CBL Odyssey: Brantford

Arnold Anderson Stadium, Brantford

In 2026, the Intercounty Baseball League set off on a whole new journey.

It shed its name and sailed into new waters as the Canadian Baseball League.  Bigger, better, bolder.

This is also the summer of The Odyssey, one of the blockbuster movies of the year.  It's the legendary tale of one man's journey through practically every nook and cranny of the Mediterranean before finally getting home.

With all this in mind, I'm making 2026 the summer of the CBL Odyssey.  I'm revisiting the league's ballparks with a fresh set of eyes.  Next stop is the Telephone City, Brantford. 

ARNOLD ANDERSON STADIUM

GETTING THERE - from Toronto you take the QEW to Hamilton, then join up with the 403 into Brantford.  There are multiple interchanges that access the city.  A few zig-zags through town get you to Cockshutt Park, home of Arnold Anderson Stadium and the Brantford Red Sox.  

The exit to King George Road is the one I usually take.  As you pull up to the first street light, a mural of the late Walter Gretzky greets you.  Painted on the doors of a firehall, the tribute to "Brantford's Beloved Lord Mayor" is a kind of civic beatification, like Leonard Cohen in Montreal and Terry Fox in Toronto.

PARKING - there is a parking lot beside the stadium, with more spaces deeper into the park.  Once it fills up, there is street parking in the surrounding neighbourhood.

BALLPARK VIBES - before we get to the vibes, let's address the elephant in the room.  Why is this ballpark aligned so that the batter's box and backstop face due west, causing the setting sun to blind batters, catchers and fans seated in the grandstand behind them?

I asked Red Sox historian Anne Lear-Chamberlain, and she provided the following background:

"The diamond was originally over by the cricket club (when you're coming into the parking area, it's straight down on the right side by another ball diamond).  The outfield for that diamond originally backed onto the dike.  I read that one of the reasons they moved the diamond was the umps were tired of going into the water to get the baseballs.  There was a poem someone wrote put in the paper about the umps going in the water. It was moved to its present location in the 20s / 30s. Year depends on which story you read."

And there you have it.  When the Red Sox's present diamond was laid down a century ago, baseball was only played in the daytime and sunsets would have had no impact.  In Ontario, night baseball was not a thing until 1934.  The first night game took place at Maple Leaf Stadium in Toronto.  Over the years there must have been discussions about how to deal with the sun, perhaps erecting some sort of screen beyond the outfield, or even realigning the diamond.  According to Lear-Chamberlain, no concrete proposals have ever taken shape.

Sun delays will remain Brantford's unique quirk.

Another unique feature is that the left field corner is adjacent to a row of backyards.  No other park in the CBL is nestled so tightly into a neighbourhood that the field is literally up against someone's vegetables.  A chainlink monster stands in front of the yards, preventing home run balls from battering gardens and patio furniture.

There's a calm vibe at Arnold Anderson stadium.  The diamond is surrounded by greenery, especially a towering wall of trees that wrap around the rest of the outfield.  Foul territory is not too large so fans can be close to the action.  A grandstand section with plastic seats (with backs) is behind home.  On either side, large stands of metal bleachers provide plenty of seating along the baselines.

Behind the grandstand building are pop-up tents with merch and other attractions.  The atmosphere is very family friendly.  Restroom facilities were temporarily out of service but the club has brought in several porta potties.

IN-GAME ENTERTAINMENT - the Red Sox have the league's only cheer squad, provided by a local dance studio.  Clad in red outfits and waving pom-poms, they take the field several times during the game to perform fight songs and entertain fans.

In keeping with Brantford's low-key vibe, the in-game host (didn't catch the name) made announcements and led contests between innings in a low-key style.  Brantford is not a showy place.

FREEDOM TO ROAM AND TAKE PHOTOS - there is space to roam between the field and seating, but the infield is enveloped within thick black chainlink fencing that you need to work around (or through).  Plenty of nooks and crannies provide interesting angles and the leafy backdrops are idyllic.

