Tristan Clarke homered twice and IBL debutant Tristan DesRoschers got his first dinger in the Barrie Baycats' (16-10) 8-4 win over the Kitchener Panthers (9-19) Sunday at Jack Couch Park.
The win gives Barrie its third-straight win in as many days, while Kitchener lost its last four in as many days.
"A lot of guys don't think about the streak," Baycats manager Josh Matlow said. "We want to come to the ballpark each night, play good baseball and that's what's going to translate down the line to the playoffs."
Baycats starter Cesar Rosado got his fourth win of the season in a five inning, 115-pitch outing. Panthers starter Owen MacNeil took his second loss, both against Barrie.
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| TEAM | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 13 | 0 |
 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 1 |
The first run of the game came in on a bases-loaded walk drawn by Yosuke Fujie, but Barrie answered back, tying the game with Clarke's first home run of the game.
Mateo Zeppieri hit a two-run shot for the Panthers in the bottom half of the second, giving them a two run lead.
In the fourth, Noah Hull laid down a bunt, but Panthers pitcher Owen MacNeil made a wild throw toward third base. His thrown rolled toward the Panthers bullpen, allowing Willy Garcia and Clarke to score.
Both Tristans homered for Barrie the next frame. DesRoschers with his first in the IBL, and Clarke with his second of the game and eighth of the season.
"I didn't even know what was out right away because I didn't really see where it went," DesRoschers said postgame. "It was all a blur."
Desroschers got the silent treatment in the dugout after his home run.
"I expected a silent treatment, he added." But once they all started cheering, it's a good feeling, just knowing how close the team is."
Clarke's eight homers lead the team, and put him two back of Welland's Robert Mullen for the league lead.
"Sticking to the same approach," Clarke said postgame. "Third at bat, I was just thinking act like this is the first at bat all over again...whenever everybody's got good energy, everybody comes in just ready to play, focus on passing the torch."
DesRoschers and Alex Wickett added RBI singles for Barrie, and Zeppieri added another solo homer for Kitchener.
"What we've done well this year at least is taking it seriously," Matlow said. "Not just thinking that it's going to be an easy game. That cost us last year."
IBL DEBUT
DesRoschers was pulled from batting practice from the Baycats' affiliate team's home game Sunday afternoon to join the IBL squad.
He was hitting .429 in 12 games across the 22U schedule with a home run, which also came in Kitchener during a provincial championship qualification tournament.
"I was going into it with confidence," he said postgame. "I knew I could prove myself on the team and I just wanted to help the team win because they've been on a little hot streak."
He was three-for-four in his first IBL game.
ALL-STAR MANAGER
With the win, the Baycats end the week before the All-Star Game as the top team in the league with players representing the North team.
Because of that, Matlow will be the North team's manager at Sunday's All-Star Game in Hamilton, a role he served last year in Welland.
ANOTHER EJECTION
Baycats outfielder Clayton Keyes was picked off first base by Panthers catcher Yunior Ibarra to end the top of the third inning.
He aggressively argued he call with first base umpire Jeff Rose, slamming his helmet down. He was ejected from the game, despite video evidence appearing to show he was safe.
Keyes is likely facing a suspension after his second ejection of the season. The first coming June 29 in Hamilton.
Rose is an umpire Keyes has a history with, according to the player. Rose was an umpire in Keyes' home province of Alberta before moving to the Intercounty, where Keyes saw him again when he was with the Cardinals in 2023.
HENRIQUEZ RELEASED
Henriquez was told about his release on the way back to Barrie from Kitchener, even though he went three shutout innings Sunday with four strikeouts.
The team brought him in with hopes of controlling his hard-throwing style, which had shown progression with this weekend with five shutout innings and eight strikeouts.
However, another import pitcher, Christopher Torres, is set to join the team soon, according to Matlow.
UP NEXT
Barrie hosts the Guelph Royals (11-16) Thursday.
Kitchener faces the Toronto Maple Leafs (12-15) on the road Wednesday.
