IBL Playoffs: Baycats sweep Cardinals to advance to finals, Jackfish push Royals to brink

September 2, 2025

Official Intercounty Baseball League News Release

Baycats advance to finals

BARRIE, ONT. – The Barrie Baycats will get to defend their championship.

Barrie punched its ticket to the Dominico Cup final after sweeping Hamilton in the best-of-five semifinal. The second-place Baycats, who went the distance with Toronto in the first round, outscored fifth-place Hamilton 17-2.

Francisco Hernandez homered, and Juan Benitez threw eight innings in Barrie’s 5-1 series-clinching win on Tuesday at Athletic Kulture Stadium.

Leading 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth, Hernandez hit a two-run blast to give Barrie some breathing room. Brandon Hernandez went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, and Noel McGarry Doyle singled twice, scored twice and stole a base.

Benitez allowed a run on four hits. He walked two and fanned four. His only blemish was a Jaden Brown home run in the top of the eighth.

Yolki Pena doubled for the Cardinals, who had five hits.

Freisis Adames took the loss on the mound after giving up five runs (four earned) on eight hits in five innings. He struck out six and walked one.

Jackfish take series lead

WELLAND, ONT. – Brandon Hupe’s two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning was the difference in Welland’s 5-4 win over Guelph in Game 3 of their semifinal on Tuesday night.

Welland leads the best-of-five series 2-1. Game 4 is Wednesday at David E. Hastings Stadium.

Hupe’s home run came after Guelph scored twice in the top half of the frame to take the lead. Brendan Luther and Gianfranco Morello each had a pair of hits for the Jackfish, and Thomas Green scored twice.

Welland starting pitcher Ben Abram went six innings, giving up four runs (one earned) on six hits with three walks and four punchouts. Deivy Mendez recorded the last five outs for the save. He walked one and struck out two.

Conner Morro went 2-for-3 with an RBI for Guelph. Liam Wilson, Garrett Takamatsu and Ashton Patterson all drove in a run, and Carson Burns had two hits and scored once.

Chris Lazar took the loss after yielding two runs on five hits in two innings. He struck out three without issuing a walk. Lazar entered the game for Antonio Frias, who allowed three unearned runs in four innings. He scattered three hits, walked one and fanned five.