BAYCATS ADVANCE TO IBL FINALS AFTER SWEEP OF CARDINALS

Barrie, ON — The Barrie Baycats are back on the IBL’s biggest stage. In front of their home fans at Athletic Kulture Stadium on Tuesday night, the Baycats capped off a dominant semifinal series with a 5-1 win over the Hamilton Cardinals, securing a three-game sweep and a spot in the league finals for the third year in a row.

The victory was powered by a balanced effort on both sides of the ball. On the mound, veteran right-hander Juan Benitez delivered one of his best outings of the year, tossing eight innings of four-hit baseball. He struck out four, walked just two, and kept the Cardinals off the board until the eighth inning.

At the plate, Barrie broke through in the third when Brandon Hernandez singled home Noel McGarry Doyle, who had reached with one of his two hits on the night. Hernandez came through again in the fifth, but the big swing came off the bat of his brother, Francisco. With one on and one out, the second baseman turned on a pitch and sent it over the wall in left for a two-run homer — his first of the playoffs — pushing the Baycats’ lead to 4-0. Brandon Hernandez followed later in the inning with another RBI hit to stretch it to 5-0.

Hamilton’s lone run came courtesy of third baseman Jaden Brown, who hit a solo home run in the eighth. But by then, the Cardinals were running out of time against a Barrie staff that has been locked in all postseason. Carlos Sano took over in the ninth and struck out two in a clean frame to finish the sweep.

Offensively, Barrie got contributions throughout the lineup. Along with the Hernandez brothers combining for four RBIs, McGarry Doyle set the tone once again at the top of the order, reaching base twice, scoring two runs, and stealing his fourth base of the playoffs. Tristan Clarke added a double and scored, while catcher Tyler Plumpton chipped in a single.

The sweep marks Barrie’s third trip to the finals since 2023, as the franchise looks to claim its second consecutive championship and ninth in franchise history. The Baycats will now rest and await their opponent for the IBL Finals which will be either the Welland Jackfish or the Guelph Royals.