KITCHENER PANTHERS
13-TIME IBL CHAMPIONS
Kitchener Panthers
menuPanthers win first home game of 2024
KITCHENER - A big confidence boost to start the weekend for the Kitchener Panthers.
Yadian Martinez was brilliant in seven innings, striking out 10 to add to his IBL-leading total, and helped the Panthers to a 9-3 win over the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers Thursday.
It marks Kitchener's first home win of 2024, and improves Kitchener's record to 2-5. The Barnstormers drop to 2-4.
Martinez gave up six hits and one run on the game to collect the win.
The offense was a big story as well.
Nolan Misa opened the scoring with his first career IBL home run in the second inning.
Ryan Burnside also hit a long ball, part of a seventh inning where all nine Panthers got a plate appearance. Burnside finished two-for-three on the evening, reaching base four times (two hits, two walks).
Of note, Nick Parsons only recorded one at bat, but reached base five times. He got a hit, was issued a walk, and was hit by a pitch three times.
Lee Kucera went three-for-five for the visitors. He and Torrin Vaselenak both drove in a run.
Aden Ryan, the IBL Pitcher of the Week in Week 1, was tagged with the loss.
He went four innings, giving up three runs on three hits, while walking five and striking out two.
The Panthers hit the road Saturday afternoon in Guelph for a 1 p.m. start.
Kitchener hosts Welland Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. for Youth Sports Day.
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