Hook, Line and Sinker

Maple Leafs Weekly Recap - May 23 to 29, 2022

The Leafs faced the Welland Jackfish in a home-and-home series and got schooled

On Sunday afternoon, Justin Marra applauds Brady Cerkownyk's home run, his first round trip at Christie Pits.

It was supposed to be a great weekend of sport fishing.  

After beating the Kitchener Panthers on Thursday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs set their sights on the IBL's number one undefeated team, the Welland Jackfish.

The clubs played a home-and-home series on the weekend.  The Leafs looked to land a couple of big ones and get into the race for the league pennant.

Both games started well, with the Leafs taking an early lead.  But before the boat drinks could be passed around, disaster struck.  Lines snapped, rods broke, the Leafs hit the rocks and the boat overturned.  The Jackfish swam away with a series sweep.

On the plus side, the Leafs' junior callups continue to show promise.  Brady Cerkownyk homered twice on the weekend, including the first round trip of the season at Christie Pits.  On the mound, Sebastian Kahn and Rhys Montgomery are racking up the innings under the tutelage of Damon Topolie and Dustin Richardson.

The month of May ended on a sour note but this expanded season is only getting started.

Thursday, May 26, 2022 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Kitchener Panthers

Jordan Castaldo puts the Leafs on the board with a home run.  (Image: Panthers Baseball Online YouTube)

A good ol' fashioned slugfest broke out at Jack Couch Park on Thursday night.

When the dust settled, the Toronto Maple Leafs emerged on top of a 12-9 final over the Kitchener Panthers.

The back-and-forth battle began in the bottom of the 2nd, when the Panthers touched started Marek Deska for a couple of runs.

The Leafs immediately responded in the top of the 3rd.  Left fielder Grant Tamane led off with a single, and then first baseman Jordan Castaldo blasted a pitch from Jorden Carthy over the fence to meet its cruel fate somewhere on the Conestoga Parkway.  The Leafs added two more to take a 4-2 lead through three.

The lead was extended in the 4th when second baseman Dan Marra launched a two-run homer of his own to make it 6-2 Leafs.

The Panthers roared back with five runs off Deska in the bottom of the 4th and took a 7-6 lead.

Did I say slugfest?  Honestly this game was more like a grudge match.  In the top of the 7th, the Leafs loaded the bases, and then reliever Luis Grisanti walked in the tying run.  That was followed by a two-run single by catcher Justin Marra and the Leafs went back ahead 9-7.

The Leafs kept at it in the 8th.  Four singles in a row scored a pair of runs, and Tamane drove in one more with a ground out.  It was 12-7 Leafs through their half of the 8th.

The Black Cats scratched out a couple of runs late, but their comeback failed and Zack Sloan was the winning pitcher in a 12-9 FINAL.

Player of the game was Jordan Castaldo, who went 2 for 3 with a home run and 3 walks.

Toronto 12 13 4

Kitchener 9 15 3

W - Sloan (1-1. 1.80)

L - Grisanti (0-1, 0.00)

BOXSCORE

Saturday, May 28, 2022 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Welland Jackfish

The Jackfish won a wild comeback in Welland.  (Image: Welland Jackfish YouTube)

Sport fishing weekend kicked off at Welland Stadium.  The Leafs hoped to land a big one but caught nothing but seaweed.

Early on, the fishing was easy for the Leafs.  In the top of the 1st inning, they were gifted a run without swinging a bat.  Walk, Walk, Hit By Pitch, Walk.  1-0.

In the top of the 3rd, another HBP and another walk made it 3-0.

The Leafs added four more runs in the top of the 4th.  First baseman Aiden McKaskie doubled in a pair of runs, and catcher Brady Cerkownyk hit a two-run homer to put the Leafs ahead 7-0.  Break out the boat drinks!

Starter Sebastian Kahn pitched five shutout innings before surrendering a pair in the 6th.  

But then everything went to hell in the 7th.  Welland went wild, scoring seven runs off seven hits and and error.  They took a 9-7 lead and added one more in the 8th to go up 10-7.

The Leafs tried a comeback in the 9th and pushed reliever Chris Boatto to the brink.  RBI singles by second baseman Garrett Takamatsu and third baseman Johnathan Solazzo brought the Leafs to within a run, but they got no further and sank on the losing end of a 10-9 FINAL.

Toronto 9 9 2

Welland 10 10 0

W - Underhill (1-0, 8.30)

L - Nagorski (0-1, 6.00)

S - Boatto (2)

BOXSCORE

Sunday, May 29, 2022 - Welland Jackfish at Toronto Maple Leafs

Gregory Carrington's solo home run in the 8th launched the Leafs' late comeback attempt.

On Sunday afternoon, the Leafs welcomed the Jackfish to Christie Pits hoping to split the series.

