The Dog Days of Summer

Maple Leafs Weekly Recap - August 5 to 11, 2025

A win on Sunday kept the Leafs out of the doghouse in Week Thirteen.

Spenser Ross hit .455 in 11 plate appearances this week, with 4 RBIs and a pair of runs scored.

Woof!

This week was headed for the hounds until the Toronto Maple Leafs won yesterday afternoon in Chatham.

Prior to that, the boys in blue had been blown out three games in a row, starting the previous week at Fergie Jenkins Field.  Yesterday's win was a great relief.

It's been a memorable season at Christie Pits.  Plenty of ups and downs.  

Some good news: Dennis Dei Baning was named the Rawlings IBL Batter of the Month for July.  His monster month was well deserving of this honour.

The convenient infographic below shows the stats that earned Dei Baning the award.

(image: theibl.ca)

More good news: Spenser Ross earned himself an unofficial Leafs player of the week nod.  In three games he went 5-for-11 at the plate for a .455 average with 4 RBIs and 2 runs scored.  Twice this week, he was the only Leaf to record an extra-base hit.

(The Unofficial Leafs Player of the Week Nod.  Maybe something to bring forward next season?)

Some bad news: the 2025 regular season is rapidly trickling away.  One week remains!  One home game is left!

The season finale at Christie Pits promises to be something unique.  

It's happening this Saturday night at 7:30 pm, and it's being dubbed the "Field of Dreams" game.  Inspired by the iconic movie, they are putting a Leafs' twist on the magic of baseball.  A pregame show, live band, and retro uniforms are planned.

Sounds interesting!  For now, here is a recap of Week Thirteen in Leafs baseball.

Thursday, August 7, 2025 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Barrie Baycats 

Spenser Ross doubles in a pair of runs on a night where the Leafs scored little else. (image: Barrie Baycats TV / YouTube)

This game was a demolition job, not in a good way.

The Toronto Maple Leafs made their final regular season trek to the great Canadian north to face the Barrie Baycats.  They got demolished 20-4.

Starter Franklin Hernandez pitched a tidy first inning that showed no indication of what was to come.  In the second, he was knocked around for five runs off four hits and four walks.  He struck out two, but got an early hook after throwing 59 pitches.

Two innings in, the Leafs were in a hole from which they would not climb out.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Baycats extended their lead, tacking on four more runs on four hits off reliever Nathan Currah.

Barrie starter Frank Garces pitched six shutout innings, giving up just three hits and striking out eight.

Ben Sitarenios pitched the fifth and sixth innings for Toronto, giving up a run to make it a 10-0 score after six.

In the top of the seventh, the Leafs showed a flicker of life thanks to a two-run double by shortstop Spenser Ross.  It was the only extra-base hit along eight singles by the Leafs.

After that, Adam Marra took one for the team.  He pitched the seventh and eighth innings for Toronto and the Baycats went on an extended rally.  They added ten more runs to make it a 20-2 game.

Credit to the Leafs for not going down without a fight.  In the ninth inning they loaded the bases and added a couple more runs to the score.  Third baseman Ryan Dos Santos and pinch hitter Connor Lewis each hit RBI singles.

Garces won his fifth of the year while Hernandez took the loss.

Toronto 4 9 2

Barrie 20 21 1

W - Garces (5-3, 2.27)

L - Hernandez (1-1, 3.85)

BOXSCORE

Saturday, August 9, 2025 - Hamilton Cardinals vs Toronto Maple Leafs 

Despite the Leafs' losing record, crowds continue to fill the hillsides at Christie Pits.

During the offseason, the Toronto Maple Leafs switched their home schedule from the traditionally Sunday-heavy approach to one dominated by night games.

As the season has progressed it is evident that Saturday nights at Christie Pits have been added to a lot of people's calendars.

A noticeably large crowd was on hand to watch the seventh place Leafs host the Hamilton Cardinals.

All evening, the Leafs found themselves playing catch up.  Ultimately the Redbirds flew off with an 11-3 victory.

Adam Jafine made the start on the mound for Toronto, and was victimized for a couple of runs right away.

