League says Jackfish starter the ‘reel’ thing
Welland holds on to win in London, improves to 3-1
Batters on opposing teams aren’t the only ones in the Intercounty Baseball League who appreciate Euclides Leyer’s impressive start to the 2019 season.
Also giving two thumbs up to the Welland Jackfish right-hander is the league itself. He was selected pitcher of the week after going 2-0 and allowing only one earned run and two hits over 13 innings.
He struck out a total of 11 and gave up four walks in victories over the London Majors, 9-1, and his former team, the Brantford Red Sox, 6-3.
The 28-year-old from El Seibo, Dominican Republic, joined the Jackfish after compiling a
2-6 record and an earned run average of 3.66 while striking out 73 in 61 1/3 innings in Brantford last season.
And the Jackfish — notably, the younger pitchers — couldn’t be happier that the veteran chose to continue his IBL career in Welland.
“Euclides has been a horse for us. In two games, he’s been an absolute stud,” Jackfish manager Brian Essery said.
“He’s our guy. We turn to him to keep us in every ball game he throws.”
Leyer contributes even when he’s not on the mound. Between starts, he sits in the bullpen and mentors the younger pitchers on the Jackfish staff.
“We do have some young guys in our bullpen,” Essery said. “To have a guy like him around it certainly helps me as a coach, and it definitely helps the younger players to gain some knowledge from a guy like that.”
On Sunday, the Jackfish travelled to London, Ont., and held on to edge the Majors, 8-6, after jumping out to a 5-0 lead in a rematch of the season opener.
“At the end of the day, a win is a win. We’ll take it, but we outplayed them all game long right from the first inning on,” Essery said.
Welland won its second in a row to improve to 3-1.
The Jackfish used things they learned in the home opener to their advantage when they faced the Majors for the second time this season. “We had a good idea of their lineup, and we like the pitcher that we threw against them today,” Essery said.
Though he wasn’t involved in the decision, Matt Clingersmith limited London to two earned runs over 5 1/3 innings while striking out three and walking only one.
Welland collected 14 hits; London, eight.