Welland Jackfish capitalized on a ten-run eighth inning to defeat the Brantford Red Sox, 19-7 in Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) action on Friday, June 23, 2023.
Welland jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after a solo HR in the top of the first but the Red Sox responded in the bottom half, after doubles by SS Gus Wilson and DH Christian Kuzemka tied things at one. Brantford took the 2-1 lead after an RBI single by C Jeremie Veilleux.
Red Sox SP Isaiah Ramos had a rough start to the second inning, hitting the leadoff batter, followed by a sacrifice bunt, a walk and two stolen bases but Ramos pitched out of it, only allowing one run as Welland tied things up at two.
The Red Sox had a solid chance to regain the lead in the bottom of the second after 2B Keiran Bowles led off with a double, followed by a walk but couldn’t plate the go-ahead run after three consecutive outs.
Neither team could muster any offence in the third inning but Welland capitalized in the top of the fourth, scoring two runs to take a 4-2 lead. Brantford cut the lead to one in the bottom half but the Jackfish got that one back in the top of the fifth.
Ramos threw seven innings, only allowing five hits, four earned runs and striking out ten to keep Welland at bay in the sixth and seventh innings while the Red Sox scored one run in the bottom of the sixth to get back within one, 5-4.
Brantford poured it on in the bottom of the seventh inning, getting a home run from pinch hitter Evan Ryan, followed by a walk and a single by LF Taichi Nakamura, a hit batter and an RBI single from Wilson as the home team put up a three-spot to take a 7-5 lead through seven innings.
Sox RP Gabe Bruder came in to start the top of the eighth, but after allowing two walks combined with two errors by his teammates, he was pulled in favour of RP Sean Hood-Tidman. After getting the first out of the inning, Hood-Tidman ran into trouble, allowing a single, a hit batter, an error by Hood-Tidman, followed by a single, triple and two walks, he was replaced by Aiden Colangelo. Colangelo allowed one unearned run but finally got out of the inning. Welland capitalized on four errors and erratic pitching as they opened up a 15-7 lead.
The Jackfish went on to tack on four more runs in the top of the ninth on their way to the 19-7 victory. With the loss, the Red Sox are still winless at home this season, 0-8, and are 2-16 on the season.
Brantford’s next two games are at home when the Hamilton Cardinals come to town on Friday, June 30, followed by a Canada Day matinee against the Kitchener Panthers at 2:00 p.m. The Brantford Red Sox will dedicate their July 1 home game against Kitchener to longtime sponsor Brett Ramey (1966-2020). The Brantford Piston Pushers Car Club, one of Brett’s favourites, will be in attendance and funds will be raised for The Stedman Community Hospice.
