From Lambton College Athletics
SARNIA – A familiar name is joining the Lambton family for the 2022-23 season, both on the court and on the diamond.
For Lambton Men’s Baseball, plans are in full swing for the 2022 season, the Lions third in OCAA play. The coaching staff has been hard at work on the recruiting trail as they look to reinforce their roster and continue building the program. On the court, and while the 2021-22 season has been postponed, Head Coach James Grant and company are still planning for the future of the program.
Both teams didn’t have to look far for their latest recruit, and the name is one that’s known in and around the Sarnia-Lambton community.
Hometown product Zion Ainsworth has committed to both the Lambton Men’s Baseball and Men’s Basketball programs, becoming the second dual sport athlete in as many days to join the Lions family.
Ainsworth comes to Lambton College from Great Lakes Secondary School and will enroll in the Heating, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning (HVAC) Technician program.
On the diamond, Ainsworth is the fourth player to commit to the Lions for 2022, joining Nolan Leighton, Alex Austin, and high school teammate Hayden Scott. Ainsworth, who frequently patrols the middle infield in between pitching appearances, played in the summer for the Sarnia Brigade Senior Men’s team, and is self-described as a versatile player who is quick and attentive.
Ainsworth joins Scott as the first two recruits for the Men’s Basketball program in their 2022-23 recruiting class. A point guard, Ainsworth adds more depth, talent, and youthful exuberance to the back court rotation for the Lions going forward.
“Lambton College has always been the college that I saw myself attending because of the high respect it gets, both academically and athletically,” said Ainsworth. “It’s a great campus, and there’s excellent equipment for the varsity programs that will allow me to excel as a student-athlete.”
Ainsworth is no stranger to the campus or the facilities available to the Lions. Home games for the Brigade are played at Errol Russell Park, which doubles as Lambton’s home diamond in OCAA play.
“Lambton fans can expect a hardworking player who will play with his heart and will be a good teammate,” added Ainsworth when asked what Lions fans can expect from him on the diamond and the court.
The Men’s Baseball program is coming off a 2021 season that saw the program break into the win column, and the team continued to improve with each passing game. With Ainsworth adding more depth to key positions for the team, the Lions will be looking to take another step forward in 2022.
On the court, the Lions haven’t played an OCAA game since March 6th, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, adding Ainsworth to the point guard rotation bolsters yet another key position for the group heading into the future.
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