations and awareness for Project SHARE. Admission to both games are free, as fans are asked instead to bring a food donation for Project SHARE.

Project SHARE is a multi-service organization committed to helping people who live on a low income in the City of Niagara Falls through programs that involve and assist with providing basic needs. The programs are designed to create positive, proactive alternatives to allow people to help themselves and their families with dignity in times of crisis.

As for the game itself it is a return to the humble begins for the Badgers current and former head coaches, Jeff Lounsburyand Mike McRae, as both began their playing and coaching careers in the Greater Niagara Baseball Association. Lounsburysays of the event "Niagara Falls, the GNBA and Oaks park were my beginnings for baseball and into coaching. Mike and I played together for many years and my best memories were playing Midget and Junior together and playing for coach Mignelli, McRae and Sokolowski, and we had some great teammates back then. Mike and I also started coaching together at the Midget level and started the Niagara District Team before we started the Brock program together, its nice to go back to your roots."

McRae himself, started his University coaching career with the Badgers in their first season, 1995, before moving on to coach at several other schools. In 2003, he landed his current head coaching position with Canisius and has been one of the strongest coaches in the MAAC, even winning top coach honours in 2008, which earned him the honour of being the only coach to ever win the award twice, after winning it in 2003 while coaching with Niagara. In 2010, McRae lead the Griffs to a 39-21 overall record, and a 19-5 MAAC record which was good enough to finish in first place.

McRae will bring with him a formittable offense, that in last years spring season had seven regulars that batted over .300. The Griffs top offensive player is infielder Steve McQuail who led the team in almost every major offensive category with a stat line of, .397 average, 70 R, 89 H, 21 2B, 20 HR, 81 RBI. While outfielder Ian Choy and first baseman Brian Burton will also prove to be tough outs for the Badgers as both batted above .370 with a combined 24 homeruns and 100+ runs batted in.

On the mound Shane Davis and Mike Goemans were the Griffs strongest starters combining to throw over 100 innings, while averaging over a strikeout per nine innings. While closer Shayne Wilson will also prove to be difficult to hit off of, after leading the team with seven saves and a 3.38 earned run average.

The Badgers will be in tough against McRae's squad but after losing both games to the team last season, they will look to even the score against the strong American program. Game one starts at 5:30, and will be held on neutral ground in Niagara Falls. Come out to support the Badgers and a great cause!