Baycats sweep Jackfish in doubleheader

BARRIE - The Barrie Baycats jumped into a first-place tie with the Kitchener Panthers by sweeping their doubleheader with the Welland Jackfish by scores of 10-3 and 5-2.

The Baycats and the Panthers both have 23-10 records with three games to play. In the event of a tie for first place, a sudden-victory game will be played to decide the pennant winner.

Barrie jumped out to a 9-1 lead in the opener with Kevin Atkinson leading the way with three hits including a double and four RBI’s. Jordan Castaldo also added three hits including a double and two RBI’s while Jon Waltenbury added a solo home run.

Brendon Dadson and Andrew Mercier each had two hits for Welland.

Matthew St. Kits (3-0) picked up the win, pitching a seven-inning complete game, giving up eight hits and one walk while striking out eight. Rich Corrente (3-2) took the loss in going five innings, allowing 12 hits, nine runs and five walks with three strikeouts.

In Game 2, Welland jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Mattingly Romanin’s run scoring single in the first inning before Castaldo tied the game at 1-1 on his league-leading 14th home run of the season in the bottom of the inning. The Jackfish scored a single run in the third inning to go ahead 2-1 before the Baycats scored three in the fourth inning to set-up their 5-2 win.
Glenn Jackson and Starlin Rodriguez had run scoring singles in the fourth. Ryan Rijo had two hits to lead Barrie while Resse O’Farrell had two hits for Welland.

Adrian Salcedo (8-1) picked up the win for Barrie, pitching all seven innings and allowing only six hits and no walks with ten strikeouts. Chris Boatto (0-1) took the loss in relief of starter Tyler Wood. Wood last 3 1/3 innings, giving up five hits, two walks and a home run. Boatto went 2/3 innings, giving up three hits and three runs with two walks and two strikeouts. 

Welland (17-17) is tied with London in fourth place.