Grand-slam comeback for Jackfish
Kwon clears bases with circuit clout; Welland improves to 2-2
Tony Kwon’s first extra-base hit of the Intercounty Baseball League season came just when the Welland Jackfish needed to dig themselves out of a deep hole.
His grand slam highlighted a five-run rally in the bottom of the fourth inning.
The 24-year-old Toronto native’s circuit clout off Brantford Red Sox starter Kyle Lev erased a four-run deficit, giving the hosts their first lead of Thursday night’s game at Welland Stadium.
The Jackfish, who faced the Red Sox for the second time this season hoping to snap a twogame losing streak, trailed again after Brantford plated two runs in the seventh to go up by one.
But it was all Welland after that. The Jackfish scored four unanswered runs, two each in the seventh and eighth innings, and Zach Cameron pitched two scoreless innings in relief to secure a 10-7 victory.
Welland improved to 2-2 despite being outhit 11-7 by Brantford, which fell to 0-3.
Each team committed one error.
Designated hitter Matt Hilderbrandt went 3-for-4 and Kwon 2-for-3 to pace the hosts at the plate.
Dane Tofteland, who doubled, and Aaron Dunsmore also had hits for the Jackfish.
Kwon, with four, Hilderbrandt, with three, and Andrew Mercier and Dunsmore, with one apiece, drove in runs, while Dennis Dei Banning, with two, and Robert Mackie, Eric Marriott, Mercier and Tofteland had stolen bases.
Liam Sutherland had three hits and Colton Fountain and Gianfranco Morello had two apiece for the Red Sox. Brantford also swiped six bases.
Welland starter Rich Corrente gave up five runs, three of them earned, over five innings while striking out three and walking one.
Chris Boatto, who earned the victory and improved to 2-0 on the year, allowed two runs on four hits and one walk in two innings of work. He had one strikeout.
Cameron held the Red Sox hitless and walked one over the final two innings.
Drew Mainprize, the third of four Brantford pitchers, was tagged with the loss after surrendering two runs on two hits in the bottom of the seventh.
Welland is scheduled to host the Barrie Baycats in a 1:05 p.m. first pitch Saturday and visit the Kitchener Panthers in a matinee game Sunday beginning at 2 p.m.
Saturday’s contest against sixtime defending playoff champion Barrie will be the first under Step 3 of the Ontario government’s pandemic reopening plan.
Under Step 3, venues for outdoor sports, including ballparks and race tracks, can welcome back fans to a maximum of 75 per cent capacity.
That works out to 2,130 spectators in the case of the Jackfish.
They were permitted 25 per cent capacity, up to 710 fans, under Step 2.
For those interestedin taking in a game, ticket information is available at the team’s website at wellandjackfish.com.
> REEL THINGS: The IBL intends to play a 30-game regular season, down from the traditional 36, after the entire 2020 season was cancelled due to COVID-19 … The league’s lineup of teams is down one, to seven, with the Guelph Royals opting to sit out the year.