In the bottom of the first, third baseman Ryan Dos Santos led off with a walk, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single by shortstop Spenser Ross.  It was 2-1 Hamilton after one inning.

Top of the third, Jafine gave up a single, double and single to put two more runs on the board for the Cardinals, now ahead 4-1.

Bottom four, Ross led off with a double and scored on a ground out by first baseman Mike Cecchetto.  Second baseman Dan Marra, who walked and advanced to third as the inning went on, ended up scoring when a routine grounder was played for an error.  That made it 4-3 Hamilton after four innings.

Jafine's night was done after 96 pitches, and Ayami Sato took the mound to start the fifth.  She gave up a solo home run to Jommer Hernandez, then with two outs she gave up an RBI double and a two-run home run by Brandon Nicoll.  Josh Berenbaum came in from the bullpen to put out the fire, but Hamilton had surged ahead 8-3.

(After the game, Sato took to social media as she has done throughout the season.  She posted a critical analysis of her performance, saying: "As the season nears its end, I'm determined to pitch in a way that truly helps the team in the playoffs.  Still it's been hard when the results don't match the effort, and I'm filled with frustration and disappointment."  This public flaying of one's self is not something we are accustomed to seeing, either in the IBL, or baseball in general.)

Toronto bats were equally frustrating and disappointing, as the Leafs had just four hits on the night.

There was an anxious moment in the top of the seventh.  Hamilton's Tanner Rempel hit one high towards the centerfield fence.  Dennis Dei Baning went up to attempt a grab but the ball escaped his reach.  Dei Baning hit the fence hard and went to the ground.  He came up favouring his right arm and left the game as a precaution.  Afterwards, Dei Baning confirmed he was fine and would be good to go the next day in Chatham.

Berenbaum pitched 3 1/3 innings, and the Cardinals got to him for three more runs.  

Greg Carrington pitched a scoreless ninth.  The game ended with an 11-3 FINAL score.  Jafine got the L while reliever Caleb Seroski grabbed the W.

Hamilton 11 15 1

Toronto 3 4 2

W - Seroski (2-0, 3.75)

L - Jafine (0-5, 6.46)

BOXSCORE

Sunday, August 10, 2025 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Chatham-Kent Barnstormers 

Leafs' manager Rob Butler congratulates Jordan Castaldo after he homered in the first inning. (image: Chatham-Kent Barnstormers YouTube)

Sunday at Fergie Jenkins Field, the Toronto Maple Leafs returned to their winning formula.

They grabbed an early lead, held off their opponents, and the bullpen - THIS BULLPEN - delivered 3-plus scoreless innings to lock down an 8-1 victory over the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers

In the top of the first inning, first baseman Jordan Castaldo continued his pursuit of the IBL home run title.  He swatted a pitch from Aden Ryan and it sailed over the fence in right.  That put two runs on the board for Toronto and put Castaldo into a 4-way tie for the league lead with 11 homers.

In the top of the third inning, with two men on and two out, second baseman Dan Marra singled in a run to make it 3-0 Leafs.

Wilgenis Alvarado started on the mound for Toronto and gave a vintage performance.  He pitched into the sixth inning, giving up just one run on five hits and three walks.  He struck out seven Barnstormers.

The Leafs added three runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth.  Ample.

A massive shout out has to go to the trio of arms that came out of the pen to silence the gents from Kent.  

Matt Brown pitched 1 2/3 hitless innings and struck out two.

Luis Florentino pitched a scoreless inning and gave up one hit.

Jeremy Newton retired the side in order in the ninth to seal the 8-1 win and a Dub for Alvarado.  Ryan took the loss.

Leaf bats produced hits up and down the order.  Castaldo, shortstop Spenser Ross, catcher Jhon Javier and right fielder Ben Sitarenios each notched a pair of hits.  Castaldo and Dan Marra led the way with two RBIs apiece.

Third baseman Ryan Dos Santos continued to amble towards history.  He recorded one walk, giving him 43 on the season.  One more walk will tie, and two will break the IBL single-season record set by the Leafs' Bill Byckowski in 1988.

