Majors get victory in Kitchener

Written by Dan Haugh/Photo by Matt Hiscox 

The London Majors defeated the Kitchener Panthers in a high scoring affair on Monday night at Jack Couch Park by a score of 12-10.

With that win the hopes London has of catching the Barrie Baycats for second place in the IBL standings still have life, The Majors have two games remaining in the 2024 season. Their opponent in both of those games will be the Guelph Royals who trail London by two full games.

The Majors used five pitchers in the game with Jonathan Henry getting credit for the win. Henry pitched the fifth and sixth innings in relief of starter Travis Keys. Victor Payano, Skylar Janisse and Tyler Gillies pitched one inning each. Gillies earned the save by hurling a scoreless ninth inning.

With the reputation that Jack Couch Park has for giving up a lot of home runs you might expect more than two in a 12-10 game, but that is all there were. Byron Reichstein ́s three-run bomb in the first inning and Starling Joseph ́s solo shot in the seventh inning were the only home runs in the entire game by either side.

Starling Joseph had a four-hit night with two RBI. Drew Lawrence had three hits and three RBI. Victor Plaz and Brad Verhoeven had two hits each. Gibson Krzeminski and Byron Reichstein had one hit each. Reichstein ́s hit of course was the three-RBI bomb over the centre-field fence in the first inning.

The London Majors ́s quest for second place will resume on Tuesday night at David E Hastings Stadium in Guelph. That game against the Royals will go a long way in finalizing the first round playoff matchups throughout the league.

The two rivals will meet again on Wednesday night at Labatt Park. Although the playoff matchups are yet to be determined it is expected that the London will begin their quest for the Dominico Cup Friday August 23 at Labatt Park. At this point their first-round opponent is unknown.