WELLAND JACKFISH are the ‘reel’ thing
Fastest team in the IBL sets franchise record for wins with five games to go in season
A new beginning starting with the first pitch at Welland Stadium on opening day, and a lot of big innings at the plate at home as well as on the road since then.
That sums up the Intercounty Baseball League’s first year back in Niagara Region since 1989, and the Welland Jackfish’s inaugural season in Canada’s oldest amateur, independent league isn’t over.
With five games remaining in their schedule, a franchise that played two seasons in Mississauga and eight in Burlington before moving south needs only one win to finish .500 — or better — for the first time in franchise history.
The Jackfish, 17-14 coming into today’s 1:05 p.m. first pitch versus the London Majors at Welland Stadium, have already set the franchise record for wins in a season. In 2015, the then Burlington Bandits went 15-21 before losing 4-3 in the opening round of the playoffs.
Welland can also achieve another franchise first in its first season in the IBL by winning a playoff series. In post-season play, the Mississauga Twins, 2009-10; Burlington Bandits, 2011-16; and Burlington Herd, 2017-18; never made it past the first round.
On Thursday night, the Jackfish dropped a 7-6 decision to the visiting Kitchener Panthers in 12 innings after scoring six runs in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Welland was seeking its fourth win in a row, and second in as many days, after defeating the Brantford Red Sox 12-3 the night before on the road.
When this year’s team was being put together, the need to make a good first impression on the field was an important consideration.
“Absolutely, that was one of our goals — to draw interest by having a competitive team,” manager Brian Essery said. “We’ve made a few moves during the season to strengthen our roster.”
He admitted there was a “little bit of added pressure” when the on-field product was being assembled.
“I’m not going to say we talked it about it much, but I think everybody knew that we have to put a winning product out here, especially for the first season,” Essery said. “We didn’t want to go 5-31 or 10-26.” While the players were aware the franchise was coming off a last-place history, the spawning of the Jackfish representing a whole new ball game as far as Essery was concerned.
“The Burlington team really did struggle, but we put it like this is a brand new franchise. That’s the way we’re operating it,” he said. “It’s an all-new coaching staff, we have a lot of new players. “We’ve been preaching that all season.”
The Jackfish’s strong start to the season wasn’t a fluke. Welland continues to beat teams the third and fourth time through the schedule
“We’ve got some good players. When I talk to all the other managers in the league, they all say the same thing, ‘You guys are good,’” Essery said. “We’re athletic and we do scare teams with our team speed, and we put a lot of pressure on their defence.
“And everybody knows how good our starting pitching is. We’re no fluke, that’s for sure.”
The team’s batting is starting to catch up with its pitching.
“We’re coming around. We still go off our pitching and our defence,” Essery said. “I really like our starting pitching. I really like our defence.”
With 91 stolen bases in 112 attempts, the Jackfish boast the best overall team speed in the eight-team loop. A distant second in stolen bases are the Hamilton Cardinals, with 41 coming in last night’s action.
“That’s our go-to, and if we can get some timely hits, we’ll be in good shape,” Essery said. “We have a legit shot to get out of the first round. There’s no question. “We could do a little bit more, too.” The Jackfish are enjoying a successful season off the field as well.
They exceeded their goal of 400 season tickets.
“And the support after that has been phenomenal. The people coming in are becoming familiar faces here,” said Mike Konderka, a Welland business owner and a part-owner of the team. “You see a glow on their faces, which is pretty cool.
“It’s catching on.”
“We’re athletic and we do scare teams with our team speed, and we put a lot of pressure on their defence.”