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Intercounty Basbeall League (ON)

News: Sidearm Stories: Solazzo at 300

By Carlos VerdeAt Ottawa Stadium, a young Johnathan Solazzo takes his first few tentative hacks as an Intercounty Baseball League player.The date is May 16th, 2010.Katy Perry’s California Gurls has just been released, Instagram does not exist and Alexei Ponikarovsky is still a member of the (hockey) Leafs.Solazzo’s line on the day is an ugly…

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By Carlos Verde

At Ottawa Stadium, a young Johnathan Solazzo takes his first few tentative hacks as an Intercounty Baseball League player.

The date is May 16th, 2010.

Katy Perry’s California Gurls has just been released, Instagram does not exist and Alexei Ponikarovsky is still a member of the (hockey) Leafs.

Solazzo’s line on the day is an ugly one, the kind that reflects the Sunday-in-Ottawa, late-night team bonding reality: The young Mississauga Twin goes 0-for-3, two strikeouts, and the visitors drop a 5-1 decision.

“We loved it when Ottawa was in the league, we definitely went out and bonded as teammates,” laughs Solazzo some 13 years later, still playing — and now a bona fide star — in the Intercounty League. “It was a tough game on the Sunday there, their pitcher (Danny Desclouds) was throwing good and got me twice.”

It’s a warm Wednesday evening at Christie Pits; Solazzo’s Toronto Maple Leafs are preparing to host the Kitchener Panthers, and the 32-year-old third baseman just eclipsed the career 300-RBI mark four days prior.

“It’s been a career,” he chuckles. “I’ve met lots of people, lots of friends who I’d consider best friends and even family.

“It’s been something special for me, (and) I’ve played with greats and coaches that coached me when I was little.”

Solazzo at 32, an established veteran in a league, is an entirely different person than the Mississauga Twins rookie from that afternoon in Ottawa.

“I wasn’t the greatest kid, and I’ve learned a lot of valuable lessons,” he readily admits. “Now I’m working with CN Rail as a conductor, grinding out nights (and) it’s a battle — but I’m happy with where I’m at, trying to stay humble and enjoy the ride.”

There’s a long-term girlfriend, Kim, in the picture, and the constant hustle that defined Solazzo’s career: On the ball field, in the gym, in life.

“We’ve been dating for three years now, that’s something special and we’re talking next steps (so) that’s obviously exciting,” says the towering Mississauga product. “Grinding it out with work, working side businesses in concrete with my friends. I’m a busy guy, but I’m happy and really enjoying life.”

His milestone came in the midst of a ridiculous five-game stretch during which he hit .450 and drove in 17 runs, and the Leafs — 6-2 and fresh off a dominant win over Kitchener — are once again a force to be reckoned with.

“To win a championship with Toronto would be amazing, ever since Jack (Dominico) brought me over from Hamilton we always wanted to win it for him,” reflects Solazzo, who paced the Leafs with 47 RBI in 2022. “To win it with this group of guys would be incredible — for us, for the fans, the Bushmen, for my parents up there.

“It would be really special.”

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Intercounty Basbeall League (ON)

News: IBL PLAYOFF ROUNDUP: Jackfish wins first IBL championship

BARRIE – The Intercounty Baseball League’s top regular season team was also the IBL’s best in the playoffs, as the Welland Jackfish blew out Barrie 17-1 on Saturday to clinch its first Dominico Cup title. Welland, after dropping the series’ first two games, won the next four in the best-of-seven series. Welland starting pitcher and playoff MVP…

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BARRIE – The Intercounty Baseball League’s top regular season team was also the IBL’s best in the playoffs, as the Welland Jackfish blew out Barrie 17-1 on Saturday to clinch its first Dominico Cup title. 

Welland, after dropping the series’ first two games, won the next four in the best-of-seven series. 

Welland starting pitcher and playoff MVP James Bradwell allowed an unearned run over 7.2 innings in Game 6. He scattered six hits, walked two and struck out six. Over three playoff rounds, Bradwell went 5-0 with a 1.03 earned-run average. 

Offensively, Matteo Porcellato homered twice and drove in five, while Gianfranco Morello went 3-for-6 with a home run, two RBI and three runs. Sam Cawker was 4-for-5 with two RBI and two runs, Carlos Martinez doubled and drove in two, Hogan Brown had  a pair of RBI and scored twice, and James Smibert drove in a run and scored twice.

For Barrie, the playoff’s third seed, Ryan Rijo drove in Canice Ejoh in the eighth inning. Carson Burns singled twice. 

Evan Soules took the loss, allowing six runs on five hits over 2.1 innings. He walked two and didn’t record a strikeout. 

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Intercounty Basbeall League (ON)

News: IBL PLAYOFF ROUNDUP: Jackfish one win from IBL title

WELLAND – More late game magic has Welland one win from an IBL championship. The Jackfish, after scoring twice in the ninth inning to win Game 4 Wednesday, broke a 2-2 tie in Game 5 Thursday with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh, which was the difference in a 4-2 victory over…

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WELLAND – More late game magic has Welland one win from an IBL championship. 

The Jackfish, after scoring twice in the ninth inning to win Game 4 Wednesday, broke a 2-2 tie in Game 5 Thursday with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh, which was the difference in a 4-2 victory over Barrie. 

Welland leads the best-of-seven Dominico Cup final 3-2. Game 6 is Saturday in Barrie. 

Gianfranco Morello had the big blow, a one-out solo home run in the seventh to give Welland the lead. Steven Moretto scored on a fielder’s choice three batters later. James Smibert and Sam Cawker each had a pair of hits in the win. 

Deivy Mendez earned the win in relief, allowing a run on two hits over three innings. He walked one and fanned four. Alberto Guerrero started and gave up a run on two hits in five innings. He walked two and struck out five. 

Royce Ando had an RBI double for the Baycats, who have lost three straight. Hayden Jaco scored on a fielder’s choice in the seventh, which briefly pulled Barrie even. Starlin Rodriguez singled and doubled.

Juan Benitez took the loss, giving up three runs (two earned) on eight hits in 6.1 innings. He struck out three and walked one. 

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Intercounty Basbeall League (ON)

News: IBL PLAYOFF ROUNDUP: Jackfish shocks Baycats to even series

BARRIE – Down to their last strike in Game 4 of the Dominico Cup final, the Welland Jackfish scored twice in the top of the ninth to shock Barrie and win 3-2 to even the best-of-seven series at two games apiece. After getting a flyout and groundout to open the ninth, Baycats’ closer Brad Grieveson hit…

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BARRIE – Down to their last strike in Game 4 of the Dominico Cup final, the Welland Jackfish scored twice in the top of the ninth to shock Barrie and win 3-2 to even the best-of-seven series at two games apiece. 

After getting a flyout and groundout to open the ninth, Baycats’ closer Brad Grieveson hit Matteo Porcellato with the first pitch of the next at bat. Grieveson had Jackfish batter Carlos Martinez in a 1-2 hole before Martinez belted a curveball over the left-field fence at Vintage Throne Stadium to give Welland its first lead of the game. 

Welland’s Deivy Mendez struck out Canice Ejoh to finish the comeback. 

Brandon Underhill earned the win in one inning of relief. He took over from Welland starter Jake Harford, who allowed two runs on eight hits over seven innings with a pair of walks and eight strikeouts. 

Royce Ando went 4-for-4 with an RBI for Barrie, which scored in the second and seventh innings and looked headed for a third win. Carson Burns had two hits and drove in a run, and Adam Odd went 2-for-4 and scored once. 

Baycats’ starter Frank Garces struck out 10 over eight innings. He gave up a run on four hits with two walks. 

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