Nearly three months after its College World Series run, the Kent State baseball team returns to the diamond Thursday afternoon for a 12-inning exhibition game against the Ontario Blue Jays.

Fans will have an opportunity to get an early look at the 2012-2013 Flashes as they take on a team consisting of high school all-stars from Canada.

Coach Scott Stricklin said this game will help the team break the monotony of September practices.

“It’s still early in the fall for us,” Stricklin said. “So we have some guys, especially some of our younger freshmen, who are still learning what we want to do. It’s good to put on an actual uniform and play against someone else instead of playing against your teammates.”

The game is the ninth straight year the Flashes have played an exhibition against a team from out of the country. Thursday’s game is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. at Olga A. Mural Field at Schoonover Stadium.

Contact Tim Dorst at [email protected].