Baycats’ Season Ends in 11-Inning Game 6 Loss to Hamilton

Barrie, ON - The Barrie Baycats’ 2026 season came to an end after a back-and-forth 11-inning battle, falling 5-4 to the Hamilton Cardinals in Game 6 of the CBL Semi-Finals. Hamilton won the best-of-seven series 4-2 to advance to the CBL Championship Series.

Hamilton jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning. Reyny Reyes delivered a two-run single to right field, scoring Brandon Nicoll and Carlos Dominguez to give the Cardinals a 2-0 advantage.

Barrie was held off the scoreboard through the first five innings before breaking through in the bottom of the sixth. Nolan Machibroda singled to right field to bring Francisco Hernandez home, cutting Hamilton’s lead to 2-1.

The Cardinals answered in the seventh. Evan Magill doubled to centre field, scoring Trevor Nicoll from first and restoring Hamilton’s two-run advantage at 3-1.

Facing a two-run deficit, the Baycats battled back in the bottom of the eighth. Noel McGarry Doyle scored on a Ryan Rijo RBI double, bringing Barrie within one. Later in the inning, Machibroda came through again with a single to right field that scored Clayton Keyes giving the Baycats a 4-3 lead.

Hamilton tied the game in the top of the ninth when Angel Guerrero hit a sacrifice fly to centre field, allowing Dario Borrero to score and putting the Cardinals ahead 4-3.

After a scoreless 10th inning, Hamilton broke the tie in the top of the 11th. Reyes hit a solo home run to left field, his third RBI of the game, giving the Cardinals a 5-4 lead.

The Baycats were unable to answer in the bottom half, bringing Game 6 and their 2026 season to an end.

Machibroda led Barrie’s offence with a 4-for-5 performance and two RBIs as the Baycats finished with 12 hits. Saul Vasquez started on the mound and worked 6.2 innings, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out five. Oscar Moreta pitched the final 4.1 innings, allowing two runs on four hits with three strikeouts.

Freisis Adames earned the win for Hamilton after throwing two scoreless innings in relief, while Logan Warkentin recorded the save with a scoreless 11th. Carlos Sano was charged with the loss.

The defeat closes Barrie’s 2026 campaign after the Baycats advanced through the CBL Wild Card Game and pushed Hamilton to six games in the Semi-Finals. Hamilton moves on to the Jack & Lynn Dominico Cup Finals for the first time since 2002, looking for just it's second title in franchise history and first since 1978.