Panthers ‘living and dying’ with every pitch
BARRIE — It’s been edge-of-yourseat, pit-in-your-stomach kind of baseball. And both sides wouldn’t have it any other way.
After four games, the Intercounty Baseball League championship series between the Kitchener Panthers and the Barrie Baycats is already shaping up to be one of the best in recent memory.
Tied 2-2 heading into Tuesday’s Game 5 at Coates Stadium in Barrie, these finals have been a well-pitched, well-defended and as balanced a championship series as the league has seen in many years.
“It’s been fantastic,” said Barrie manager Angus Roy.
“It’s been incredible, like living and dying with every pitch. Every pitch is important, every at-bat seems to be important, every defensive play feels important. This is why we play.”
In the two games the Panthers lost heading into Game 5, they had loaded the bases in the ninth inning and put the tying run on second base.
None of the wins for either side have been comfortable.
The best-of-seven championship series returns to Kitchener for Game 6 on Thursday night. For a full game story from Tuesday night, visit therecord.com.
“This is probably the best baseball series I’ve ever played in,” said Kitchener third baseman Mike Glinka. “It’s an absolute riot to be part of.”
Panthers manager Luke Baker said it’s made for some stressful moments in the dugout, but also a thrill to be a part of.
“I’m seeing really good baseball across the board,” Baker said. “It’s exciting for the fans, it’s been back and forth, everybody has been getting chances. It’s been a lot of fun.”
For the Panthers, all corners of the lineup have produced big hits in the series. It’s would be hard to pick an obvious most valuable player.
“This team fights for the guy behind him, just scraping it out and not giving up,” said
Zach Johnson, who had the game-winning hit in Game 4.
Mike Andrulis, the veteran second baseman who tied Sunday’s game with a solo homer, said the series has been so closely fought it could have just as easily been a sweep one way or the other.
“You could flip a coin and either team could have won all four games,” he said. “I think we’ve got about 25 leaders on this team. They’re all character guys, and we all get along. When you’ve got good guys like that, it makes it easy to fight for each other.”
Glinka, the third baseman, said the Panthers are finally showing the benefit of those recent trips to the finals that have not ended so well.
“We’ve been here before and suffered the ill. Maybe we’re getting a little sick of that. The novelty factor and the nerves are getting a little familiar now,” he said.