IBL Power Rankings: Week 5
Every week, a panel of IBL media experts will submit their power rankings. These submissions will be averaged to determine the official power rankings for that week. These rankings only consider games results through Sunday June 10th.
1. Welland Jackfish - The Jackfish have been utilizing effective pitching to stay in games, with their hitting showing signs of improvement. A lighter schedule allowed them to dominate the Barnstormers and Panthers, and secure a rare victory in Toronto against the Maple Leafs.
2. Barrie Baycats - The Baycats are finding their groove, highlighted by wins over top-ranked Guelph and a split series with London featuring a high-scoring game. They are a top-four team, yet still striving for a game where both their hitting and pitching are completely in sync.
3. London Majors - The Majors are starting to click, with only a few games affecting their standing slightly. Their performance in a split series with Barrie and ongoing improvements at the plate and on the mound keep them in strong contention.
4. Guelph Royals - The Royals faced a tough week with mixed results, including a win over the Red Sox but losses to the Maple Leafs and Baycats. Their pitching remains solid, despite some offensive struggles.
5. Toronto Maple Leafs - With impactful lineup changes leading to wins, including a notable victory in Guelph, Toronto's season is gaining momentum despite pitching concerns. A recent loss to Welland at home, however, highlights ongoing challenges.
6. Hamilton Cardinals - Hamilton faces challenges, including consecutive losses and late-inning pitching woes. Despite these issues, their performance keeps them competitively positioned in the league.
7. Brantford Red Sox - With two wins over Chatham and Kitchener, Brantford's pitching has excelled, though their offense has been inconsistent. These wins show potential for upward movement in the standings.
8. Chatham Barnstormers - Chatham's initial strong performance has tapered off, leaving them needing more offensive output from players other than Seth Strong. Despite a tough run, they secured a surprising win over Hamilton.
9. Kitchener Panthers - The Panthers are maintaining competitiveness, particularly with strong pitching efforts. However, they need more consistency in their offense to climb higher in the rankings.