Maple Leafs Weekly Recap - July 22 to 28, 2025
The sleeping giants of the IBL showed signs of stirring in an eventful Week Eleven.
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| Dennis Dei Baning opened his week with a huge home run at Christie Pits. |
"Baseball is hella fun when things are going your way," said Dennis Dei Baning at the end of Week Eleven of Maple Leafs baseball.
The Leafs outfielder packed a hella lotta highlights into four games. Witness:
Wednesday night at Christie Pits, Dei Baning hit a home run in his first at bat of the game.
Thursday night in Barrie, he made a run-saving catch in right field, earned a golden sombrero at the plate, hit a game-winning single in extra innings, then got into some botheration with the Baycats bench and got ejected.
Friday night at Christie Pits, he sat through a one-game suspension and chilled out with friends and fans.
Saturday night in Welland, he hit a moon shot home run in his final at bat of the game.
Dei Baning has posted player-of-the-month-type numbers for July. He has gone 22 for 45 at the plate for a scorching .489 batting average. He has 4 home runs and 18 RBIs this month, at a time when the Leafs badly needed production. RBI machines Marcus Knecht and Rando Moreno have both been out of action for several weeks. In fact, Moreno's season is over.
"You mentioning these numbers to me is quite mind blowing," Dei Baning said. "I’ve been trying not to focus on stats and to just focus on my game. I always want to do whatever it takes to help the team win."
This hot streak comes at the right time, as the Leafs begin their final push for postseason placement. As each game takes on more importance, Dei Baning has upped his game.
"I also try to have the mindset where you’re never to be satisfied no matter what the results are, good or bad. I’ve made a couple adjustments at the plate and it’s been working for me and I haven’t looked back since."
Jordan Castaldo silently taps my shoulder to remind me that he too had a big week. The Leafs legend continued his relentless assault on the record books. In three games, he went 6 for 14 at the plate, hit 3 home runs, drove in 9 runs and scored 4. He leads the team with 9 homers this year.
The Leafs ended the week with a couple of high-scoring results. Hopefully this momentum carries them forward.
For now, here is a recap of Week Eleven in Leafs baseball.
Wednesday, July 23, 2025 - Chatham-Kent Barnstormers vs Toronto Maple Leafs
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| Franklin Hernandez dominated Barnstormer bats over six innings. |
Stop me if you've heard this one before.
The Toronto Maple Leafs' bullpen could not prevent a late comeback by the visiting team and another great start on the mound went for naught.
This time it was the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers who came from behind to take a 9-5 win at Christie Pits.
Franklin Hernandez pitched six innings and gave up two runs on six hits while striking out six.
Four Leaf relievers combined to surrender seven runs over the last three innings.
The game opened with a bang. Centerfielder Dennis Dei Baning blasted a two-run home run way over the fence in left field, almost knocking a guy out of a hammock strung between two trees.
The 2-0 lead held as Hernandez blanked Chatham through the first five innings.
In the bottom of the fifth, Toronto increased its lead. Left fielder Ryan Dos Santos hit a two-run bomb off Mizuki Akatsuka, the same pitcher who was scorched earlier by Dei Baning. That made it 4-0 Leafs through five.
In the second half of the game, the 'Stormers showed why they are among the top teams in the IBL this season. They dragged their bus out of the ditch and drove away to victory.
Hernandez gave up a pair of runs and his night came to an end after six innings.
In the top of the seventh, Chatham jumped on Toronto's relief corps and put five runs on the board. They took advantage of a flurry of walks, wild pitches, a stolen base, a hit batsman and three singles to take a 7-4 lead. Greg Carrington, Sam Spencer and Dylan Oborne battled through the inning on the mound.
The gents from Kent took advantage of two errors to increase their lead to 9-4 after eight innings.
Fresh off an endorsement deal with Gillette, Adam Marra pitched a scoreless top of the ninth.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Leafs tried to rekindle the lost mystique of Christie Pits. Shortstop Spenser Ross walked and stole second. First baseman Jordan Castaldo drove him home with a single, but that would be all the bats could muster. The Barmstormers took a 9-5 FINAL. Akatsuka the win, Carrington the loss.
