Cold Bats Cost Leafs, Season Ends

IBL Semifinals - Game 5 - September 7, 2023

Toronto Maple Leafs at Welland Jackfish

Welland 7

Toronto 5

Welland wins series 3-2

Some of the Toronto Maple Leafs look reluctant to form the handshake line that marks the end of their season, after dropping the deciding game of their series against Welland.

The 2023 IBL Championship Series has lost some measure of lustre following the elimination of the Toronto Maple Leafs from postseason play.

Last night at Welland Stadium, the Leafs -- Sensational! Irresistible! -- lost the deciding game of their semifinal series against the Jackfish.

In a series that featured some back and forth blowouts, Game 5 turned out to be a nailbiter.  Welland overcame an early deficit and won 7-5.

As night settled over a bustling ballpark, the visitors had reason to feel optimistic since the Jackfish were gifting them Jake Harford.

When it comes to postseason play, the Leafs have had Harford's number.  In three previous postseason starts against Toronto in 2022 and 2023, Harford pitched a total of 14 innings, made two early exits after getting lit up, and his ERA was 10.93.  Welland lost all three of his starts.

Early on, it looked as if history would repeat itself.

Welland grabbed an early run off Toronto starter Daniel Procopio in the first, but Toronto bats went to town on Harford in the second.  DH Garrett Takamatsu walked to start the inning, then moved to third on a hard-hit double by third baseman Johnathan Solazzo.  A single by centerfielder Connor Lewis drove in Takamatsu.  Solazzo scored when second baseman Dan Marra grounded into a fielder's choice that erased Lewis at second.  Right fielder Ryan Santos walked, bringing shortstop Jose Vinicio to the plate.  A wild pitch by Harford advanced both runners, and they both scored when Vinicio hit a single to right field.  Catcher Justin Marra kept the rally going with a single.  That prompted a quick hook for Harford, gone after just 1 and 2/3 innings.  New pitcher James Bradwell faced first baseman Jordan Castaldo.  A single by Castaldo drove Vinicio home and the IBL's most exciting team jumped out to a 5-1 lead.

Procopio got into a jam in the bottom of the second and the Jackfish jumped back into it.  They scored three runs off a hit and three walks to make it a 5-4 ballgame after two innings.

It looked like a high-scoring hullaballoo was in the offing, but the game tightened up after that.  The early pitching change saved Welland's season, as Bradwell turned out to be the anti-Harford.  Toronto's offence experienced a severe drop in temperature.

The Leafs didn't score again.  Over the final seven innings of the game, they recorded just one hit and two walks and that spelled their doom.  Bradwell and closer Deivy Mandez combined to strike out 10.

The door opened just wide enough for the Jackfish to wriggle through.  

In the bottom of the fifth, a double by Ethan Hunt scored two runs and moved his side ahead 6-5.  Dustin Richardson took over on the mound in the bottom of the fifth, tasked with carrying the Leafs the rest of the way.

In the bottom of the eighth, a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Steven Moretto brought another run home for Welland.  It turned out the insurance run would not make a difference.  Procopio and Richardson both pitched their guts out, but Toronto's bats had gone fatally cold.

In the ninth inning, facing elimination, the Leafs went down in order.  Dan Marra struck out looking, Santos flied out to right, and Vinicio went down swinging.  Ballgame.  A 7-5 win for Welland, and a 3-2 series victory.

Toronto 5 6 1

Welland 7 5 1

W - Bradwell (3-0, 1.77)

L - Procopio (0-1, 4.58)

S - Mendez (1)

BOXSCORE

Cheers to the Welland Jackfish, who earned a well-deserved trip to the IBL Championship Series.  This is the nomadic franchise's first trip to the finals.  They will face the Barrie Baycats to determine this year's winner of the Jack and Lynne Dominico Cup.

For the Maple Leafs, the pursuit of the cup continues to be a Sisyphean task.  Someday the ordeal must end!  

The action on the field has concluded, but the story of the 2023 Leafs is not over.  The club's sale is expected to be announced by month's end, bringing with it new ownership and a new era of Leafs baseball.  

I'm pulling for the Leafs to get a new sugar daddy owner who will not think twice about funding the club's hard working collective of writers, photographers and social media stars.  Gas ain't getting any cheaper.  A team jersey would also be acceptable remuneration.

Stay tuned for updates as the story continues to unfold.