Niagara’s newest sporting franchise wrapped up its first season this past weekend.
Playing in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL) West Division, the Ironbacks finished with a (10-35) record.
Double-digit wins was the goal for Owner and Director of Operations Mal Romanin. It was also a better record than two other established franchises in the league.
“It was rewarding, I would say,” Romanin said recently when he joined the Niagara Sports Report on 610 CKTB.
“We’re actually quite happy, with everything. We’d like to call it a success, and it was quite rewarding.”
Two players from the PGCBL, and 11 overall, were drafted in the first round of the recent Major League Baseball Draft, and Romanin offered a great story of one the Ironbacks pitchers.
“Jack Kemp (Niagara native) played at Brock, came to us, and we didn’t honestly expect too much from him,” said Romanin. “We just didn’t know, but he’s come in and turned a lot of heads on our team, in this league, and south of the border.
And he’s turned that into a scholarship hat he didn’t have previously, and he’s earned every aspect of that.
That’s the type of thing we can offer for our team and this league.”
Romanin was able to sign seven local players including Kemp.
The PGCBL features 15 teams, eight in the west and seven teams in the East. The Niagara Ironbacks are the lone Canadian franchise,
The Ironbacks play out of George Taylor Field in Merritton – the former home of the St. Catharines Blue Jays and Stompers.
Over $1-million dollars of renovations are planned heading into next season. i think we’ll be able to attack the off-season, get right at recruiting,
“They’re (the City of St. Catharines) going to be redoing the irrigation and drainage, in September,” explained Romanin.
“The netting behind home plate will be updated, and we’re looking at a deck in left-field for people to come out and have a fun party area.”
Speaking of next season, Romanin is already pounding the pavement and planning ahead for the Ironbacks second season.
“For us to be on a level playing field with the rest of the league, I think we’ll be able to attack the off-season, get right at recruiting, get right at 2026 promotions, staffing and every part of the organization.”
Romanin, a Thorold native, returned to Niagara after working for the Toronto Blue Jays in the Media Relations department. He knows first hand what a successful Blue Jays team means for baseball across the country.
“It’s fantastic, enjoy. When you see the Blue Jays playing well you see registration go up from coast to coast,” aaid Romanin. “Im looking forward to the playoffs, and hopefully they can win a series or two.”
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.
