Majors’ Season Comes to an End, Jackfish Clinch CBL Finals
Written by: Evan Frederiksen / Photos By Mason Dawdy
The London Majors entered Game 6 with their season on the line. After falling to the Welland Jackfish in Game 5, London trailed the semifinal series 3-2 and needed a victory to force a winner-take-all Game 7. With their championship hopes on the line, the Majors gave it everything they had and battled throughout the night in Welland, but the Jackfish hit their way to a 15-6 victory and closed out the series in Game 6, ending London’s playoff run and sending Welland to the CBL Championship Series.
The ball was flying high at Welland Stadium Saturday night as both teams were locked in offensively. Between the two clubs, five home runs were hit, and 29 total hits were recorded, with big swings and timely offence shaping the game from start to finish. So, let’s break down how this game really transpired.
Teodoro Ortega got his second start of the series for the Jackfish, and after pitching a six-inning gem in Game 2, Ortega was solid again, pitching six and a third innings while giving up five earned runs on nine hits and striking out three.
Travis Keys got the start for London and struggled through three and two-thirds innings, surrendering six earned runs on seven hits while striking out a batter. Both offences were quiet in the first, but it was in the second inning where the barrage of power began.
Eduardo De Oleo got the Majors off to a much-needed fast start, hitting a deep two-run home run to centre field and giving the Majors a 2-0 lead. Not only was De Oleo’s shot the big early swing the Majors had been searching for, but it was also the first home run London had hit in this series.
(Photo by Mason Dawdy)
The Jackfish wasted no time swinging back, as Greyson Barrett launched a two-run bomb of his own to plate a pair and tie the ballgame at 2-2 after two innings. After the back-and-forth start, both pitchers settled in during the third, with Keys and Ortega each tossing scoreless frames to bring some calm to an otherwise explosive opening.
Unfortunately for both starters, though, the fourth inning was anything but calm. It all got started when Maikol Escotto clubbed a 1-0 pitch from Ortega to deep left field, this one another two-run bomb, putting London back ahead 4-2. The Jackfish then responded yet again, this time scoring four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Brendan Luther came through first when he hit a solo shot to right field, bringing Welland to within 4-3. Greyson Barrett followed that up with another home run, this time a three-run shot to right field, pulling the Jackfish in front 6-4 after four innings of play.
It was only a matter of time before both these squads utilized their long-ball ability. The home run hadn't been a big factor at all throughout this series, but with both offences looking to make the most of their power, the long ball was beginning to become a bigger part of the story in Game 6.
(Photo By Mason Dawdy)
Justin Gideon added another run for the Jackfish in the bottom of the fifth, hitting a sacrifice fly to centre field to extend the Welland lead to 7-4. London never stopped fighting back, though, as Trent Lenihan lined an RBI double to right field in the top of the seventh, bringing the Majors back within two at 7-5.
With London once again within striking distance, the Majors needed a big defensive inning to keep the game within reach. Instead, the Jackfish delivered their biggest offensive outburst of the night. Welland exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the seventh, with Justin Gideon, Greyson Barrett, Daiki Abe, Jonah Weisner, Robert Mullen, Brendan Luther and James Smibert all contributing to the massive inning. By the time the dust settled, the Jackfish had opened up a 15-5 lead after seven innings, putting the game firmly in their control.
London did add another run in the top of the eighth, as Jarrett Burney lined an RBI single to centre field, scoring the Majors’ sixth run.
The Jackfish then called upon their closer Deivy Mendez in the top of the ninth to record the final three outs of the game, sealing the semifinal series victory for Welland and bringing the London Majors’ playoff run to an end.
Jackfish Win Semi-Final Series 4-2
The 2026 season may be over for the Majors, but the memories from a memorable regular season and playoff run will last well beyond Game 6. From the individual accomplishments and league acknowledgements to the way this team continued to battle throughout the season, the Majors gave London plenty to be proud of and plenty to remember from the 2026 campaign.