It was an interesting Thursday night for a trio of Niagara sports teams.
First in Scarborough where the Niagara River Lions shocked many in the basketball world stopping the first place Shooting Stars 86-84.
Scarborough set a Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) record by winning 20 regular season games – good for first place overall with a (20-4) record.
The River Lions wrapped up the regular season with a (10-14) record.
Khali l Ahmad led the Lions with 17 points, as the upset victory sets up an Eastern Final showdown against the Brampton Honey Badgers who outlasted the Ottawa BlackJacks 95-91.
East down the 401, the St. Catharines Athletics took a 2-1 best of seven series into Whitby, but it was the Warriors who prevailed 14-9 setting up a Game 5 back at Canada Games Park Saturday night at 7 pm. Captain Zach Toll, Jameson Bucktooth and Lukas Rozon all had five point games for the Athletics in defeat.
Back in Niagara, and on the diamond, the Welland Jackfish moved back into a first-place tie with the London Majors following a 7-3 win over the Barrie Baycats.
The Jackfish were (0-4) against Barrie this season entering the contest.
Japanese leadoff hitter Daike Abe had two hits, two RBI and a stolen base in the win. Abe leads the Canadian Baseball League (CBL) in steals with 32 on the campaign.
Welland visits London Friday evening.
Sticking with local baseball, three Niagara Ironbacks were named to the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL) All League Teams.
Jordan Gallo, who also was the Ironbacks Player of the Year Nominee, had a phenomenal season and stayed in the hunt for the batting title.
Cooper Martin and Luka Abell were named third team stars and played crucial roles for Niagara this past season.
The Ironbacks failed to qualify for the postseason in their second season as Canada’s only team in the PGCBL.
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.
