SARNIA – Be better than you were yesterday.
That’s what Men’s Baseball Head Coach Al Bezaire and his coaching staff remind their players of every day, and the program got a whole lot better than yesterday with the team’s most recent commitment.
Nolan Grimes has officially announced his commitment to Coach Bezaire and the Lambton Men’s Baseball Program for the 2026 season, and beyond.
Grimes is the third member of a talented 2026 recruiting class for Bezaire and company on the diamond. In the fall, Grimes will join the likes of Braydon Mann (Strathroy, Ont.) and Ryan Hubbard (Mitchell, Ont.) as a newcomer with the Lions.
“I’m so pumped up,” said Grimes after making his collegiate decision official. “I’ve heard of the team's skill and their talent, I’ve gotten to know some of the guys already through connections, and I’m excited to join them and play for Lambton and help the program go all the way.”
“I’m looking forward to the responsibility that comes with playing at the next level in college. I’ll be living on my own, making a ton of new friends here, and learning the ropes of college in year one. I’m pumped to get out there, to start playing with the team, and learning about myself and what I want to do with my life.”
Grimes, a six-foot-one pitcher and third baseman, comes to Lambton College by way of Strathroy District Collegiate Institute, the same high school that Mann attends. Outside of high school, Grimes joins the Lions from the highly-regarded London Badgers program.
Last season, Grimes played with current Lions Myles Adamson and Ben Adamson on the Badgers 18U program. This season, he will play alongside Mann on the same team, giving him a level of familiarity and comfort with several of his future Lions teammates.
Primarily a pitcher, Grimes is known for his velocity and dominance on the mound. Last season, he recorded 105 strikeouts with the Badgers, and he’s hoping to continue that success this summer and into his first season at the collegiate level.
When asked what Lambton fans can expect from him on the diamond this season, Grimes smiled and offered a quick response.
"They can expect to see a lot of ched," added Grimes. "I'm a dominant pitcher, and I like to throw hard."
Bezaire is looking forward to adding Grimes to the program, and he is excited about the potential he brings to the rotation.
“To get a top of the rotation arm is always a good day, and from a well-respected London Badges program is even better,” said Bezaire. “He has the chance to make an immediate impact in our rotation from day one.”
“When you continue to sign players like Nolan, who could have signed anywhere and they choose to sign with us, it reinforces the reputation and type of program we are building here at Lambton.”
For Grimes, playing at the next level has always been a goal for him. Combined with his academic goals and his career after college, he knew that he had found his place.
“I’ve always wanted to play baseball at that next level,” added Grimes. “From when I first toured here, I could already tell.”
“The atmosphere blended well with what I want, personally. From looking at people studying, the connections they have, the layout of the buildings and just everyone here, it seemed like it was where I was meant to go.”
Academically, Grimes will be enrolled in the Police Foundations Program at Lambton College.
Grimes joins a Lions program that is coming off a 2025 season that saw the program bring home its second consecutive medal at the OCAA Championships. The Lions posted a 12-6 record in the regular season, winning the regular season title for the first time in the program’s brief history.
They were the 2025 OCAA Bronze Medalists, and the 2024 OCAA Silver Medalists.
Heading into 2026, the bulk of their roster is expected to return for another run at an OCAA Championship. The addition of Grimes on the mound helps to solidify the rotation, giving the Lions another strong and reliable arm as they set their sights on another podium finish.
Welcome to The Den, Nolan!
For more information, or for any media inquiries within Lambton College Athletics, please contact:
Tyler Bennett
Lambton College Sports Information & Marketing Coordinator
tyler.bennett@lambtoncollege.ca