Panthers shake things up for stretch
A pair of pitchers are among four players Kitchener picks up after disappointing loss to Barrie
KITCHENER — The Kitchener Panthers got a good look on Sunday at what stands in the way of their championship hopes, and manager Dave teBoekhorst did not like what he saw.
The local Intercounty Baseball League team was humbled by the defending champion Barrie Baycats, who rattled Kitchener’s pitching for four homers and 10 walks en route to an 11-5 drubbing.
“We got completely exposed, especially from a pitching standpoint,” said teBoekhorst. “The fact that we gave up 10 walks, on a day when we said we can’t give up any passes, is beyond mind-boggling and absolutely frustrating from a coaching standpoint.”
The Panthers have 15 games left in the regular season, which wraps up Sunday, July 30, at Jack Couch Park. They’re 13-6 through the first two months of the season.
With a month left to go, the manager is hoping his charges can prove they can beat the league’s top teams — and will look to four new players to help out down the stretch.
He’s also planning to shake up his lineup and drop down to a three-man rotation once the playoffs begin.
Two of those new signings, Guelph utility-man Josh Garton and Dorchester-raised pitcher Dylan Brooks, are former majorleague prospects. The other two, ex-Guelph Royals pitcher Evan DiMichele and outfielder Jeff MacLeod, are role players who needed a change of scenery after the Guelph team imploded last month.
Garton, a valuable left-handed batter, is a former Cincinnati Reds prospect and CanAm league outfielder. He’s been playing in the Tri-City Men’s League on and off for the past few years, and has known teBoekhorst since he played for him in junior baseball.
The manager called him the “ultimate utility man” who could play virtually any fielder’s position, and immediately improves the team’s offence.
“He’s probably one of my all-time favourite kids,” the manager said. “When he’s locked in, there’s not too many guys who are better than him ... He’s a real smart hitter, very cerebral contact hitter.”
Garton, a former Guelph Royal who has a career .293 average in the IBL, is a versatile fielder who figures to hit in the second spot in the batting lineup to provide more protection for leadoff man Yorbis Borroto and set the table for the bit bats of Sean Reilly and Tanner Nivins.
Brooks is a former San Francisco Giants draft pick who had a 3.07 ERA in three years with the Giants’ rookie-level affiliate. The six-foot-eight 22-yearold previously pitched for the London Majors before getting drafted in 2013. Brooks, who’s coming off Tommy John surgery, made his debut out of the bullpen on Sunday — and it was one to forget. He gave up three walks and a hit without registering a single out.
The right-hander, San Francisco’s 30thround pick in the 2013 draft, was dropped by the Giants a year and a half ago following his second violation of baseball’s minor league drug program, after testing positive for recreational drugs.
The Panthers manager said he’s aware of Brooks’ past struggles, and said he’s willing to offer the young pitcher a shot at getting his career back on track as long as he’s serious about helping the team win.
“I’m probably the biggest second chance guy there is ... What happened in his prior career means absolutely nothing to me,” teBoekhorst said. “We’re glad to have him, someone with that pedigree. But he’s going to have to earn a role just like everyone else.”
The Panthers also added right-handed pitcher Evan DiMichele, and outfielder/ left-handed pitcher Jeff MacLeod, both former Guelph Royals players.
DiMichele has struggled with control this season, walking 20 batters over 14 innings, carrying an inflated 9.41 earned run average. He’ll be used in spot relief, teBoekhorst said.
“I’m just glad I can give two hard-working guys a chance, because otherwise they were just going to kind of rot for the rest of the summer,” he said.
MacLeod, an Intercounty veteran from Rockwood, has a .270 batting average in seven seasons. He’s struggled this season, however, hitting just .208, but the manager says he brings a lot more to the team than just his offence.
“He’s a great dressing room guy, and he can pitch a little bit. And he’s got a little pop in his bat,” teBoekhorst said.
To make room on the roster, the Panthers dropped left-handed pitcher Mitch Clarke and outfielder Terrell Alliman, two former minor leaguers who have barely been used this season.
The Panthers host the London Majors at Jack Couch Park on Thursday evening.