BALLPARK CUISINE - Carnivores can partake of hot dogs, sausages and pizza slices.  There is also a long list of junk food and drinks available at the concessions stand.  The sausage is served right off the grill and it was thick and juicy.  One of the league's better offerings for sure.

BALLPARK BEER - wow, great selection!  Sassy Britches Brewing Co. of Brantford provides the suds at a kiosk near the left field corner.  Their Red Sox-branded blonde ale is bright and citrusy.  I also tried their tangerine pale ale, amazing. 

TEAM MASCOT - previously, a furry wolf creature has been seen at Red Sox games, but there was no mascot about when I visited.

DO KIDS RUN THE BASES? - Yes they do!

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS - entering this ballpark feels like taking a step back in time, even back just a couple of decades before ballgames turned into multi-media spectacles.  There are some extra amusements here for kids and short attention spans, but you come to watch a baseball game.  Twenty-first century digital pyrotechnics do not penetrate this homey setting.  You can actually relax here.  

WOULD I WANT THIS TO BE MY TEAM'S HOME BALLPARK? - hell yes! 

The CBL Odyssey will continue in Chatham-Kent...

Steppin' Up

Maple Leafs Weekly Recap - August 10 to 16, 2026

Week 14 saw new faces playing in unexpected places.

It was another week of looking anywhere but the scoreboard.

Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister, once described his profession as "cabinet maker".

This week, Dennis Bailey and Rob Butler took Allen keys in hand and assumed similar roles in furniture assembly.  With a slew of infield injuries hitting the Toronto Maple Leafs, the GM and manager were pressed to fit various pieces into unexpected gaps and construct lineups to get through four games.

Last week we saw pitcher Reinaldo De Paula play three innings at second base.  This week, pitcher Drew Howard took it further by playing three whole games there.

Howard got the call from coach Butler and he answered the call.  It was not too much of a stretch for him to man second.  He played infield through all of high school and for East York Juniors.  He is still unable to pitch but hopes to be back on the mound by next summer.

Outfielder Yolki Pena played some first base.  Crix Taveras would have played two or three different positions at once if he could.  By late Sunday afternoon, pitcher Kyle Poapst was playing catcher, something he hasn't done since high school.

The Leafs battled but won just one game out of four.

And now, here's the recap of Week 14 in Toronto Maple Leafs baseball.

Thursday, August 13, 2026 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Kitchener Panthers

Dennis Dei Baning is greeted at home after going YARD in the ninth inning. (image: Kitchener Panthers TV/YouTube)

A ferocious ninth inning comeback fell short as the Toronto Maple Leafs fell to the Kitchener Panthers 7-5 at Jack Couch Park.

CBL home run leader Yasiel Puig put the Leafs ahead in the first inning.  The DH bopped a solo bomba off of starter Jorge Minyety to put his side ahead 1-0.

In the top of the third, the Leafs doubled their lead.  First baseman Yolki Pena drew a walk and advanced on a single by third baseman Spenser Ross.  Shortstop Brando Leroux grounded into a double play but Pena came in to score and make it 2-0.

Wilgenis Alvarado pitched two scoreless innings to open the game, but got torched in the bottom of the third.  With two outs, he served up a three-run homer to Yosvani Penalver and Kitchener went ahead 3-2 through three.

The Panthers piled it on in the fourth.  A sac fly and a two-run single ran their lead up to 6-2.

In the bottom of the seventh, an RBI single by Yunior Ibarra off of reliever Frankie Gulko made it a 7-2 ballgame.

And then, the comeback.  

Despite all the beatdowns they have suffered this year, the Leafs have a knack for scoring late.  

The ninth inning rolled around, the Leafs sent nine men to the plate, and the Panthers almost used up all their lives.  It started with centerfielder J.J. Dutton drawing a leadoff walk from reliever Jacob Liberta.  Two outs followed, then left fielder Dennis Dei Baning went yard and put two runs on the board.  It was his fifth home run of the season.  Catcher Matt Brandt reached on an error and Liberta walked Pena to put two men aboard.  Ross doubled to score another run, but the Black Cats escaped when Kyle Poapst (batting for Leroux) grounded out.  

