Brantford Red Sox make history with fifth straight IBL title

Brantford, ON - Chris Chavez pitched a complete game three-hitter and Tyler Burnell hit a two-run homer to lead the Brantford Red Sox to an 8-0 win over the Barrie Baycats on Wednesday night in Barrie, giving Brantford its record-tying fifth consecutive Intercounty Baseball League championship.

Brantford sweeps the best-of-seven title series in four games and completes a remarkable season and playoff that assures the Red Sox a place in IBL history as one of the league's greatest dynasties.

The Red Sox join Galt (1927-31) and Brantford (1959-63) as the only teams to win five playoff championships in a row. Brantford has now won six Jack and Lynne Dominico Trophies in the past seven years, losing to the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games in the 2007 IBL Finals after winning the crown in 2006, and starting their current run in 2008.

Over a seven year period the Red Sox have now won an astounding 83 playoff games and 20 playoff series, a feat unmatched in the long history of the league. And this year's Red Sox team turned in one of the greatest seasons of all-time.

Brantford went 29-6 in the regular season to capture the pennant and followed that up with a 12-1 record in the playoffs, including 11 consecutive wins to finish the season. That 41-7 overall mark ties the 2007 Toronto Maple Leafs for the most wins in a season combined, regular season and playoffs, with the Red Sox fashioning an overall winning percentage of .854.

Brantford lost Game 2 of its opening round series to Burlington before winning three straight in that series, four straight against Kitchener and four straight over Barrie.

Chavez needed just 95 pitches to complete his gem, striking out five and walking none to finish the post-season with a 4-0 record and 1.25 ERA. He did not allow a run in his last three starts, throwing 25 scoreless innings in those starts.

The Red Sox scored single runs in the third and fifth innings and broke open the game with three more in the sixth, including Burnell's two-run homer. Brantford added two more in the eighth and a single in the ninth to complete the scoring.

Burnell had two hits, scored twice and added two RBI while Terrell Alliman, Lee Delfino and Josh McCurdy all also had two hits to pace the Sox 11-hit attack. Tyler Patzalek and Steve Lewis also drove in runs for Brantford, who scored three times thanks to three Barrie errors as well.

Brad Bissell was the starter and loser for the Baycats. He went six innings, allowing five runs – four earned – on eight hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Three relievers finished up for Barrie.

Robert Recuenco had two of Barrie's three hits. 

BRANTFORD     001 013 021 – 8-11-1
BARRIE 000 000 000 – 0-3-3

IBL FINALS
SERIES G
Brantford Red Sox vs. Barrie Baycats
(Brantford leads best-of-seven championship series 4-0)
Game 1 – Thursday, August 23 – Brantford 5 Barrie 4
Game 2 – Sunday, August 26 – Brantford 5 Barrie 1
Game 3 – Monday, August 27 – Brantford 7 Barrie 6
Game 4 – Wednesday, August 29 – Brantford 8 Barrie 0