Quebec Capitales capitalize against Jackfish
IBL champs fall to Frontier League champs in exhibition game
The Welland Jackfish weren’t the happiest of hosts Monday night when they welcomed the Quebec Capitales into Welland Stadium for a battle for bragging rights between the champions of the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) and the Frontier League.
Quebec doubled the IBL champions, 8-4, in an exhibition game before a crowd of more than 500.
“We ran into some command issues on the mound later in the game which hurt us,” Jackfish manager Brian Essery said.
Despite the loss in the first of back-to-back pre-season games, Essery was pleased with how his team fared against the visitors from Quebec City.
“We can compete with them,” he said. “For our first time out this year, we feel good.
“We’ll have another exciting, competitive team.”
Cole Cote, Tyler Dupuis, Giancarlo Morello and Ethan Pasco were standouts for the Jackfish.
However, Essery gave the defending Frontier League champions the edge over a seven-game series against the gold medallists from the IBL.
“They have more pitching, depth and have unlimited import spots,” he said. “In a seven-game series, the added depth on the mound would be too much.”
This year, the Capitales also will have right-handed starting pitcher James Bradwell and outfielder Justin Gideon, both one-time Jackfish players, in their lineup.
After compiling a 4-1 record and 3.21 earned-run average in nine regular-season games in Welland in 2023, Bradwell went 5-0 and had a 1.03 ERA in the playoffs. He was named most valuable player of the IBL playoffs as the Jackfish captured their first championship in franchise history.
Gideon hit eight home runs, drove in 17 runs, and batted .413 in 15 games after being acquired by Welland from the Hamilton Cardinals midway through the 2022 season.
The former Brock University student had 22 home runs and 71 RBIs in 94 games with the Capitales in the Frontier League last year.
The Jackfish were scheduled to return to the diamond on Tuesday for their inaugural School Day Game against the Hamilton Cardinals.
Welland begins defence of its playoff championship on May 17, on the road against the London Majors. The Jackfish host the playoff finalist Barrie Baycats in their home opener the following night.