Baycats Blowout Panthers in Game Six; Put Themselves Into the Record Books
KITCHENER - History.
The Barrie Baycats defeated the Kitchener Panthers 15-0 on Saturday evening to win the 2019 Intercounty Baseball League [IBL] Jack and Lynne Dominico Cup.
It is their seventh championship in franchise history and their sixth straight championship.
Baycats starter Adrian Salcedo recorded the victory, tossing eight innings while giving up zero earned runs on three hits and three bases on balls while striking out five batters along the way.
Baycats centre fielder Ryan Spataro led the way at the plate, going four-for-six with one strikeout and two home runs.
His first home run was a leadoff solo home run in the top of the first inning to give the Baycats a 1-0 lead, while his second home run came in the top of the sixth inning to give the Baycats a 12-0 lead.
His second home run was a two-run home run.
Panthers starting pitcher Yoen Socarras took the loss, tossing four and two-thirds of an inning while giving up three earned runs on seven hits and four bases on balls while striking out four batters.
BARRIE - 15-16-2
KITCHENER - 0-4-3
BIGGEST PLAY OF THE GAME: Up 2-0 in the top of the fifth inning, Baycats right fielder Jon Waltenbury hit a two-run single to give the Baycats a 4-0 lead.
The game from that point onward felt over.
NICEST PLAY OF THE GAME: In the bottom of the third inning, Panthers shortstop Yorbis Borroto grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, and it all started with a nice snag at shortstop by Baycats shortstop Conner Morro.
BY THE NUMBERS: 6. The only number that matters.
With this championship win, the Baycats tied the 2008 to 2013 Brantford Red Sox for the most championships ever won in a row.
A feat that has been a goal of the Baycats since their 2016 championship win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
NEWS FROM THE GAME: Spataro won the 2019 IBL Postseason most valuable player award.
The greatest player in franchise history, Spataro finished the postseason with a .591 on-base percentage [OBP], a .907 slugging percentage [SLG] and a 1.488 on-base plus slugging percentage [OPS].
Meanwhile, Waltenbury and Baycats catcher Kyle DeGrace officially announced their retirements postgame.
Baycats outfielder Glenn Jackson, on the other hand, has not made a final decision but said as of right now he considers himself retired.
Lastly, DeGrace postgame revealed the injuries he was playing with in the playoffs.
He said he had a sprained Achilles and a torn right rotator cuff.
He, despite that, finished the postseason with a .414 OBP, a .542 SLG and an OPS of 0.956.
Full coverage of the Baycats' seventh championship win in franchise history is to follow.
For more information, follow the Baycats on Facebook and Twitter at @iblbaycats and on Instagram at @barriebaycats.
Photo: Brian Backland/Brian Backland Photography