Baycats win 11-6
The ball seemed to stay in the air forever.
Hit off the bat of Kevin Atkinson, it soared up and over the left side of the infield.
Grant Tamane got a bead on it as it flew through the cool September air. A jam-packed ballpark looked on as Tamane tracked back further and further.
After what felt like hours, he ran out of real estate. The ball cleared the fence and dipped out of sight behind the outfield greenery at Coates Stadium. Tamane turned, grasped the fence and cast his head downward.
Another game-changing eighth inning home run. Another smash and grab win by the Barrie Baycats.
It's the way this series has gone so far.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have battled the two-time IBL champs every inning of every game in this championship series, but the Baycats have kept finding a way to win it late.
Atkinson's homer broke a tie game and put his team on course for an 11-6 victory in Game 3 of the IBL Championship series.
Justin Cicatello suffered the loss after going seven plus innings, giving up ten runs (six earned) while striking out five and walking six.
Johnathan Solazzo and Connor Lewis each hit clutch doubles to put runs on the board for Toronto. Solazzo had three RBIs on the night and Dan Marra also drove in a run. Lewis and Jon Waltenbury each had a pair of hits, and the Leafs scattered four more up and down the lineup.
Reliever Adam Hawes (above) has been a beneficiary of the Baycats' late rallies in the first three games of this series, chalking up two wins and a save to his name.
The Leafs must now dig out of an 0-3 hole if they hope to win the title. It has been done before, in fact very recently. The last IBL team to blow a three-game advantage and lose a championship series was these same Barrie Baycats in 2013.
Game Recap:
A cool early September night greeted fans at Coates Stadium for Game 3 of the IBL Championship Series between the Barrie Baycats and Toronto Maple Leafs. Adam Rowe made the start for the home side against Justin Cicatello for the visitors.
After a quick couple of innings that saw only one hit go on the board, both teams put runs on the board in the 3rd.
Rightfielder Brendan Keys hit a single off Rowe in the top of the 3rd. He was followed by centerfielder Connor Lewis who also singled. Leftfielder Grant Tamane then hit a screaming liner to second baseman Jeff Cowan. With Lewis on the basepaths, Cowan snapped a throw to first, but it sailed wide for an error. Both baserunners were awarded two bases, moving Lewis to third and Keys scored first run of the game. 1-0 Leafs midway through three.
In the bottom of the same inning, centerfielder Glenn Jackson was hit by a Cicatello pitch. Rightfielder Ryan Spataro then walked, and catcher Kyle DeGrace reached on a sac bunt that Cicatello threw for an error. Bases loaded. That brought first baseman Jordan Castaldo to the plate, and he singled in Jackson to tie the game. It was 1-1 after three.
Barrie took the lead in the bottom of the 4th. Leftfielder Joey Guaragna singled, then moved to second on a ground out by shortstop Branfy Infante. He scored on a triple by Spataro and it was 2-1 Baycats through four.
The bottom of the 5th saw the 'Cats extend their lead. Castaldo led off with a walk. Third baseman Kevin Atkinson reached first on an error by second baseman Dan Marra. DH Kyle Nichols then drove them both home with a double. Cowan was up next, and he was hit in the thigh by a pitch. Guaragna then singled to load the bases for Barrie with no outs. Infante singled to drive in Nichols. Jackson then hit into a double play that allowed Cowan to score. That made it 6-1 Baycats after five innings.
As they have this entire postseason, the Leafs battled right back. Tamane got things going in the top of the 6th with a walk. First baseman Jon Waltenbury singled next. Catcher Justin Marra flew out to short, and then DH Sean Mattson then reached first on a fielder's choice. That moved Tamane to third and Waltenbury to second. Third baseman Johnathan Solazzo then cleared the bases with a 3-run double. Solazzo would also score when Dan Marra hit a single. Just like that, it was a 6-5 ballgame after six.
Jaspreet Shergill relieved Rowe and pitched a scoreless 7th, as did Cicatello.
Toronto tied the game in the top of the 8th. After Shergill walked Dan Marra, Lewis hit a double to drive him in. Adam Hawes completed the inning for Shergill but it was now a 6-6 tie midway through the 8th.
In the bottom of the 8th, DeGrace reached first on an error by Solazzo. Castaldo then singled, bringing Atkinson to the plate. He then belted a Cicatello pitch over the fence in left for a three-run home run. After a walk to Nichols, Cicatello was relieved by Adam Garner. After a single by Cowan, a double by Jackson drove in two more runs and give the Baycats an 11-6 lead heading to the top of the 9th.
Justin Marra led off the 9th with a single, but that would be all as Rowe shut down the Leafs for his second win of the series and an 11-6 FINAL for Barrie.
Toronto 6-8-4
Barrie 11-13-1
W - Hawes (2-0, 2.16)
L - Cicatello (1-2, 4.50)
BOXSCORE
The series continues with Game 4 on Sunday afternoon, September 4 at Christie Pits.
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