Baycats Defeat Barnstormers 13–3 for First Win of 2025 Season
Barrie, ON – Hello throwback reds and hello win column. The Barrie Baycats defeated the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers 13–3 Thursday night, picking up their first win of the 2025 season. Barrie scored five runs in the first two innings and never looked back.
The small – yet rowdy – crowd at Athletic Kulture Stadium, dampened by the threatening weather in the area, was on its feet early cheering for fan favourite Noel McGarry Doyle, who played his first game of the season on Thursday. McGarry Doyle roped a double in his first at-bat out of the leadoff spot, setting the tone for a great night for the offence.
“I love it,” said McGarry Doyle, speaking on Barrie’s big win. “Love the environment we’ve got out in Barrie.” The Baycats centrefielder finished his night going 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and one driven in.
Cesar Rosado tossed five innings in his first start of the season. After the first inning, where he induced an inning-ending double play to strand two runners on base, the next three innings must have felt like a breeze — two 1-2-3 frames, along with just a single walk in the fourth. In the fifth, last year's IBL strikeout leader ran into a bit of trouble, surrendering an RBI base hit to Spencer Marcus and a sac fly to Evan Morrison.
But in the bottom half, Nolan Machibroda got the runs right back with one swing — a three-run shot to right brought out the home run buzzer for the first time in 2025. Machibroda’s first of the season made it 9–2 Barrie, part of another four-run inning.
“Today I was seeing it (the ball) really well,” said Machibroda. “Put a good swing on a fastball… knew that guy (Chatham-Kent starter Brock Whitson) was gonna challenge me.”
Whitson threw five innings, giving up eight earned runs in the loss — his first of the season.
Brad Grieveson pitched the last four for Barrie, which was important for a team that will play three more games this weekend. Grieveson was more than effective, punching out four and surrendering just one run, picking up a 12-out save. Rosado earned the win, his first of 2025.
Final Score: Baycats 13, Barnstormers 3
NEXT UP: The Baycats travel down to Hamilton Friday night to face Owen Boon and the Cardinals at 7:35 p.m. on Cable14. Frank Garcés takes the bump for Barrie. The Cats return home this Saturday for another Paul Sadlon Motors Junior Baycats Day. First pitch is set for 4:05 p.m. at Athletic Kulture Stadium.