Majors Blow Out the Leafs in Home Opener

The London Majors came out for their first Intercounty Baseball League game on Friday and did not disappoint. In front of a max capacity crowd of 1,100 fans, the roar of the best fans in the IBL filled the stadium for the first time in 696 days. 

Majors starter Owen Boon, who the Majors will rely on to be the staff's ace, came out showing no rust, only walking one in the first. Boon would go on to throw 6 innings of 1 run, 4 hit baseball which included a 3 up, 3 down in the 3rd inning. 

The lineup before the game was talked about speed and power and that was put on display Friday night. Returning to the lineup and leading off shortstop Keith Kandel finished the game 2 for 5 with 3 RBIs including the first of the game. 

Continuing their big run innings, the Majors would score 3 in the 3rd, 3 in the 4th and 6 runs in the 6th inning. The big blow was a 2 run, home run by first baseman Josh Williams on a 3-2 count that scored catcher Hayden Jaco who also got his first hit of his IBL career. Williams would go on and hit 1-2 with 2 RBIs.

Other notes from the first victory of the season: Julian Johnson went 1-4 with 2 RBIs, Carlos Arteaga had 1 RBI and pitcher Braeden Ferrington came in after Boon and pitched a clean 3 innings to finish off the game. 

The next game for the Majors is Saturday vs the Welland Jackfish, then Sunday night back at home vs the defending IBL champions Barrie Baycats. 

The London Majors are a member of Canada’s top baseball league, the Intercounty Baseball League. 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