Mother Nature Threw Some Wrenches in This Week's Rankings

IBL Power Rankings – Week Two

Mother Nature played spoiler last week, washing out 7 of 12 scheduled games and throwing a wrench into the rhythm of the early season. With the forecast looking clearer ahead, this week will serve as a gut check for several clubs aiming to climb the standings and shake off the rust.

TIE 1st - Welland Jackfish (2-0) | Last Week: 1st

The Jackfish just want to play baseball, plain and simple. Rain robbed them of reps last week, but they're staring down a jam-packed schedule: London on Tuesday (makeup from Friday), Brantford Thursday and Friday, and a Saturday night tilt in Chatham-Kent. If the weather holds, we’ll see what this team’s really made of.

TIE 1st - London Majors (5-0) | Last Week: 2nd

Two comeback wins this past week keep the Majors undefeated and firmly planted in the #2 spot. Manager Roop Chanderdat praised his young squad’s work ethic and hunger, knowing the road ahead is a grind. A four-game week—highlighted by a heavyweight matchup vs. Welland on Tuesday—will test their depth, especially on the mound.

3. Guelph Royals (2-2) | Last Week: 9th

Big leap up the rankings after a bounce-back week. The Royals looked much more like themselves—more disciplined at the plate, more composed on the mound. They didn’t roll over after losing the lead to Chatham-Kent, showing resilience that was lacking earlier. Just two games this week: London on Saturday and Hamilton on Sunday.

4. Hamilton Cardinals (1-1) | Last Week: 4th

The rain completely wiped out the Cards’ week, leaving this rebuilt squad stuck in idle. That ends now with a three-game grind: a home-and-home with Barrie (Friday/Saturday) followed by Guelph on Sunday. The early identity of this team will be shaped in the next 72 hours.

5. Chatham-Kent Barnstormers (2-2) | Last Week: 7th

Tough luck Sunday after going extras the night before, but this group is feisty. They’re shaping up to be the team nobody enjoys playing. A brutal stretch ahead: Barrie on Thursday, Welland Saturday, and London Sunday. A 2-1 week would be a statement.

6. Barrie Baycats (0-3) | Last Week: 3rd

Still hung over from their championship run. Offence has been flat—only a few bats hitting above .200. The Baycats need a spark, and fast. They open a make-or-break three-game set Thursday vs. Chatham-Kent before the home-and-home showdown with Hamilton.

7. Kitchener Panthers (1-3) | Last Week: 5th

Blowing a 5-0 lead stung—and proved again that no cushion is safe in the IBL. This team needs to learn how to finish. Talent’s there, but execution is lacking. With three games on tap, they’ll need better bullpen composure and killer instinct.

8. Brantford Red Sox (1-3) | Last Week: 8th

Another strong outing from Nicholai Arbach, another game with minimal run support. The offence remains too quiet, but if the bats wake up, this team could cause problems. A couple of tough early-season matchups could be the spark—or the stumble.

9. Toronto Maple Leafs (1-3) | Last Week: 7th

Too many errors, too little clutch hitting. Saturday’s loss in Guelph was one to forget. With a veteran-laden lineup, there’s no excuse not to turn things around quickly. They’ve got three games this week. Taking two is non-negotiable if they want to be relevant come June.