Be it on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook, Doug Dimma is the social media face of the Barrie Baycats, and the go-to person for questions of public interest.
I asked him earlier yesterday whether any bears or other wild animals have ever gotten onto the field at a Baycats game. His response was prompt and professional. He pointed out that Schmidt & Shaw Stadium is in Barrie, not the Yukon, and that the ballpark's most troublesome wildlife encounters come from mosquitos.
Sure enough, as night fell on the stadium last night, the flying menace emerged to torment everyone. It was Canadian Military Night and the Baycats broke out their camo jerseys. Fans were encouraged to wear red, but once the mosquitos appeared, everyone started pulling on their hoodies and jackets. In the later innings, the Maple Leafs fielders all dashed back to the dugout during a break in play to get bug spray.
Back on the field, the Baycats demonstrated why they ran away with the IBL pennant this season. Four Barrie pitchers – led by starter Brad Bissell – combined to give up just three hits and two runs. Meanwhile, the Baycats scored four runs off of six hits, just enough to hang a 4-2 loss on Toronto starter Jas Shergill. Like the mosquitos, they ruled the night.
After the game, Dimma was back online to confirm that the Baycats had indeed clinched the 2014 pennant. They will be one of the teams to get a first round bye in this year’s post-season.
Down at the other end of the standings, the Maple Leafs are locked in a gruesome struggle with the Kitchener Panthers and Brantford Red Sox to avoid 6th place and the one game playoff of doom. Opportunity presents itself later tonight, as the Panthers come to town.
Game Recap:
The Toronto Maple Leafs jumped to an early 1-0 lead on the Barrie Baycats courtesy of centerfielder Glenn Jackson. With one out in the top of the 1st inning, Jackson raced to first on a grounder hit to shortstop Jason Coker. The ball was played for an error and Jackson was safe at first. He then stole second, and was driven home on a single by first baseman Jon Waltenbury.
The Baycats got the run back in the bottom of the 1st. Rightfielder Ryan Spataro singled off of starter Jas Shergill, and advanced to second on a groundout. A single by DH Steve Lewis scored Spataro and it was 1-1 after one.
Shergill and his counterpart Brad Bissell pitched goose eggs for the next two innings.
In the bottom of the 4th, Lewis was hit by a pitch from Shergill, then scored on a double by third baseman Kevin Atkinson. A single by centerfielder Branfy Arias scored Atkinson, and it was 3-1 Baycats after the 4th.
The Baycats added another run in the 5th. Spataro led off with a walk, then stole second. An errant throw from the catcher allowed him to advance to third, and a sac fly by first baseman Jordan Castaldo brought him home. 4-1 Baycats after the 5th.
After giving up just two hits over 7 innings, Bissell turned it over to Josh Soffer to start the 8th. Soffer walked pinch hitter Tyler Mitchell, then gave up a single to leftfielder Grant Tamane that moved Mitchell all the way to third base. Soffer was relieved by Nick Fogarty, who gave up a sac fly to Jackson that scored Mitchell. 4-2 Baycats after the 8th.
Chris Nagorski pitched a scoreless 9th for the Baycats, clinched the 4-2 win for Bissell, and also clinched the 2014 IBL pennant for Barrie.
Toronto 2-3-1
Barrie 4-6-2
W - Bissell (4-0)
L - Shergill (1-3)
S - Nagorski (2)
BOXSCORE
The Maple Leafs are now 14-15, in a tie for 5th place with Brantford, 10.5 games behind the Baycats. Their next game is this evening at Christie Pits against the Kitchener Panthers.
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