Maple Leafs Weekly Recap - July 8 to 14, 2025
The Leafs drop two at home in a short Week Nine
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| The 2025 Toronto Maple Leafs complete team set. |
The Past: Banners.
The Present: Cards.
The Future: TBC.
Sunday at Christie Pits was Alumni Day, and the Toronto Maple Leafs took a moment to celebrate the club's history.
In a pregame ceremony, Paul Spoljaric became the first Leaf to have his number retired. A banner with his number 36 went up on the right field chainlink monster, now dubbed the Level of Excellence.
Toronto baseball clubs do well in enshrining the names of their most famous owners, (think Rogers Centre and Dominico Field), and the "level of excellence" thing is also a common link.
Also hoisted were a couple of banners marking notable achievements of the nearer-past: Jordan Castaldo's 100th IBL home run, and 10 seasons of the Marra Brothers playing together on the Leafs.
The Friday before, the 2025 Leafs team became the very first to get its own series of baseball cards.
A 41-card set featuring all the players, coaches and even the club mascot is available for sale during home games at the Pits. Fans and collectors will love this. Each team set goes for $20 and quantities are limited. If you know you want a set, don't delay.
That's the past and the present. What about the future?
The Welland Jackfish continue to be the class of the IBL. Their record is 21-6, their run differential is plus-134, and they have a 4-game cushion atop the standings. Brantford and Kitchener are trending in the other direction, with losing streaks of four and five games, respectively. There's a big bunching of clubs in the middle. Any club could get hot and shoot upwards (see Barrie and Hamilton), or hit a skid and drop down (see Guelph).
Wither Toronto? I'm as keen as any other observer to see how the rest of this season will play out.
For now, here is the recap of Week Nine in Leafs baseball.
Friday, July 11, 2025 - Welland Jackfish vs Toronto Maple Leafs
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| A common sight Friday night: the wrong-coloured jersey chugging around third. |
The Welland Jackfish scored early and often en route to a 15-5 victory at Christie Pits.
Justin Marra's three-run homer in the third inning was the best part of the Toronto Maple Leafs' effort in a losing cause.
The game featured a duel of westerners on the pitcher's mound. Josh Berenbaum of Richmond, British Columbia put his record on the line versus Halen Knoll of Edmonton, Alberta.
Berenbaum pitched into the fourth inning, surrendering five runs off eight Welland hits. He struck out six and walked three.
The Jackfish took a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the third, when the Leafs put up a fight. Shortstop Spenser Ross drew a leadoff walk and third baseman Ryan Dos Santos followed with a single. Ross went first-to-third, then scored on an RBI single by right fielder Jhon Javier. Three batters later, catcher Marra cracked a Knoll offering over the fence for a three-run home run. The Leafs' rally tied the game 4-4 through three.
The positive vibe was short-lived. The Wellanders poured it on over the next three innings, knocking Berenbaum out of the game, teeing off against Wilgenis Alvarado and victimizing Nathan Currah during their rampage. Jeremy Newton was also tagged for a run. Some crooked numbers went on the board and by the end of the sixth the Leafs were down 15-4.
Ayami Sato pitched a scoreless top of the eighth.
In the bottom of the inning, first baseman Aidan McAskie marked his return to the Leafs with a single. Left fielder Dennis Dei Baning drove him home with a double.
Eugene Lee struck out three in the top of the ninth. The Leafs went down quietly to end the game and Welland enjoyed a 15-5 FINAL score. Knoll won the battle of the west and Berenbaum took the loss.
Welland 15 15 0
Toronto 5 9 3
W - Knoll (1-0, 7.80)
L - Berenbaum (3-3, 4.90)
Sunday, July 13, 2025 - London Majors vs Toronto Maple Leafs
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| London at Toronto (file photo) |
BRUTAL.
It's been a month since the Toronto Maple Leafs won a game at Christie Pits.
This unwelcome factoid was clinched after the home nine lost to the London Majors 10-6 on Alumni Day.
The Leafs blew an early lead and watched as the visitors slowly pulled away. Once again, they put up a fight but it wasn't enough.
Down 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning, the Leafs rallied for three runs. Two walks and a single off starter Alex Springer loaded the bases. A single by centerfielder Chad Picton drove in a run. It was the Leaf newcomer's first IBL hit and RBI. The production line continued, with RBI singles by DH Dennis Dei Baning and right fielder Aidan McAskie giving the Leafs a 3-1 lead through one.
Starter Adam Jafine battled the Majors into the fifth inning, but he got roughed up for seven runs off eight hits and a walk. He struck out five on the day and was relieved by Franklin Hernandez. By the time the inning was over the Leafs were down 8-3.
In the top of the seventh, Hernandez gave up another run.
In the bottom of the seventh, Dei Baning crushed a 3-run homer to make it a 9-6 ballgame.
As was the case in Friday's game against Welland, the Leafs were unable to complete the comeback. Reliever Eugene Lee gave up a solo home run in the eighth, and the home bats had no response.
A 10-6 FINAL saw Colby Ring pick up the win and Jafine take his third loss of the season.
London 10 14 1
Toronto 6 11 1
Toronto 6 11 1
W - Ring (1-1, 5.40)
L - Jafine (0-3, 5.72)
S - Janisse (8)
After Week Nine, the Leafs' record slips to 12-15 and they drop to sixth place in the IBL standings, 9 games behind the Welland Jackfish.
Another light week sees the Leafs play two at Christie Pits. Here's hoping this doesn't become the homestand from hell.
The week ahead:
Wednesday, July 16 - Kitchener Panthers vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 pm at Christie Pits
Saturday, July 19 - Hamilton Cardinals vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 pm at Christie Pits
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