Chatham-Kent 9 10 1
Toronto 5 8 2
W - Akatsuka (3-4, 5.07)
L - Carrington (0-1, 9.64)
Thursday, July 24, 2025 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Barrie Baycats
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| Dennis Dei Baning delivers the game-winning hit in extras. (image: Barrie Baycats TV/YouTube) |
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Barrie Baycats played an uncharacteristic game at Athletic Kulture Stadium.
It was neither a rout nor a slugfest, but a nervy, low-scoring duel between starters Frank Garces and Matt Brown.
After a one-hour rain delay, the visitors, accompanied by a contingent of Bushmen, jumped ahead early. Third baseman Ryan Dos Santos drew a leadoff walk and second baseman Dan Marra followed with a single. Catcher Jhon Javier grounded into what looked to be a double play. Marra was erased at second but the throw to first bounced away for an error. Dos Santos came around to score and the Leafs went ahead 1-0.
The Baycats almost replied right away. With two men on and two outs, former Chicago White Sox outfielder Willy GarcÃa laced a shot towards the right field corner. It looked like at least one run might cross the plate but Dennis Dei Baning went flat-out to make a diving catch and end the inning.
There commenced a game-long exchange of zeroes between Garces and Brown. The only blemish added to the scoreboard came in the bottom of the fifth. Brown gave up a double and wild pitch to put a runner on third. A single by Francisco Hernandez brought the runner home and tied the game 1-1.
Making only the second start of his IBL career, Brown went toe-to-toe against former San Diego Padre Garces. He went six innings, gave up five hits and struck out seven. Garces went seven innings, gave up seven hits and struck out twelve.
Luis Florentino pitched scoreless seventh and eighth innings for Toronto.
Adam Marra pitched a scoreless ninth. The Leafs were unable to score again since the first inning, and the game went to extras.
Dei Baning had a rough night at the plate and struck out four times, but he made it matter when it mattered most. Top of the tenth, ghost runner Luca Boscarino took his place at second base. Dos Santos grounded out and Dan Marra drew a walk off reliever Carlos Sano. Javier waged a lengthy battle at the plate before flying out to right. Boscarino tagged and moved to third on the play. Dei Baning worked a 2-1 count, then stroked a single to centerfield. Boscarino scored and suddenly a war of words erupted between Dei Baning and the Barrie bench. Players from both teams took to the field. Neither side ventured far from their dugouts but Dei Baning said something that got him tossed from the game. Regardless, the Leafs had retaken the lead, 2-1.
That was how it ended as Marra held the Baycats off the board. He earned the win and Sano took the loss.
Friday, July 25, 2025 - Guelph Royals vs Toronto Maple Leafs
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| Kalayo Shaw and teammates make their way to the clubhouse following the Leafs' mind-boggling 10th-straight home defeat. |
At the Angry Confines, the song remains the same.
The Toronto Maple Leafs spent the evening playing catch up and fell short in an 11-9 loss to the Guelph Royals.
The visitors jumped ahead early, scoring one run in both the first and second innings, then pouring on four more in the third. Starter Adam Jafine was on the hook for all six runs and his night was done after three innings.
Landon Leach, who just rejoined the Leafs, pitched a scoreless top of four.
In the bottom of the inning, catcher Justin Marra broke the ice with an RBI single off starter Edgar Garcia. That made it a 6-1 ballgame.
Josh Berenbaum relieved Leach to start the fifth inning and pitched a scoreless frame.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Pits came alive thanks to a four-run rally by the home side. Shortstop Spenser Ross led off with a walk. Second baseman Dan Marra split the outfielders with a shot to the fence in center-right. That moved Ross to third and Marra cruised into second standing up. A sac fly by centerfielder Ben Sitarenios scored Ross, but Marra was tagged out at third on the play. Third baseman Ryan Dos Santos walked and right fielder Jhon Javier singled to put two aboard. The next man up was first baseman Jordan Castaldo. One pitch, one swing, and he smashed the ball over the fence in left. It was a three-run shot and brought the Leafs to within a run, 6-5.
The Royals punched right back, tagging Berenbaum for three runs in the sixth. That stretched their lead to 9-5.
Nathan Currah pitched a scoreless top of the eighth.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Leafs got tantalyzingly close again. Left fielder Luca Boscarino and Ross both hit singles up the middle. Dan Marra was up next and he hit another shot to the fence in center-right. Two runs came around to score and it was a 9-7 game.
