If there was one IBL club that looked capable of ending the Brantford Red Sox' streak of five consecutive championships this season, that club was the Barrie Baycats.
After last night, they are halfway there.
A 6-5 win in Game Two of the IBL Championship Series gave the Baycats a 2-0 series lead.
There won't be any panic in the Telephone City just yet. The Red Sox have been in a hole like this before - they were shutout twice and down two games to one to the Guelph Royals in the first round of this year's playoffs. They shook off the initial shock of falling behind and proceeded to win three in a row to oust Guelph. The Red Sox then went on to roll over the Kitchener Panthers with ease, punching their ticket to the championship series against Barrie.
To be sure, the Red Sox still have the swagger of a dynasty. Last night at Schmidt & Shaw Stadium, they took to the field in their fancy red jerseys looking calm and detached - the consummate corporate professionals. Boring as hell, but they are what they are. I'd sooner follow a band of misfits (glances at the Toronto Maple Leafs) who dress in hand me downs and yell and scream - sometimes at each other - than a faceless win machine with no standout characters.
But they are what they are, and they win.
Only, in this series they face an opponent that matches up more evenly than any other. The Baycats' bats and arms are just as good as those of the Red Sox. So far in this tight, tight series, they have proven better.
Game Two was a great sea-saw battle. Twice, Brantford nosed ahead to take the lead, and both times Barrie responded quickly to even the score. The 'Cats grabbed a one-run lead in the 7th, and extended it in the 8th. The Red Sox fought to the final out, and clawed back to within one run before the door finally slammed shut on them.
The Red Sox played a sloppy game, a very out-of-character, out-of-body experience. They committed three fielding errors - mistakes that extended Barrie's innings and led to unearned runs being scored.
The Baycats committed errors too, but not as many. Barrie pitching has been superb so far in this series, and Brantford had the best pitching in the league this season. In a tight game, one error could mean the difference. Last night, it helped give Barrie the win. Two more wins and the IBL will have a new champion.
It had been two weeks since I'd been to a game. I hadn't gone to any since the night the Maple Leafs were eliminated. But Schmidt & Shaw is one of my favourite ballparks, and I wanted to see it one more time. Instead of the usual roaming around with camera in hand, I took a seat on the left field bleachers and enjoyed one of the best views in the league. As a Group of Seven sunset lit up the sky, I snapped one crappy cellphone photo (above).
It was a warm evening, and after the sun had set, an atmospheric mist appeared over the outfield grass. There were barely any mosquitos around this time, and a huge crowd made for a lively night.
My only gripe is that the Baycats seemed unprepared for the numbers present. There was little to choose from at the snack bar, and most fans had to make due with fries and drinks. And the souvenir counter was once again out of hats in my size (fourth time trying). Sure, it's the end of the season, but a championship series draws the biggest crowds of the year and the Baycats could have prepared more. They also could have made a lot more cash last night, if they'd stocked up better!
Anyway, I wish them well. The IBL needs a new champion, and they have been up to the task so far.
