Major victorious on Canada Day!
One of the Majors' annual traditions with both the fans and players walking away with grins on their faces. The annual Canada Day celebration capped off with fireworks has been an annual tradition at the Forks of the Thames for years and this year the Majorsgot revenge on the Baycats for the Father’s Day loss with a 7-0 in front of a packed Labatt Park.
With Owen Boon taking on the Baycats for his 2nd time in 3 appearances, it would be a different story than the June 19th contest. With 7 innings pitched, allowing only 5 hits while striking out 12, almost half the batters 25 faced. Braeden Ferrington would pitch the 8th facing 4 batters while not allowing a hit either. Cesar Cabral would pitch the 9th getting into trouble with 1 out and the bases loaded. With Brandon Colley at the plate, Gibson Krezminski would make a diving grab at third base while tagging the base from his belly to end the game with an unassisted double play. Byron Reichstein who returned to the Majors earlier in the day would make an impact right away as he would score on a Cleveland Brownlee double in the third before Robert Mullen would trade places with Cleveland hitting a double himself. Gibson Krezminski would have a large impact in this game as he went 2-4 with 1 RBI and 2 runs scored as he would score later in the third to increase the Majors' lead to 6-0. Keith Kandel, who is known more for his defensive side of the ball continued his hot start to the season hitting his 3rd home run of the season, tying his career high for a regular season only 18 games into the season. It is safe to say Keith is having himself a great year this season with the bat.
A trip down to Welland sandwiches 2 home games for the Majors as they take on the Jackfish on Saturday in Welland before returning home on Sunday to take on the Brantford Red Sox at 1:05. Tickets are still available or purchased online at www.londonmajors.com
Offensively the Majors continued their recent ways managing 7 runs vs one of the top pitchers in the league in Juan Benitez. With runners in scoring position early in the 2nd, Keith Kandel would have a sac bunt to score Starling Joseph from third. At the time it looked to be only the 1 run but in the end, it would be the game-winning run. Austin Wilkie would add to the Majors' lead in the second, scoring Krezminski on a single and an error to give the Majors a 2-0 lead.
The London Majors are a member of Canada’s top baseball league, the Intercounty Baseball League. In 2021 the London Majors won the IBL Jack & Lynn Dominico Trophy. The 100-year-old summer league is one of the oldest baseball leagues in the world, with the league established in 1919, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. For more information, visit www.londonmajors.com or follow the Majors on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and Twitter at @Londonmajors