The tenacious Royals would not let up. In the top of the ninth they scored two more runs, Currah and Ayami Sato being dinged for one apiece. Greg Carrington came in to turn off the tap once and for all. It was 11-7 going into the bottom of the ninth.
Javier led off with a walk. Castaldo returned to the plate. One pitch, one swing, and he crushed his second round trip of the night, clearing the fence in center. The Pits roared back to life again, urging the boys to keep it going. But that was as far as the comeback train got. The game ended with an 11-9 FINAL score. Garcia's five innings pitched earned him the win and Jafine carried the loss.
Amid the Leafs' tenth consecutive loss at home, there were some positives.
The bats have reawakened. The Leafs racked up 12 hits on the night with plenty of extra-base shots.
It was also good to see Marcus Knecht return from injury. He played for the first time since Canada Day and went 1 for 5 as DH.
Saturday, July 26, 2025 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Welland Jackfish
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| Dennis Dei Baning finished off his week with a home run to put the game away in Welland. (image: Welland Jackfish YouTube) |
At Welland Stadium, the Leafs flipped the script.
This time it was the Jackfish who blew an early lead, then saw their bullpen tormented as the visitors sailed away with a 13-6 win.
Big game for the offence. The Leafs started slowly, recording just four hits and one run over the first five innings, then they erupted for 14 hits and 12 runs to bury their opponents.
Wilgenis Alvarado pitched five innings for Toronto. He gave up one run on four hits and four walks. He also struck out four.
In the top of the fourth inning and down 1-0, the Leafs tied the score. Right fielder Marcus Knecht doubled, moved to third on an error and scored on a fielder's choice struck by shortstop Spenser Ross. It was 1-1 through four.
The score remained tied going into the top of the sixth. The third time through the order proved to be too much for Welland starter Jose Dominguez. He gave up a solo homer to Knecht and a two-run single to second baseman Dan Marra. Danny Howat came on in relief but he could not stop the bleeding. He gave up three more runs on three singles and a sac fly. When the dust settled the Leafs had pulled ahead 7-1.
Marek Deska relieved Alvarado to start the bottom of the sixth. Welland got one back to make it 7-2.
The Leafs hit three more singles and added a run in the top of the seventh. Deska held Welland scoreless in the bottom of the frame.
First baseman Jordan Castaldo led off the top of the eighth with a home run, his third in two games. The Leafs then proceeded to load the bases, and centerfielder Dennis Dei Baning scored on another fielder's choice by Ross. Midway through the inning the Leafs enjoyed a 10-2 lead.
The Jackfish rallied in the bottom of the eighth. They got to Deska and Adam Marra for four runs off five hits to make it a 10-6 ballgame.
In the top of the ninth, having just watched the Jackfish put up a four-spot, Dei Baning stuck a fork in them for good. He hit a home run to dead center that cleared the "400 feet" marker. Rounding first, he fired up his teammates with a jubilant point back to the Leafs' dugout. Dei Baning ended the week as he began it, with a home run. It was 13-6 Leafs headed to the bottom of the ninth.
Luis Florentino took the mound for the Leafs, perhaps auditioning for the closer's role. If so, he aced the test by recording three strikeouts to end the game. Alvarado earned his second win of the year and Dominguez was stuck with the loss.
Huge numbers in the boxscore after this one. Knecht led the way with five hits and an RBI. Third baseman Ryan Dos Santos had three hits. Castaldo, Dei Baning, Ross and Dan Marra each got a pair of hits. Castaldo and Dei Baning each racked up three RBIs.
The Leafs have won all three games at Welland Stadium this season, part of the reason why they have the second-best road record in the entire league. They can't buy a win at home but they are absolute terrors on the road. What a peculiar season.
After Week Eleven, the Leafs' record is 14-19, good for seventh place in the IBL standings. They are 9 1/2 games behind the Welland Jackfish and 7 1/2 games ahead of the last place Brantford Red Sox.
Another busy week looms, starting with the final Wednesday nighter of the regular season.
The week ahead:
Wednesday, July 30 - Barrie Baycats vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 pm at Christie Pits
Friday, August 1 - Toronto Maple Leafs at London Majors, 7:35 pm at Labatt Park
Saturday, August 2 - London Majors vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 pm at Christie Pits
Sunday, August 3 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Chatham-Kent Barnstormers, 2:05 pm at Fergie Jenkins Field
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