On the Christie Hillside: Leafs Romp at the Pits

IBL Quarterfinals - Game 2 - August 22, 2025

Barrie Baycats at Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto 11 - Barrie 3

Series is tied 1-1

A Justin Marra home run, one of the most electrifying moments in all of the IBL.

After an excruciating loss in the series opener, the Toronto Maple Leafs responded with a good ole Christie Pits romp to take Game 2 of their quarterfinal series against the Barrie Baycats.

The return of postseason baseball brought a buzz to the Pits. Both clubs wasted no time getting on the scoreboard.

Toronto starter Franklin Hernandez gave up a double and single in the first inning and Barrie went ahead 1-0.

In the bottom of the inning, Barrie starter Juan Benitez gave up a walk and a single. First baseman Jordan Castaldo grounded into a double play but it cashed in a run. 1-1 ballgame through one.

Two things emerged as constants during this game. The first was that third baseman Ryan Dos Santos was a regular presence on the basepaths (he would score four runs). The second was that the Baycats hurt themselves with errors (they racked up four of them). With two out in the bottom of the third, Dos Santos hit a line drive to right field for a single. After a pickoff attempt by Benitez, Toronto's speedster stole second. The next man up was DH Jhon Javier. He hit a grounder that got past the third baseman and rolled to left field where it was misplayed by the outfielder. Dos Santos scored and Javier landed on second base. A single by Castaldo scored Javier and the Leafs went ahead 3-1 through three.

The sun set and the game rolled on, each team nipping at the other.

In the top of the fifth inning, the Baycats nipped hard. They singled twice off Hernandez and scored a run on a groundout to make it 3-2.

It was around that time that the buzz around the ballpark increased. Who should stroll into Christie Pits but hockey star and local hero Max Domi. He just happens to be Luca Boscarino's cousin, like, no big deal. He promised the Leaf outfielder that he would come to the game to support the boys. Boscarino promised that he would hit a nuke if Domi showed up. With his cousin in the house, Boscarino smashed the red button and launched a missile in the bottom of the fifth. Like, no big deal. The Pits went wild as the Leafs extended their lead. A sac fly by Castaldo in the same inning made it 5-2.

Maple Leaf Hernandez hit Baycat Francisco Hernandez with a pitch to start the sixth inning. The Barrie second baseman stole second and moved to third on an error. He scored on a groundout and once again the visitors pulled closer, 5-3.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Leafs blew the game open.

It began with the first pitch thrown by reliever and former Leaf Chris Nagorski. Catcher Justin Marra tattooed it for a home run.

A Justin Marra home run is one of the most electrifying moments in all of the IBL. From the moment of contact, all eyes follow the soaring ball as it leaves the park, then all heads turn to follow Marra as he dances around the bases barely touching dirt. The unbridled joy on his face, the finger guns for the Bushmen, the epic handslap with Rob Butler. The communal energy generated in these few seconds could power the municipal grid for days.

Shortstop Spenser Ross drew a walk, and then bam! A two-run dinger by second baseman Dan Marra. Later in the inning, Javier drove in two runs with his fourth single of the game. The rally simply would not end. Justin returned to the plate and singled in another run. It took the combined efforts of Nagorski and Brad Grieveson to get out of the inning but not before the home side had surged ahead 11-3.

The Baycats had no response. After completing six innings on the mound, Hernandez turned the game over to Matt Brown and his powerful moustache. Over two innings, Brown gave up one hit and struck out three.

In the ninth inning, Taylor Lepard delivered one of the most famous endings seen at the Pits this year. A bit of background: Lepard has spent the entire summer waiting for a visa so he could travel to the United States and join the Staten Island Ferry Hawks of the independent Atlantic League. For months, he spent his time between appearances for the Leafs drumming his fingers and posting messages of frustration and yearning on Instagram. Midgame last night, the news broke. The visa was approved. Lepard pitched a fast, scoreless ninth inning and the Leafs won 11-3. As his teammates gathered at the mound for high fives, staff cleared a path off the diamond for the departing pitcher. He was immediately packed into a black SUV for a high-speed motorcade to Pearson Airport, with motorcycle police escort. Lepard pitches for the FerryHawks on Tuesday.

Mapes! Winners of Game 2. Hernandez earned the W while Benitez took the L.

Four hits for Javier. Four runs for Dos Santos. RBIs were delivered by the bats of Javier (3), Castaldo (2), Justin Marra (2), Dan Marra (2) and Boscarino (1).

It was a festive night at the Pits as fans were assured of more baseball to be played this year at Toronto's sunken ballpark.

Barrie 3 7 4

Toronto 11 14 1

W - Hernandez (1-0, 4.50)

L - Benitez (0-1, 7.20)

BOXSCORE