With the playoffs set to begin later this week, the Barrie Baycats locked up second place in the Intercounty Baseball League standings with a 6-2 extra-inning road win against the Brantford Red Sox on Tuesday night.
After tying the game in the ninth inning on Josh Cote’s RBI double, the Baycats scored four runs in the 10th to pull ahead.
Barrie (27-15) will face the Toronto Maple Leafs in the opening round, beginning Thursday night at Vintage Throne Stadium in Midhurst.
Nolan Machibroda and Adam Odd each had two hits and an RBI for the Baycats. Hayden Jaco, Malik Williams and Asafa Jones all drove in a run, while Tyler Plumpton went 3-for-5 at the plate.
Jaco (1-0) also earned the win on the mound after tossing two scoreless innings. Adam Kahn started and went six innings, allowing two runs on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
For Brantford, Nick Burdett and Ethan Paulos each had an RBI. Marcos Castillo went 2-for-5.
Norman Coleman-Goodwin (0-2) took the loss. The ninth Red Sox pitcher used Tuesday gave up four runs (three earned) on four hits in an inning of relief.
Only four of Barrie’s runs were earned, as six errors hurt Brantford’s hurlers.
With the loss, the Red Sox ended the 2024 campaign with an 11-31 record and will not advance to the playoffs.
Baycats-Maple Leafs playoff schedule (best-of-five series)
Game 1 — Thursday, Aug. 22 at 7:35 p.m. at Barrie
Game 2 — Saturday, Aug. 24 at 7:30 p.m. at Toronto
Game 3 — Sunday, Aug. 25 at 3:05 p.m. at Barrie
* Game 4 — Wednesday, Aug. 28 at 7:35 p.m. at Toronto
* Game 5 — Thursday, Aug. 29 at 7:35 p.m. at Barrie
* if necessary
Click here for tickets and more information.
Meanwhile, in other IBL action, third place is still up for grabs.
The Guelph Royals' 8-2 win Tuesday night over the London Majors at David E. Hastings Stadium means tonight’s rematch at Labatt Park will determine the final playoff spot. London (25-16) would lock up third with a win, but the Majors would also finish third if they lose and keep the spread within six runs.
J.D. Williams and Ashton Patterson each drove in two runs and scored twice for the Royals (24-17) on Tuesday. Garrett Takamatsu had two RBI on two hits, Andy Leader doubled, tripled and drove in a run, and Josh Garton and Frankin Torres both singled twice and scored.
The Kitchener Panthers will head into the playoffs on a winning note after Tuesday’s 8-2 victory over the Cardinals in Hamilton.
Nathan Laird drove in two runs for the eighth-place Panthers (14-28), who open playoffs against Welland. Nolan Misa, Raul Gonzalez and Jorden Carthy all had two hits and an RBI, Spenser Ross and Liam McTague added an RBI apiece, while Spencer Voisin went 3-for-5 with two runs.
Brendon Daly went 2-for-4 for Hamilton (18-24), which will face London or Guelph in the first round.
Tonight's lone game will see the Guelph Royals in London to face the Majors at 7:05 p.m.