The Leafs lost a 7-5 FINAL, and more crucially it looks like they lost Leroux to injury.  In the eighth inning, he attempted to steal third base and jammed his hand sliding in.  The inning ended, Leroux left the game, and did not play again all weekend.  He is reported to be out with a thumb injury.

Toronto 5 6 2

Kitchener 7 9 1

W - Minyety (2-3, 5.03)

L - Alvarado (1-6, 8.83)

BOXSCORE

Friday, August 14, 2026 - Toronto Maple Leafs at London Majors

Drew Howard drives in Toronto's tenth run of the night. (image: London Majors YouTube)

Click to win.

A simple concept executed to perfection by the Toronto Maple Leafs as they defeated the London Majors 10-7 at Labatt Park.

Everything was clicking on this night.  Across all nine innings, the Leafs played with great panache, or as the French say, "moxie".

Nick Veselinovic, Reinaldo De Paula and Luis Florentino each delivered another strong performance on the mound.  The Mapes' all-star hurler pitched into the sixth inning before turning it over to the Dominican duo.

The southpaw gave up three runs on six hits and a walk while striking out three.  De Paula held off a late innings comeback attempt by London, giving up four runs on four hits while striking out three.  Florentino pitched a scoreless one and one-third innings to seal the victory.

In the top of the second inning, the Leafs sent all nine men to the plate and battered starter Victor Payano for three hits and three runs with a pair of walks in the mix.  A leadoff double by catcher Matt Brandt was followed by an RBI double by first baseman Yolki Pena.  After a single by third baseman Spenser Ross and an intentional walk to right fielder Yasiel Puig loaded the bases, Payano walked Pena in.  Ross followed his teammate across the plate when Payano hit shortstop Crix Taveras with a pitch.  When the inning was finally over the Leafs led 3-0.

London got one run back in each of the second and third innings.

Toronto added to their lead in the top of the fourth.  Taveras hit an RBI double to make it 4-2.

In the top of the fifth, DH Marcus Knecht hit an RBI single to make it 5-2.

The Majors got one back in the sixth, but the Leafs put the game away for good in the seventh.  Facing reliever Daniel Orfaly, Pena reached base on an error and second baseman Drew Howard singled.  The next man up, Ross reached base on another error that allowed Pena to score.  Puig delivered the kill shot, a mammoth 3-run blast that made it a 9-3 ballgame.

Top of the eighth, Howard made it a double-digit score for Toronto.  Pena doubled off of Alex Springer and Howard drove him in with a single to right field.  Click click click!

De Paula and Florentino handled the rest and the Leafs took the 10-7 FINAL.  Veselinovic with the win, Payano with the loss, and Florentino with his fourth save of the season.

It was Puig's 17th home run of 2026, and he is four away from tying the single-season record set by Maple Leaf Sean Reilly in 2013.

The unexpected first base/second base duo of Pena and Howard had themselves a night.  Each went 3-for-5 at the plate with an RBI.  Howard scored a run and Pena crossed the plate four times.  Taveras notched two RBIs, and Knecht and centerfielder J.J. Dutton each drove in one run.

Toronto 10 16 1

London 7 11 2

W - Veselinovic (6-2, 4.58)

L - Payano (8-2, 3.43)

S - Florentino (4)

BOXSCORE

Saturday, August 15, 2026 - Chatham-Kent Barnstormers vs Toronto Maple Leafs

Yuto Nakata: quiet, powerful and awesome. (file photo)

One of the stories in this 2026 Toronto Maple Leafs season is poor pitching.  It's been bad.  There's no escaping it, when the team ERA of 8.09 is almost bottom of the league as of mid-August.  Only Kitchener's 8.18 is worse.

How splendid then that Yuto Nakata arrived.  The clouds parted over Christie Pits and Nakata descended like a swan riding a giant chrysanthemum down from a mountaintop.  Quiet, powerful and awesome.

Nakata's two starts for the Leafs have been must-see events.  In his debut, he struck out 11 batters and won.