Unlike the previous weekend's crummy weather and meagre attendance, the Pits were alive once again.  Sunbathers basked in the heat and Al Ross's ticket-selling apprentices worked the ballpark.  Christie's hardcore fans and paparazzi buzzed around the infield fences.

Up on the hillsides, the bush was packed and the Bushmen were a chorus of misery for Welland starter Rich Corrente.  By the end of the 2nd inning, the burly bearded pitcher had surrendered 4 hits, including doubles by first baseman Garrett Takamatsu and right fielder Justin Marra.  Catcher Brady Cerkownyk provided an exclamation point by blasting a 2-run homer, and the Leafs led 3-0 after two.  The Bushmen poked the softer points of Corrente's psyche and narrated his every mistake.

Making their Toronto Maple Leaf debuts were starting pitcher Mason Fenwick and import player Jose Vinicio.  The shortstop introduced himself to the Pits with a single in his first at bat, punctuated by a headfirst slide to the bag.

It was all jolly good fun until the 3rd, when Fenwick gave up five runs on four hits and two walks.  A two-run homer by Ethan Hunt put the Jackfish ahead 5-3.

Welland added a run in the 5th and two more in the 8th to make the score 8-3.

The inevitable Leafs comeback attempt got rolling in the bottom of the 8th.  Centerfielder Gregory Carrington smacked his first home run of the season, and third baseman Johnathan Solazzo hit a two-run single that made it 8-6 going into the 9th.

But the 'Fish got away this day.  Burly bearded reliever Scott Gillespie closed out a three-inning save for Welland and an 8-6 FINAL.

Welland 8 12 1

Toronto 6 9 0

W - Corrente (1-0, 3.11)

L - Fenwick (0-1, 11.25)

S - Gillespie (1)

BOXSCORE

At 2-4, the Leafs are in 7th place, 3 1/2 games behind the still-undefeated Welland Jackfish.

The week ahead: 

Wednesday, June 1 - Barrie Baycats vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 pm at Christie Pits

Friday, June 3 - Toronto Maple Leafs at London Majors, 7:35 pm at Labatt Memorial Park

Sunday, June 5 - Guelph Royals vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 2:00 pm at Christie Pits

Leafs in Bloom

Maple Leafs Weekly Recap - May 19 to 22, 2022

The 2022 Leafs continue to take shape as familiar names and new faces take the field

(File photo)

Following last Sunday's sun-drenched season opener, the Toronto Maple Leafs season continued with a couple of road trips before a successful return to Christie Pits.

It is still early days and the roster is coming together.  Some junior call ups are making the most of the opportunity before all the big names are back in town.  Players and fans alike can dream of the possible.

Pitcher Sebastian Kahn made his IBL debut for the Leafs.  On the other side of the plate, reigning IBL MVP Garrett Takamatsu made his first appearance of the season.  Both had solid starts to the summer.

The club is gently easing into the pool rather than diving straight in.

Thursday, May 19, 2022 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Barrie Baycats

Sebastian Kahn debuts on the mound for the Leafs on Thursday night.  (Image: Barrie Baycats TV YouTube)

Sebastian Kahn made his IBL debut on the mound at Vintage Throne (formerly Coates) Stadium in Barrie.

The 18-year-old from Brampton pitched five solid innings for the Leafs.  He gave up 1 run off 5 hits, with 2 walks and a strikeout.

Four Barrie pitchers combined to shut the Leafs out through eight innings.  By the top of the 9th, right fielder Ryan Santos had seen enough.  He may have even barked "I have seen enough!" before seizing a bat, marching to the batter's box and smashing a home run to tie the game.  

That woke everyone up, including the Baycats, who thought they might sleepwalk to a 1-0 win.  Instead, they attacked reliever Adam Marra with four singles in the bottom of the 9th to walk it off with a 2-1 win.

Player of the game was Ryan Santos, who went 2 for 4 with a home run.

Toronto 1 7 2

Barrie 2 9 2

W - Grieveson (1-0, 9.00)

L - A. Marra (0-1, 2.07)

BOXSCORE

Saturday, May 21, 2022 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Guelph Royals

Saturday's game in Guelph was postponed after one of the right field trees at Hastings Stadium was felled by a storm.  (File photo) 

The sudden fury of nature is awesome and terrifying, and we can only be spectators.

On Saturday afternoon, about an hour before the Leafs were to play the Guelph Royals at Hastings Stadium, a violent thunderstorm ripped through the city.  The rain and high winds caused one of the mighty trees in right field to come crashing down.

No one was hurt in the incident, but the wreckage of the tree made the game unplayable.  It was postponed to a later date.

