Panthers Drop Home Opener to Baycats

Playing the Barrie Baycats for the 2nd time in 24 hours was sure to provide some fireworks, the fireworks eventually came but the crowd at Jack Couch Park had to wait a bit for them.

Both starters Jasvir Rakkar and Santos Arias were dealing early in this game firing 3 shutout innings each to start the game.  Rakkar didn’t even give up a hit until the 4th inning when Barrie racked up 4 hits in the inning allowing Barrie to score 3 runs.  Kevin Atkinson had an RBI double for the Baycats in the frame.  The Panthers would get on the board in the 5th inning with 2 runs courtesy of a RBI double by Zarley Cina and an error by the Baycats.

The Panthers would put up 2 more runs in the 6th to take a 4-3 lead thanks to a 2 run double by Zach Johnson.

It would stay 4-3 until the 8th when 7 Barrie players reached base in a row all with 2 outs.  The big blow of the inning was a 2 out slam by Jordan Castaldo that gave the Baycats an 11-4 lead.

The Panthers would try to fight back in the 9th by scoring 5 runs to get within 11-9 and bring the tying run at bat, but Brad Bissell got out of the jam and preserving the 11-9 win for the Baycats.

The Panthers next home game is Thursday night, May 23rd at 7:30 against the London Majors.