HRD Players of the Week

As the Intercounty Baseball League gears up for both the IBL Home Run Derby and the All-Star Showdown this weekend in Welland, it is time to announce the HRD Players of the Week for the week of July 9th to July 15th.


Seth Strong of the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers batted .429 last week (6 for 14) with 3 Home runs, 6 runs scored, and 6 RBIs to take home this week's honors for the 2nd time this season. The Ohio native is the top seed in the IBL HR Derby on Saturday at 2 pm. Strong is currently third in batting average among qualified hitters batting .369,  first in HRs with 13, and leads the league in runs batted in with 33. Honorable Mentions to his teammate Mitsuki Fukuda who batted .400 on the week scoring four runs,  2 doubles, and 3 RBI. Kitchener Panthers infielder Spenser Ross had another great week for the surging Panthers. Ross batted .462 (6 for 13)  with  2 runs scored and walked twice.


Brandon Underhill pitched 7.2 innings of shutout baseball in Welland's 3-0 shutout of the Guelph Royals Thursday night to take home the pitcher of the week nod. The St Catherines native allowed just two hits, and a walk, finishing the night with 3 strikeouts. Honorable mention to his Jackfish teammate Ben Abram who also blanked the Royals earlier in the week over 7.1 innings allowing  5 hits, 2 walks, and tallied 5 strikeouts. Frank Garces of the Barrie Baycats also turned in a stellar performance working 7 complete innings allowing 6 hits, no walks, and fanned 6 in their victory over Kitchener Thursday night.