Ottawa Champions’ Sebastien Boucher raises the Can-Am league trophy to a cheering crowd alongside Mayor Jim Watson at City Hall. Cody MacKay, Centretown News
The Ottawa Champions were welcomed by the thunderous applause of hundreds of fans who packed City Hall on Monday after taking the Can-Am League baseball title on Sept. 17.
After dropping two straight home games in the best-of-five final series, the Champions mounted a comeback in New York, notching three straight victories against the Rockland Boulders, including a 3-1 win in Game 5.
Fan favourite Sebastien Boucher hoisted the league trophy overhead at Monday’s event and was joined at centre stage by fellow players and staff to celebrate the club’s first title in just its second season. Mayor Jim Watson and city councillors praised the team and declared Sept. 19 Ottawa Champions Day before unveiling the championship pennant.
Team president David Gourlay also took the stage and gave an emotional, rallying speech to the cheering fans, declaring his optimism about the franchise’s future and sending a clear message that the Champions will be looking for the trophy to return to Ottawa next season.