PANTHERS BEAT JACKFISH 4-3

WELLAND – Liam Wilson’s sacrifice fly in the sixth inning gave the Kitchener Panthers a 4-3 lead which held up to defeat the Welland Jackfish Saturday afternoon in Welland. Kitchener (14-11) has a 1 ½ game lead over the third place Toronto Maple Leafs while Welland (12-13) remains in fourth place.

Kitchener jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning on four hits and a passed ball. Keegan Marsden and Stephen Whalen each had run scoring singles. Blake Jacklin and Marsden with two hits each led the Panthers’ eight hit attack.

Cole Warken’s two-run home run in the fourth inning put the Jackfish on the board. Griffin Kellar singled in the fifth inning and scored on a wild pitch to tie the game 3-3. Kellar added another single for two on the day to lead the Jackfish hitters who had eight hits total in the game.

Winning pitcher Stephen Gade (2-3) went eight innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and five walks with one home run allowed. David Bruinsma pitched the ninth, striking out two to earn his first save.

Welland starter Jake Polancic (1-1) took the loss. He pitched six innings, giving up four runs on seven hits and five walks. He struckout three. Robert Mackie pitched two innings and Zachary Cameron one to finish up.

The Kitchener Panthers next home game is today, August 29th vs. Welland Jackfish. 2:00pm start time at Jack Couch Park.