WELLAND – The Welland Jackfish announced today the signing of infielder McCoy Pearce for the 2023 season.

Pearce, a Kamloops, BC native, joins the Fish following a highlight season with the Okotoks Dawgs of the Western Canadian Baseball League in 2022. In 41 games played, McCoy led the Dawgs in home runs (8) and RBI (45) and hit .346 with 16 doubles.

“McCoy brings the Jackfish more power at the plate,” said Jackfish General Manager Jason McKay. “We are excited to welcome him to the Pond this season, we are sure our fans will come to love the power that he brings.”

The Okanagan College alumni hit .366 with 5 doubles, 4 triples, and 36 RBI in 2022 for the Coyotes, including hitting for the cycle in a 10-0 win over Edmonton on April 2nd, 2022.

The Welland Jackfish are a member of Canada’s top baseball league, the Intercounty Baseball League. The 100-year old summer league is one of the oldest baseball leagues in the world, with the league established in 1919, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. For more information, visit www.wellandjackfish.com or follow the Jackfish on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @wellandjackfish.

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Photo by Matt Hiscox

LONDON – The London Majors are proud to see former utility player Jakob Newton take the next steps in his baseball career, as he has signed with the Ottawa Titans of the Frontier League, an MLB Partner League.

Newton is following a successful season as in 33 games he posted an impressive .366 average with 4 home runs and driving in 33 RBIs. Along with his offence, Newton moved to the infield when called upon after playing the outfield for Florida Tech University before joining the Majors.

The Oakville native was tied for the league lead with 4 triples and came second in Rookie of the Year voting. In the playoffs, Newton helped the Majors to their second-straight title by hitting .483 with 19 RBIs in 14 games.

The London Majors are a member of Canada’s top baseball league, the Intercounty Baseball League. In 2021 the London Majors won the IBL Jack & Lynn Dominico Trophy. The 100-year-old summer league is one of the oldest baseball leagues in the world, with the league established in 1919, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. For more information, visit www.londonmajors.com or follow the Majors on Facebook, Instagram, Tik-Tok, Youtube and Twitter at @Londonmajors.

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LEAGUE’S 9TH MEMBER TO BEGIN PLAY IN 2024 SEASON 

The IBL announced on Wednesday that the League’s Board of Governors has approved the expansion application of Chatham, Ontario for admittance into the League.

The Chatham franchise, which will be owned by Dom Dinelle, will begin play in the 2024 Season at Fergie Jenkins Field, which will hold 1,100 fans for baseball.

“The IBL is excited to welcome the City of Chatham as our newest member,” said IBL Executive and owner of the Welland Jackfish, Ryan Harrison. “We have a great working relationship with Dom and his management group, and we look forward to bringing IBL Baseball to the Chatham community in May 2024 and the creation of natural rivalries with London, Brantford, and Kitchener.”

“We are grateful to the IBL Board of Governors for awarding us a new membership and we thank Mayor Darrin Canniff, the Chatham City Council for allowing us to call a stunning venue home,” said Dinelle. “Chatham is a terrific sports town and we look forward to making it a fantastic baseball town.”

More details about the team, including a ‘Name the Team’ contest, inaugural management team, and more, will be released at a press conference in Chatham on Friday, December 9th. Time and location to be announced shortly.

Visit Chatham-Kent Baseball online at ckiblbaseball.com and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @iblchatham.

About the Intercounty Baseball League

The Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) is the top-level baseball league in Canada, boasting ex-major league professionals and elite NCAA college baseball players. The 2021 season will mark the IBL’s 102nd in operation. The IBL is one of the longest continuously operated baseball leagues in the world and serves as a valuable training ground for coaches, umpires, and front office staff. More than 40 IBL players have advanced to Major League Baseball or returned to the IBL following their MLB careers. The league is comprised of teams from Barrie, Brantford, Kitchener, London, Toronto, Guelph, Welland, and Hamilton. For more information, visit www.theibl.ca.

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