Welland Tribune e-edition

Jackfish come back on the road

BERND FRANKE REGIONAL SPORTS EDITOR

This time, game-ending dramatics had the Welland Jackfish taking a bow in the winner’s circle.

An 11-7 come-from-behind victory over the host Kitchener Panthers on Wednesday night improved Welland’s record in league play to 26-10 and moved the team into a tie with the London majors for first place.

On Thursday, the Jackfish were scheduled to visit the Barrie Baycats (20-18), while the Majors will be home to the Brantford Red Sox (2-33) on Friday night.

At Kitchener, Justin Gideon and James Smibert, with two each, and Giancarlo Morello hit home runs for the Jackfish as Welland plated nine of the last 10 runs in the game.

Sam Cawker, Matt Hilderbrandt and Smibert each drove in three runs for the Jackfish, who trailed the Panthers 6-2 heading into the top of the fifth inning.

Brandon Underhill, the second of three pitchers to take the mound for Welland, earned the win, improving to 3-0. He gave up three hits and struck out two over 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief after taking over from starter Chris Lazar, who gave up six runs on seven hits and two walks in 2 1/3 innings.

Chris Boatto limited Kitchener to one run on one hit over four innings to earn his fifth save of the season. He walked two while striking out seven.

Before returning to the win column, the Jackfish dropped a 7-5 decision Sunday in London despite outhitting the Majors 14-7.

Welland evened the score at 2-2 with two runs in the top of the sixth but the hosts regained the lead and went ahead to stay with five runs in their next at-bat, including four via Austin Wilkie’s grand slam.

Hildebrandt hit a two-run homer as the Jackfish scored three in the eighth but they were held scoreless after that as the Majors moved into a first-place tie.

Brandon Nicholson and Hildebrandt each went 3-for-4. Ethan Hunt, Tyler Dupuis and Gideon had two hits apiece for Welland.

Jackfish starter Rich Corrente allowed four runs, three earned, on four hits and one walk in five innings before giving way to Brett Lawson, who fell to 0-2 and allowed two unearned runs without recording an out. Four of London’s runs were unearned.

The Jackfish visit Brantford on Saturday night and host the Hamilton Cardinals at 7:30 p.m. next Thursday at Welland Stadium.

SPORTS

en-ca

2022-08-12T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-08-12T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://wellandtribune.pressreader.com/article/281827172544866

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