Panthers roll into playoffs on winning note
HAMILTON - The last dress rehearsal before the big dance was a successful one.
Ryan Burnside pitched five scoreless innings to help the Kitchener Panthers to an 8-2 win over the Cardinals in Hamilton Tuesday night.
Burnside held Hamilton to six hits and a pair of walks in his first start on the mound this season.
Spencer Voisin had a three-for-five night, while Nathan Laird was two-for-four with a pair of RBI.
Laird - usually a relief pitcher - has a hit and an RBI in all three games he has played on offense.
Nolan Misa, Raul Gonzalez and Jorden Carthy also had multi-hit outings. Carthy also finished the game on the mound, pitching an inning of two-hit, two-run ball.
Last year's MVP Tyler Duncan led the Hamilton attack, going three-for-four.
Colby Ring took the loss. He went 5.1 innings, giving up four hits and six runs (five earned). Ring issued eight walks and struck out three.
Kitchener finishes the season 14-28 and will begin the first round of the playoffs Thursday in Welland.
Game 2 will be the Panthers' next home game, and is also FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT!
GET YOUR PLAYOFF TICKETS NOW and #PackTheJack!