Majors top Panthers to kick off weekend

Written by Dan Haugh / Photo by Matt Hiscox 

The London Majors fell behind 2-0 in the first inning but were able to score all eight of their runs in a stretch of four consecutive innings in the middle part of the game to defeat the Kitchener Panthers by a score of 8-4 at Labatt Memorial Park Friday night. 

Travis Keys started on the mound for London.  

Keys went five solid innings, holding the Panthers to two runs on eight hits while recording four strikeouts to get the win. Miguel Cirino followed Keys with two scoreless innings. Zach Laird and Dustin Davidson followed in the eighth inning before handing the ball over to Skylar Janisse to close out the ninth inning and seal the 8-4 victory for the London Majors, who now have a 7-3 record good for third place in the 2026 CBL standings. 

London put together a 12-hit attack coming from eight different players. Maikol Escotto had two singles, two runs scored, three RBI and two stolen bases. Starling Joseph, Jarrett Burney, and Trent Lenihan had two hits each. One of Lenihan's hits was a two-run home run in the sixth inning.  Burney had the only other extra-base hit for the Majors with a double in the sixth inning. Christian Inoa, Eduardo De Oleo, Tucker Zdunich, and Jaden Babiuk had one hit each. 

The Majors go on the road Saturday afternoon in Guelph to take on the Royals at 2 PM.  They will finish their three-game weekend with a visit to Christie Pits in Toronto for a 2 PM contest against the Maple Leafs.