Baycats Outslug Barnstormers in 12-10 Thriller

BARRIE — The Barrie Baycats used a big seventh inning and a trio of doubles from Willy Garcia to outlast the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers 12-10 in a back-and-forth Intercounty Baseball League slugfest Saturday afternoon at Athletic Kulture Stadium.
Willy Garcia led the Baycats' offense with a 3-for-3 performance, driving in a run and scoring three times. Nolan Machibroda and Adam Odd each had two RBI, with Odd’s clutch single in the seventh inning sparking a five-run outburst that proved to be the difference.
Chris Nagorski picked up the win in relief, tossing a scoreless seventh, while Johnathan Warden earned the save despite giving up three unearned runs in the eighth. Starter Juan Benitez went six innings, giving up seven runs on nine hits while striking out six.
Yushin Ohta powered the Barnstormers' offense, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and five RBI, including a bases-clearing double in the eighth that brought Chatham-Kent within two. Andrew Groening added two hits and an RBI.
Catalin Morin took the loss in relief for Chatham-Kent, allowing two runs (one earned) in 2.2 innings. Starter Yuki Yokoyama gave up seven runs (five earned) over four innings.
With the win, Barrie improves to 21-12 and travel Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs at 7:30pm, while the Barnstormers drop to 17-15. Their next action is Tuesday when they host the London Majors at 7:35pm.