Panthers fall to Jackfish
KITCHENER – Back-to-back home runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth proved to be too little, too late for the Kitchener Panthers.
A couple of early errors and trouble on the mound proved costly in a 12-7 defeat to the Welland Jackfish Thursday.
Kitchener’s late heroics included two successive home runs, while down to their last out.
Both Yosuke Fujie and Mateo Zeppieri made things interesting with no doubt shots to keep the game alive.
Alongside the three runs scored in the ninth, the Panthers had knocked two home runs earlier in the ballgame. Trent Lawson hit his ninth of the year, and Zeppieri hit the first of his two on the evening.
Panthers starter Evan Elliott was ran out the game in the second inning, after surrendering five earned runs on four hits.
Three more Panthers would grace the mound through the ballgame - that of Ben Hewitt, Jake Liberta, and Brett Reid – who would combine for five strikeouts - and more critically – five walks.
Welland’s win was surmounted from an outing that Pedro De Los Santos – a nine-year veteran of the league – will never forget.
Having not thrown for more than three innings in a game all season, the former Panther went seven in this one, striking out three – with 114 pitches to his name.
The Panthers are down to only two remaining home games at Jack Couch Park for the 2026 season, and after a duel with the Maple Leafs in Toronto on Saturday, they will return for a home clash on Sunday with the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.
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