Three teams, the Welland Jackfish, London Majors and Hamilton Cardinals, all finished tied for top spot at (31-17) in the Canadian Baseball League standings – two of those three teams, Welland and London will now face each other in a best-of-seven opening round CBL playoff series beginning Friday night from London.
The two clubs have also been crowned champions of the IBL (now CBL) in four of the last five seasons.
The defending champion Jackfish feature three players in almost every offensive leaderboard category.
Daike Abe is third in batting average (.397), while Ethan Mann is fifth at .392 and tied for third in home runs with 15 and tops in RBI with 71, breaking the league record.
Jonah Weisner was fifth in runs batted in with 54 and number one in doubles with 20.
Abe and Mann were also second and third in hits with 77 and 76 respectively, while Abe was tied for first with three triples and second in on-base percentage with .489.
Maikol Escotto is clearly the best hitter for the Majors.
He’s first in CBL hits with 86, second in home runs with 16, and fourth in batting average at .396.
On the mound, veteran closer Deivy Mendez finished third in league saves with six, while London’s Travis Keys and Victor Payano were tied for top spot in wins with eight. Payano was also fourth in strikeouts with 82 and fourth in WHIP at 1.29.
“This series will be tight. Outside of the last game the first five games between us during the regular season were all close – the largest being a three-run difference,” explained Welland Manager Brian Essery.
“I believe we have the deepest starting rotation and bullpen.
If we can execute the small things at the plate, moving runners over, and getting that big hit with runners in scoring position, then I like our chances.
With the games being tight I expect Deivy Mendez to be in a lot of big situations and that’s a positive for us.
Our key at the plate will be getting runners on and in scoring position in front of Ethan Mann. He’s delivered all season so I expect the same in the postseason.
Game 1 goes Friday night from London at 6:05 pm, with Game 2 back in Welland Saturday evening at 7:05.
Game 3 Sunday September 6 at London 6:05 pm
Game 4 Wednesday September 9 at Welland 7:05 pm *
Game 5 Friday September 11 at London 7:05 pm *
Game 6 Saturday September 12 at Welland 7:05 pm *
Game 7 Sunday September 13 at London 6:05 pm *
* denotes if necessary
Playoff tickets are on sale now at wellandjackfish.com
Rod Mawhood is a lifelong Niagara native who has had the pleasure of working in all three mediums – Radio, Print and TV – for over 20 years. His first announcing gig was with the then St. Catharines Stompers. Since then he’s worked in radio and TV in Toronto, and currently is the announcer for the Niagara IceDogs and Niagara River Lions.
Rod also covers the Buffalo Bills for FOX Sports and the Buffalo Sabres for NBC Sports.
