Guelph Royals edged by Welland in home opener
GUELPH – The Guelph Royals suffered a 5-4 loss to the Welland Jackfish in their Intercounty Baseball League home opener Saturday afternoon at Hastings Stadium.
Welland connected for the winning run in the top of the ninth inning to cap off a win in a game they trailed by three runs after the second inning.
Welland Jackfish 5 Guelph Royals 4
The Royals had grabbed the early lead with three runs in the second inning, but Welland came back to go ahead with four runs in the fifth. The Royals pulled even with a run in the seventh.
Yomar Concepcion started for the Royals and went five innings. He gave up four runs, all earned, off four hits and a walk and he had three strikeouts.
Yuki Narita took the loss in his first outing of more than an inning. He went four innings, surrendering an earned run off four hits. He didn’t walk anyone and had two strikeouts.
The Royals had 10 hits in the game with Brando Leroux, Darius Barlas and Noah Roberts getting two each and Ethan Hammond, J.D. Williams, Mike Cecchetto and Brandon Keys getting one apiece.
Scott Gillespie started for the Jackfish while Will Jackman, Mike Mueller, Brett Lawson and Deivy Mendez each saw time in relief on the mound. They combined to hold the Royals to four runs, three earned, off 10 hits and five walks. They had five strikeouts.
James Smibert, Sam Cawker and Matteo Porcellato had two hits apiece while Luis Jean and McCoy Pearce had one each.
All individual stats are unofficial as the official score had not been posted on the league’s scoreboard late Sunday morning.
Josh Garton made his first appearance of the season for the Royals. He was a pinch runner in the ninth inning, but isn’t expected to bat his recovery from an arm injury suffered playing hockey in the offseason won’t permit him to bat until approximately the middle of July.
The game had some weird moments including a multitude of children being released to run the bases prior to the bottom of the seventh inning with Welland’s Brett Lawson, a former Royal, warming up.
In the top of the ninth, the Royals recorded a strange double play that got them out of a big jam. With the bases loaded for the Jackfish, the home side got a forced out at home and then tagged out the Welland batter who didn’t run to first as he claimed he’d been hit by a pitch. The original call was that the ball hit the bottom of his bat and was live in play. After the umpires got together for a conference, that call stood.
The Toronto Maple Leafs lead the league at 5-1 while the Kitchener Panthers are at 3-1 and Hamilton Cardinals at 3-2. Barrie Baycats and Welland are both at 2-2 while the London Majors are at 2-3, the Royals are at 1-3 and the Brantford Red Sox are at 0-4.
The Royals are to take on the Panthers at Kitchener’s Jack Couch Park Sunday at 2 p.m.
Guelph and Kitchener have also rescheduled the game that was postponed May 20 due to poor field conditions caused by rain. It’s now scheduled to be played June 6 at Hastings Stadium. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
- Guelph Sports Journal
Guelph Royals edged by Welland in home opener
GUELPH – The Guelph Royals suffered a 5-4 loss to the Welland Jackfish in their Intercounty Baseball League home opener Saturday afternoon at Hastings Stadium.
Welland connected for the winning run in the top of the ninth inning to cap off a win in a game they trailed by three runs after the second inning.
Welland Jackfish 5
Guelph Royals 4
The Royals had grabbed the early lead with three runs in the second inning, but Welland came back to go ahead with four runs in the fifth. The Royals pulled even with a run in the seventh.
Yomar Concepcion started for the Royals and went five innings. He gave up four runs, all earned, off four hits and a walk and he had three strikeouts.
Yuki Narita took the loss in his first outing of more than an inning. He went four innings, surrendering an earned run off four hits. He didn’t walk anyone and had two strikeouts.
The Royals had 10 hits in the game with Brando Leroux, Darius Barlas and Noah Roberts getting two each and Ethan Hammond, J.D. Williams, Mike Cecchetto and Brandon Keys getting one apiece.
Scott Gillespie started for the Jackfish while Will Jackman, Mike Mueller, Brett Lawson and Deivy Mendez each saw time in relief on the mound. They combined to hold the Royals to four runs, three earned, off 10 hits and five walks. They had five strikeouts.
James Smibert, Sam Cawker and Matteo Porcellato had two hits apiece while Luis Jean and McCoy Pearce had one each.
All individual stats are unofficial as the official score had not been posted on the league’s scoreboard late Sunday morning.
Josh Garton made his first appearance of the season for the Royals. He was a pinch runner in the ninth inning, but isn’t expected to bat his recovery from an arm injury suffered playing hockey in the offseason won’t permit him to bat until approximately the middle of July.
The game had some weird moments including a multitude of children being released to run the bases prior to the bottom of the seventh inning with Welland’s Brett Lawson, a former Royal, warming up.
In the top of the ninth, the Royals recorded a strange double play that got them out of a big jam. With the bases loaded for the Jackfish, the home side got a forced out at home and then tagged out the Welland batter who didn’t run to first as he claimed he’d been hit by a pitch. The original call was that the ball hit the bottom of his bat and was live in play. After the umpires got together for a conference, that call stood.
The Toronto Maple Leafs lead the league at 5-1 while the Kitchener Panthers are at 3-1 and Hamilton Cardinals at 3-2. Barrie Baycats and Welland are both at 2-2 while the London Majors are at 2-3, the Royals are at 1-3 and the Brantford Red Sox are at 0-4.
The Royals are to take on the Panthers at Kitchener’s Jack Couch Park Sunday at 2 p.m.
Guelph and Kitchener have also rescheduled the game that was postponed May 20 due to poor field conditions caused by rain. It’s now scheduled to be played June 6 at Hastings Stadium. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
- Guelph Sports Journal