He went one better in this game, his second start.  He struck out 12 Chatham-Kent Barnstormers and was deserving of another win.  Unfortunately, Leaf bats went cold at the Pits and a rare slip-up by Luis Florentino in the ninth resulted in a 4-2 defeat.

All was quiet until the top of the third inning, when a single and double by Chatham-Kent gave them a 1-0 lead.

Bottom of the fifth, the Mapes made their move.  Or moves.  Facing starter Dwayne Matos, second baseman Drew Howard walked, third baseman Spenser Ross reached base on an error, and DH Yasiel Puig was intentionally walked to load the bases with two out.  The man himself, right fielder Marcus Knecht made them pay.  He stroked a two-run single and the Leafs went ahead 2-1 through five innings.

The 'Stormers grabbed another run in the top of the sixth on a double-single combo and the game was tied 2-2.

Nakata went seven innings and bowed out with a final line of two runs on seven hits with one walk and 12 K's.

Frankie Gulko pitched a scoreless eighth, and Florentino took over for the ninth with the game still tied.

It was a rare sloppy affair for Flo.  He got the leadoff batter to ground out.  A double, walk and error then loaded the bases.  A wild pitch and a single plated two runs for the visitors.

The Leafs were unable to score in the ninth and Chatham-Kent grabbed the 4-2 FINAL.  Reliever Shane Gustafson was the winning pitcher while Florentino took his first loss of the year.

Chatham 4 9 1

Toronto 2 7 3

W - Gustafson (1-1, 3.09)

L - Florentino (1-1, 3.54)

BOXSCORE

Sunday, August 16, 2026 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Brantford Red Sox

Yeah, Spenser Ross' expression says it all.

WOOF.

The Toronto Maple Leafs went to Telephone City and got their bells rung, losing 17-2 to the Brantford Red Sox.

Making his sixth start of the season, Cam Dimidjian was hoping to snare his first W, but it was not to be.

After a couple of quiet innings, the Red Sox proceeded to bomb Dimidjian and those who followed.  It was sad to witness in person, this being the only game all week that I could get to.

In the bottom of the third, Dimidjian gave up two doubles and a single, each one of them driving in a run for Brantford.  Christian Kuzemka capped the inning off by hitting a two-run homer and his side was up 5-0.

Bottom of the fourth, Graham Sim took over on the mound for Toronto and got mobbed.  The Red Sox hit three home runs and scored five more to go up 10-0 through four innings.

Bottom of the fifth, Frankie Gulko loaded the bases and was relieved by Reinaldo De Paula.  He gave up a single and a sac fly that scored two more runs, and then Tim Holyk hit a three-run bomb.  15-0 Brantford after five innings.

It was ugly.  By the top of the sixth, the Leafs had recorded just two hits and three walks off of starter Connor Irvine.  With two out in the inning and down 15-0, centerfielder J.J. Dutton made the play of the game.  He hit a ground ball to short and busted his ass out of the box.  He ran like his ass was on fire, almost beating the throw to first.  Leaf fans in attendance turned and nodded to each other.  That's the kind of hustle you want on your team.

A couple of other bright notes for Toronto: 

DH Marcus Knecht got the Leafs on the board with a two-run single in the top of the seventh.

Yordan Manduley returned to the diamond and played first base with his injured ankle in an athletic brace.

This game ended 17-2.  Irvine with the win, Dimidjian with the loss.

Toronto 2 5 1

Brantford 17 20 0

W - Irvine (3-5, 6.29)

L - Dimidjian (0-4, 9.91)

BOXSCORE

At 13-26, the Leafs drop to eighth place, 15 games behind the London Majors and they have been eliminated from postseason play for the first time since 2014.

The week ahead: 

Wednesday, August 19 - Brantford Red Sox vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 pm at Christie Pits

Friday, August 21 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Brantford Red Sox, 7:07 pm at Arnold Anderson Stadium

Saturday, August 22 - Kitchener Panthers vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 pm at Christie Pits (rescheduled rainout)

Sunday, August 23 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Hamilton Cardinals, 4:05 pm at Bernie Arbour Stadium

CBL Odyssey: Kitchener

Jack Couch Park, Kitchener

In 2026, the Intercounty Baseball League set off on a whole new journey.