Toronto 8 10 0

Chatham-Kent 1 6 6 

W - Alvarado (3-2, 5.78)

L - Ryan (3-5, 4.95)

BOXSCORE

With one week remaining in the regular season, the Leafs are 17-23 and sit in seventh place in the IBL standings, 12 1/2 games behind the pennant-winning Welland Jackfish.

The week ahead:

Friday, August 15 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Brantford Red Sox, 7:15 pm at Arnold Anderson's Stadium

Saturday, August 16 - Brantford Red Sox vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 pm at Christie Pits

**END OF REGULAR SEASON**

**LEAFS' POSTSEASON PREVIEW COMING NEXT WEEK**

Leafs Hit on the Winning Formula

Maple Leafs Weekly Recap - July 29 to August 4, 2025

A simple three-part calculation opened the door to success for the Leafs in Week Twelve.

Luis Florentino is the Leafs' new ninth inning weapon.

There's always something to talk about in the Toronto Maple Leafs baseball universe.

Before we even get to this week's action on the diamond, four big stories emerged since last week's recap.

Castaldo Continues Climbing

This season, Jordan Castaldo has cleared and blown past the IBL's historic 100 home run and 500 RBI milestones.

Last week, the Leafs' first baseman went on a tear at the plate.  So much so that he received the league's Player of the Week honour after going 6 for 14 (.429) in three games, hitting 3 home runs, driving in 9 runs and scoring 4.  

Castaldo is playing like a man who wants to decimate every known record, as evidenced below.

(image: theibl.ca)

The Undertaker Departs

By my count, four different IBL clubs have parted ways with managers and/or coaching staff this season: Brantford, Hamilton, Chatham-Kent and Toronto.

In late July, the Leafs' general manager, pitching coach and closer Dustin Richardson departed from the club.  No official statement was made, but he was placed on the Leafs' inactive list.  It appears that contrasting visions between the GM and ownership played a part in the breakup.

Strolling Into the History Book

Ryan Dos Santos, recently featured in this profile, is on the verge of setting an IBL single season record for bases on balls.

"El Blanco" needs four more walks to tie, and five to break the record of 44 walks in a season.  Bill Byckowski of the Toronto Maple Leafs set the mark in 1988.

Dos Santos also currently leads the club with 37 games played, 11 doubles, 40 walks, 14 stolen bases, and 40 runs scored.

As he continues his ironman streak of consecutive games played, the single-season walks record could be toppled as soon as this coming week.

Dance Your Mascot

For the first time ever, the IBL organized a mascot dance competition.

Mascots from eight of the league's clubs participated.  Over the past two weeks, dance videos were posted on Instagram and fans could vote for the best performances in a knockout bracket.

The final round came down to Toronto's own Christie the Dog against Bernie R. Bird of the Hamilton Cardinals.  The outcome was never in doubt.  Christie threw down some bodacious moves not seen since the days of Electric Circus.

The winner of the online vote, and inaugural IBL Mascot Dance Battle Champion was Christie.  Jam another into the Leafs' trophy cabinet.

(image: @IBL1919 / Instagram)

On the diamond, the Leafs finally ended their harrowing home losing streak with a Wednesday night romp over Barrie.

If the postseason began today, the boys in blue would face the London Majors in the first round.  The two clubs just played a timely home-and-home series.  Two very different games with two different outcomes offered a preview of what might be ahead.

Here now is a recap of Week Twelve in Leafs baseball.

Wednesday, July 30, 2025 - Barrie Baycats vs Toronto Maple Leafs 

Justin Marra prepares to receive the Dominico Turbo Chain of Office from starting pitcher Franklin Hernandez (number 31) after hitting a two-run bomb against Barrie.

Franklin Hernandez is back like an old flame.  

In 2022, Hernandez spent a season pitching at Christie Pits.  Coming out of the bullpen, the former Milwaukee Brewers draft pick was the perfect reliever for fellow Dominican pitcher Angel Castro.  Together they helped bring the Leafs to the brink of an IBL championship, only for it to collapse at the worst moment.

