Panthers Win Two, Lose Two in Busy Week

The Kitchener Panthers had a busy slate of games this past week, picking up wins against Brantford and London and dropping games to Guelph and London. 

Game One

Thursday’s contest saw the Panthers take on the Brantford Red Sox and come away with a 14-6 victory in a strong offensive performance.    Tyler Hinrikus had the standout performance of the game, going 2 for 3 with a grand slam, double, two walks and five RBI. Blake Jacklin had two hits, two RBI and a homer while Liam Wilson also picked up two hits, a double and an RBI.

Nathan Laird picked up the win, throwing two scoreless innings in relief, recording three strikeouts. Grant Shantz pitched a scoreless ninth inning to close the game out. 

Game Two

The Panthers visited the Guelph Royals on Saturday evening and weren’t able to get much going offensively, losing by a score of 9-1. Keegan Marsden had the lone RBI, hitting a sac fly in the fourth inning. Jett Jarvis, Andy Leader and Eric Martin picked up hits in the loss.

Claudio Custodio earned the victory for Guelph, going 7.1 innings, allowing three hits, one earned run and striking out 12.

Doubleheader Game One

The Panthers hosted the London Majors on Sunday for an afternoon double header, dropping game one by a score of 8-4 and winning game two by a score of 11-7. 

The Majors jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first three innings before Liam Wilson took Majors starter, Jose Arias, deep to Centerfield for a grand slam, cutting the lead to two runs. 

The Panthers were unable to cash anymore runs as they ended up falling by a score of 8-4. Jett Jarvis and Blake Jacklin both had two hit games and Wilson had the four run home run. Drey Sloat picked up the Panthers other hit. 

Jacob Ray made his IBL debut, pitching 3.1 innings, striking out two and allowing one run in relief. 

Doubleheader Game Two

In game two of the doubleheader, the Panthers received a strong start from Christian Hauck who went five innings, striking out ten and allowing two runs on two hits while picking up his fourth win of the season.

2021 IBL pitcher of the year, Pedro De Los Santos, got the start for the Majors and was ambushed by the Panthers’ bats, giving up 13 hits and nine earned runs over five innings of work. 

Liam Wilson went 4 for 4 with a double and two RBI, Jett Jarvis went 2 for 3 with four RBI, Blake Jacklin picked up a hit and two RBI and Eric Aplevich went three for three and hit his first IBL home run.

Andy Leader saw his nineteen game hit streak come to and end in game one, failing to pick up a hit in one pinch hit at bat but got back into the hit column in game two, picking up a single. 

Danny Mahoney picked up a hit, walk and scored twice while Evyn Sherman picked up a single and Simon Grinberg hit his fifth double of the season. 

Looking Ahead

The Panthers have a three game week ahead, travelling to Toronto to face the Maple Leafs on Wednesday for their final regular season visit to Christie Pitts. 

The Hamilton Cardinals will visit Kitchener on Thursday evening with first pitch scheduled for 7:30 PM at Jack Couch Park. 

On Sunday, the Panthers will host longtime rival, Barrie Baycats, for a 2:00 PM game at Jack Couch Park.