Baycats win 6-1
Maple Leafs baseball is back.
After rain postponed the start of the season last weekend, the Toronto Maple Leafs opened their 2017 campaign this afternoon at Coates Stadium against the defending IBL champion Barrie Baycats.
Baseball warms the soul, and the body. No sooner had the game gotten under way than the sun emerged from threatening clouds. As this afternoon's matchup played itself out, the air temperature rose steadily. From hoodies to t-shirts.
On the field, temperatures were temperate at the start. Neither ballclub came roaring out of the dugout. The first few innings rolled by with a casual feel. To be sure, once both sides got down to business there was some crisp baseball on display. Perfectly executed bunts, nicely turned double plays and nifty glove work in the field.
Starters Emilis Guerrero for Barrie and Marek Deska for Toronto put goose eggs on the board for the first three innings. The 'Cats scratched out a couple of runs in the fourth inning, but in the sixth, DH Jon Waltenbury drove one in to make it a one-run game.
Deska departed after four innings, and the home side pounced on reliever Mike Wagner for four runs in the seventh to put the game out of reach. The game ended 6-1 in Barrie's favour and Guerrero got the win.
There had been forecasts of rain or thunderstorms for this afternoon, but they held off until the game was completed. The Leafs' travelling caravan got hit by a solid downpour on the drive home. After Deska came the deluge.
Toronto 1-6-3
Barrie 6-13-0
W - Guerrero (1-0, 1.29)
L - Deska (0-1, 4.50)
BOXSCORE
The Maple Leafs open the season with a loss, but can bounce back right away as their home opener is tomorrow afternoon at Christie Pits. They will face off against the Brantford Red Sox. First pitch is at 2:00 pm.
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