Hernandez's talent drew attention.  After 2022, he signed with the Capitales de Québec of the Frontier League, but saw no action.  At the end of the 2023 season, the Capitales released him.

That was the last we heard of him.  Time passed.  Other Dominicans joined the Leafs.  Jose Vinicio, Julian Valdez, Sebastian Rodriguez, Rando Moreno, Jhon Javier.

Some put in their time and moved on.  Some made an impression and stuck around.

The 2025 season rumbled along.  After a solid start, the Leafs went into a mid-season slump and dropped in the standings.  An abnormal home losing streak stretched out over a month.

When things looked dark, Franklin Hernandez returned out of the blue.  He made a couple of relief appearances.  Then he made a good start.  That was followed by another on Wednesday night, and Hernandez helped break the home losing streak by recording a win over the Barrie Baycats.

Making his second appearance as a starter, Hernandez pitched five innings and gave up three hits while striking out eight and walking three.  It was just what the Leafs needed.

In the first inning, the Leafs let Barrie starter Johnathan Warden walk the bases loaded, then walk in the first run of the game.

The Leafs then exploded for six runs in the bottom of the third inning.  Catcher Justin Marra led the assault with a two-run home run.

Over the first five innings, the Leafs built up a 9-0 lead and never looked back.  

Dylan Oborne pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Hernandez.

In the top of the eighth, things got hairy.  The Baycats went on a six-run rampage and it took three pitchers for the Leafs to get out of the inning.  Landon Leach and Greg Carrington were roughed up before Luis Florentino came in and stilled the waters.

In the ninth inning, Florentino hit a batter and then struck out three in a row to end the game with a 10-6 FINAL score.

At the plate, Justin Marra led the way with 4 hits and 3 RBIs.  Third baseman Ryan Dos Santos and left fielder Luca Boscarino each had a pair of hits.  Designated hitter Jhon Javier and first baseman Jordan Castaldo each drove in a pair of runs.

Hernandez won his first decision since his return and Warden took the loss. 

Barrie 6 7 1

Toronto 10 14 0

W - Hernandez (1-0, 1.55)

L - Warden (0-1, 9.41)

BOXSCORE

Friday, August 1, 2025 - Toronto Maple Leafs at London Majors 

Wilgenis Alvarado kept it close in London. (image: London Majors YouTube)

Wilgenis Alvarado was the IBL's 2023 ERA leader

This season, he has shown flashes of that past brilliance.  He went inning-for-inning against Owen Boon in Hamilton.  He picked up a couple of wins at Brantford and Welland with shutdown performances.  He should probably have a couple more wins, but has been unlucky with run support.  Such was the case in London Friday night.

Alvarado went inning-for-inning against Majors starter Travis Keys.  Both hurlers pitched six innings.

The Venezuelan southpaw gave up three runs on six hits and four walks, and he struck out six.  Keys was better on the night, surrendering just one run on six hits and a walk while striking out 11 Leafs.

The Torontos have recorded some famous victories at Labatt Memorial Park, but not this time.

After being blanked for five innings, they finally got on the board.  Designated hitter Jordan Castaldo led off the sixth with a double.  He moved to third on a passed ball, then scored on an RBI single by right fielder Marcus Knecht.

That sums up the Leafs' scoring.  They scattered seven hits and struck out 17 times.

Marek Deska pitched a couple of innings in relief.  He coughed up a run in the eighth and the Majors made off with a 4-1 win.  Keys with the win, Alvarado with the loss, Skylar Janisse with his league-leading 11th save.

Toronto 1 7 2

London 4 7 1

W - Keys (4-2, 2.45)

L - Alvarado (2-2, 6.38)

S - Janisse (11)

BOXSCORE

Saturday, August 2, 2025 - London Majors vs Toronto Maple Leafs 

Jordan Castaldo watches his tenth home run of the season depart Christie Pits.

As the 2025 IBL season enters its final weeks, the Toronto Maple Leafs have hit on a winning formula.

a) score a hella lotta runs early

b) hang on for dear life

c) let Luis Florentino finish the game

Recently, a + b + c has equaled W.

