Late Offence Not Enough as Baycats Fall to Panthers

Kitchener, ON – The Barrie Baycats find themselves on a bit of a skid after their fourth straight loss, this time falling 9-4 to the Kitchener Panthers on Sunday at Jack Couch Park.

Barrie starter Juan Benitez held the Panthers off the board through two innings, but Kitchener opened the scoring with two in the third and added three more in the fifth to take control of the game. Benitez took the loss, allowing five earned runs over five innings of work.

Kitchener’s offence was clicking on Sunday afternoon, led by multi-hit games from Mateo Zeppieri, Yosvani Penalver, and Runta Osawa. The Panthers tallied 13 hits, with Osawa contributing a pair of doubles and two runs scored, while Trent Lawson launched a two-run homer in the seventh.

Over the four-game slide, Barrie’s high-powered offence has been kept quiet and, more often than not, has turned it on too late in games. But the names are still there, and with three more games next week, they’ll be looking to flip the switch as the playoffs approach.

Baycats designated hitter Francisco Hernandez was a bright spot in the loss, going 3-for-4 with a three-run homer in the eighth — his fourth of the season. Alex Wickett also chipped in with an RBI groundout in the seventh, and pinch hitter Antonino Spencer-Thompson tripled and scored in the ninth.

Despite the late push, Barrie couldn’t make up the deficit, as Kitchener starter Andy Vargas turned in one of his strongest outings of the season, striking out 10 over seven innings and earning just his second win.

FINAL SCORE: Panthers 9, Baycats 4.

NEXT UP: The Baycats face the Maple Leafs on Thursday night at 7:35 p.m. It’s Vintage Throne Pack the Park Night at Athletic Kulture Stadium, meaning free entry for all fans.