Sunday, May 22, 2022 - Brantford Red Sox at Toronto Maple Leafs

Reigning IBL MVP Garrett Takamatsu returned to Christie Pits on Sunday.  (File Photo)

It was a cooler afternoon at Christie Pits than the week before.  Morning rainfall and grey skies, but the game went ahead as scheduled with the Brantford Red Sox in town.

For the Leafs, Zack Sloan made the start on the mound.  His opposite was Yunior Yambatis.  Both pitchers traded goose eggs until a fateful 4th inning.

The Red Sox scratched out a couple of runs in the top of the inning, but the Leafs roared right back. 

Making his season debut for the Leafs, DH Garrett Takamatsu led off the bottom of the 4th with a single.  Third baseman Johnathan Solazzo followed with a walk, and both runners scored on a double by second baseman Taeg Gollert.  Left fielder Grant Tamane broke the tie with an RBI single to score Gollert and the Leafs took a 3-2 lead.

The Leafs bullpen took it the rest of the way, with Rhys Montgomery, Adam Marra and Chris Nagorski shutting out the Red Sox over the final five innings.

Player of the game was Grant Tamane, who went 2 for 3 with the game-winning RBI.

Brantford 2 6 0

Toronto 3 5 3

W - Montgomery (1-0, 3.00)

L - Yambatis (0-1, 4.50)

S - Nagorski (1)

BOXSCORE 

The week ahead: 

Thursday, May 26 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Kitchener Panthers, 7:30 pm at Jack Couch Park

Saturday, May 28 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Welland Jackfish, 1:05 pm at Welland Stadium

Sunday, May 29 - Welland Jackfish vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 2:00 pm at Christie Pits

Maple Leafs Get Back in the Swing

On Opening Day 2022, the Leafs look back and stride forward as the post-Jack era begins

Leadoff man Gregory Carrington gets things started at the Pits on Sunday afternoon.

Sunday, May 15, 2022 - London Majors at Toronto Maple Leafs

There was a different vibe to opening day.

The Toronto Maple Leafs baseball club is entering a new era, and it certainly felt like that yesterday at Christie Pits.

A lot has happened since the first night of last October, when the Leafs' run for the IBL championship ended in deciding-game defeat.  That night, the Leafs and their travelling caravan watched the London Majors rush the mound and dogpile, whoop and holler, splash and guzzle, twerk and thrust, and all the other unbridled things that happen when a team wins it all.

Unbeknownst to the Leafs, it was only the beginning of a massive transition.

In January, the annual task of roster building was interrupted by the death of club patriarch Jack Dominico.  Stewardship of the Leafs was taken up by a group of custodians who will see the club through the immediate future.  

Yesterday at Christie Pits, the future arrived.

The park was bursting with life.  The green hillsides were dotted with dandelions, and trees in full bloom looked over the immaculate diamond.  A big crowd basked in the warm midsummer weather.  The league's wise men did well to shift the start of the season slightly deeper into May.

The Leafs appeared in fresh new navy and white uniforms.  The Majors were there in their road greys.

Pregame ceremonies included a Ukrainian chorus and fundraiser.  That was followed by the unveiling of a tribute to both Jack and Lynne Dominico, their smiling faces enshrined on a banner in centerfield.

IBL Commissioner John Kastner threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Announcer Roger Lajoie was in the press box for the first time since 2013.  Al Ross was starting a new gig selling club merchandise at the snack bar.  Plenty of changes, but when the players took the field, it was back to the familiar comforts of the game.

Veteran starter Marek Deska got things started with a scoreless top of the first.

Veteran third baseman Johnathan Solazzo put the Leafs on the board with an RBI single in the bottom of the inning.

And so it went, a gentle back-and-forth with the Majors to get the season going.

The visitors tied the game in the top of the second.  Left fielder Grant Tamane drove in a run in the bottom of the frame to put the Leafs back ahead 2-1.

With some key members of the roster not yet arrived for the season, the Leafs filled out the lineup with some junior call-ups.  DH Brady Cerkownyk made the most of the opportunity by going 3 for 4 and earning player of the game honours.

The Majors took the lead in the fifth, setting the stage for a ninth inning comeback by the Leafs, but they fell short and lost this opener 6-3.  Hard to get too down over it.  It was a gorgeous afternoon, the roster is coming together, and baseball is back for a 53rd summer at the Pits.

London 6 11 1

Toronto 3 9 3

W - Boon (1-0, 3.60)

L - Sloan (0-1, 4.50)

S - Arias (1)

BOXSCORE

The week ahead: 

Thursday, May 19 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Barrie Baycats, 7:30 pm at Vintage Throne Stadium (formerly Coates Stadium)

Saturday, May 21 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Guelph Royals, 1:00 pm at Hastings Stadium

Sunday, May 22 - Brantford Red Sox vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 2:00 pm at Christie Pits