Saturday night at Christie Pits, the Leafs provided a large hillsides crowd with a satisfying demonstration against the London Majors.

First baseman Jordan Castaldo got things going with a bang.  In the first inning, he knocked his tenth home run of the year.

In the second inning, the Majors responded with a run off starter Josh Berenbaum.

In the bottom of the third, the Mapes jumped all over starter Colby Ring.  A walk and two singles loaded the bases.  A wild pitch advanced everyone and a run crossed the plate.  With no out, the Majors intentionally walked the bases loaded.  Centerfielder Dennis Dei Baning hit a grounder that skipped through the shortstop to the outfield.  That scored another run.  Catcher Justin Marra followed with the decisive blow of the game, a bases-clearing double.  Next up was third baseman Ryan Dos Santos who delivered the coup de grace, another double to score Marra.  The Leafs roared out to a 7-1 lead.

Berenbaum gave up a two-run homer in the top of the fifth, but finished the inning strong with a strikeout.

In the bottom of the fifth, a sac fly by shortstop Spenser Ross brought in another run and it was an 8-3 ballgame.

Adam Jafine pitched three solid innings of relief.  London touched him for a pair of runs in the eighth to make it 8-5.

In the top of the ninth, Luis Florentino took the mound.  He quietly retired the side with a pair of strikeouts and a pop-up to short to end the game.

Over the past two weeks, the Dominican righty has been dominant.  Thrust into a closing role, Florentino has made four appearances and pitched 5 1/3 innings.  He has given up three hits, zero walks, zero runs, and struck out 13 batters.  Saturday night, he earned his first save.  Berenbaum got his fourth win of the year and Ring took the loss.

London 5 10 1

Toronto 8 8 2

W - Berenbaum (4-4, 5.08)

L - Ring (1-2, 6.15)

S - Florentino (1)

BOXSCORE

Sunday, August 3, 2025 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Chatham-Kent Barnstormers 

Jhon Javier put the Leafs ahead early with a home run. (image: Chatham-Kent Barnstormers YouTube)

The Leafs ended the week on the road in Chatham.  It was one to forget.

Things started well at Fergie Jenkins Field.  In the first inning, catcher Jhon Javier cracked a two-run homer to put the Leafs ahead of the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers 2-0.

In the bottom of the inning, Andrew Groening responded with a two-run shot off starter Matt Brown.

The Barnstormers scored two more runs off Brown in the bottom of the third, and three more in the bottom of the fourth.  From that point on, the Leafs could only watch as the C-K bus rumbled away over the horizon.

The Leafs had little success at the plate, recording five hits on the day and striking out 10 times.

Relievers Adam Marra and Greg Carrington combined to pitch the second half of the game for Toronto.

In the bottom of the sixth, Chatham took their 7-2 lead and doubled it to 14-2.  OOF.

The Leafs scraped out a couple of runs in the eighth to make it 14-4, but that was how it ended.  Javier ended the day with 3 RBIs and pinch hitter Connor Lewis recorded the other.

The loss went to Brown, and Chatham starter Mizuki Akatsuka got the win.

Toronto 4 5 3

Chatham-Kent 14 14 1

W - Akatsuka (5-4, 5.08)

L - Brown (0-2, 5.12)

BOXSCORE

After twelve weeks and 37 games, the Leafs have compiled a record of 16-21.  They remain in seventh place, 10 1/2 games behind the Welland Jackfish.  The Leafs have qualified for the postseason as the Brantford Red Sox are assured of finishing in ninth (last) place again.

A pair of Saturday night games are all that remains of the home schedule at Christie Pits.  One is this week and one is next.

The week ahead:

Thursday, August 7 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Barrie Baycats, 7:35 pm at Athletic Kulture Stadium

Saturday, August 9 - Hamilton Cardinals vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 pm at Christie Pits

Sunday, August 10 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Chatham-Kent Barnstormers, 2:05 pm at Fergie Jenkins Field