It shed its name and sailed into new waters as the Canadian Baseball League.  Bigger, better, bolder.

This is also the summer of The Odyssey, already one of the blockbuster movies of the year.  It's the legendary tale of one man's journey through practically every nook and cranny of the Mediterranean before finally getting home.

With all this in mind, I'm making 2026 the summer of the CBL Odyssey.  I'm revisiting the league's ballparks with a fresh set of eyes.  Next stop is Sausagetown aka Kitchener.

JACK COUCH PARK

GETTING THERE - from Toronto you take the 401 West.  Pass Cambridge, then exit onto Highway 8.  From 8 exit onto 7, then Ottawa Street.  The home of the Kitchener Panthers is right off the highway, easy in/easy out.  The GO Kitchener Line drops you off at Kitchener's train station.  From there you can grab a bus that takes you to Ottawa Street.  If not, it's a 45 minute schlep down Weber Street.

PARKING - the ballpark is part of the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex, which includes arenas and sports fields.  The complex has a huge amount of free parking so it's never an issue.  

BALLPARK VIBES - the night I visited was the Panthers' "Oktoberfest in July" game and it was a blast.  The club debuted its city connect "Berlin Keg Tappers" uniforms with Alpine green hats, checkered jerseys and lederhosen-like pants and stockings.  Musicians in folk attire played German music and Oktoberfest mascots roamed the park.  The place was packed and festive.  Panthers fans are always a lively lot.  That's Panther Baseball!

Jack Couch is one of the CBL's cosiest parks.  The dimensions are short, making it a sluggers' paradise.  The highway is not far past the trees behind the outfield fences.  Foul territory is modest, and seven sections of metal bleachers wrap around the infield from one corner base to the other, bringing fans close to the action.

Lots of Panthers merch is available inside a shipping container located behind the seating on the first base side.  There are restrooms in the building behind home plate, and porta potties near the right field corner.

IN-GAME ENTERTAINMENT - plenty of contests and music between innings.  Everything was German themed this night.

FREEDOM TO ROAM AND TAKE PHOTOS - with the seating so close to the field, and the outfield cut off by fencing, it's a tight ballpark.  There's a narrow walkway between the seats and infield fencing but not many spots where you can stand without blocking someone's view.

BALLPARK CUISINE - Kitchener is the home of Schneiders meats and Jack Couch is the home of the best grilled sausages in the CBL.  The concessions stand also offers hot dogs, pizza slices and plenty of junk food.  Each week, a special menu item is added to the rotation.  This night it was popcorn chicken mac and cheese in a bowl.

It's all about the sausages here.  Prepared by the stadium grillmeister, they are juicy and flavourful.  Whenever I visit it's one of the highlights.

BALLPARK BEER - there is no "Panthers" branded beer, but they do sell Kitchener Rangers Cream Ale from Cambridge's Four Fathers Brewing Co..  It's a nice cream ale, and they have an assortment of others available at the beer stand.

TEAM MASCOT - the Panthers do not have a live mascot, but visitors entering Jack Couch encounter a giant inflated cat perched Sphinx-like beside the merch box.

DO KIDS RUN THE BASES? - Yes they do!

OVERHEARD - 

"I've been waiting all day for this."

"Best there is."

(possibly an exchange between the stadium grillmeister and the author)

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS - in recent years, the fencing between the field and seating at Jack Couch has grown to almost oppressive proportions.  Chainlink fence is strung between metal posts that are incredibly tall.  It's definitely one of the best parks in the CBL from a fan safety point of view, but no seat in the park has a clear view of the field.  They overdid the fencing.  It's like watching baseball being played inside a 10-foot steel cage.

Beyond the diamond, the food and drink options are fantastic, the atmosphere is fun, and it's an easy getaway once the last out is recorded.

WOULD I WANT THIS TO BE MY TEAM'S HOME BALLPARK? - not with those fences. 

The CBL Odyssey will continue in Brantford...