The revenge tour has come to a successful end.
Although it was served coldest in the semifinals, downing the defending champions came with a much sweeter ending for the Welland Jackfish.
A 15-5 blowout of the Barrie Baycats clinched the franchise's second IBL championship. It was much like the 2023 championship clincher in Midhurst, but this time, Welland relished the opportunity to clinch at home.
Over 3,200 screaming fans echoed throughout the Pond when Robert Mullen's desperation catch in foul territory ended Game 5, and the series.
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2025 INTERCOUNTY BASEBALL LEAGUE FINALS — WELLAND WINS SERIES 4-1
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BARRIE | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 9 | 1 |
| WELLAND | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 0 | x | — | 15 | 18 | 1 |
Jaco (L, 0-1), Henriquez (5), Nagorski (6), Grieveson (8) and Plumpton;
Abram (W, 2-0), De Los Santos (7), Mendez (9) and Mullen.
HRs: BAR — McGarry Doyle (3); WEL — M. Porcellato (1).
"They never gave up, they never were out of it, they always kept fighting, Baycats manager Josh Matlow said postgame. "We knew we were coming in and playing a tough team and we got it. The better team won, they deserved it. They fought tooth and nail right from the beginning to the end, and congratulations to them."
The Jackfish, who dominated the regular season with a 31-11 record to win their third straight IBL pennant, only faced elimination once in the playoffs. They won the do-or-die fifth game against Guelph to advance to the Finals, where the series seemed much closer than the 4-1 score would indicate.
"We were hoping for a few calls our way," Matlow said regarding Game 1. "that happens where they kind of stay on serve, and they keep their home field advantage."
Mullen was named IBL Playoff MVP after maintaining an OPS of 1.016, a batting average of .356, and hitting two big home runs throughout the postseason.
It was the big inning that killed Barrie's hopes of a repeat championship. After taking its first two-run lead of the series, Welland exploded for seven runs in the fifth inning without the aid of a home run.
Hayden Jaco made his first pitching appearance of the season for Barrie, going further than expected. However, he allowed five earned runs in 4.1 innings on eight hits while striking out one.
"We were obviously very light in the pen and Jaco is a competitor," Matlow said. He was willing to give us everything he got, And he did and he was fantastic. He gave us a chance."
Jaco got the ball with Cesar Rosado unable to make his second start of the Finals due to a back injury. But, he went into the start confident, knowing he'd pitched in elimination games before in his college career.
He allowed a home run to Matteo Porcellato on the first pitch of the third inning, which gave Welland its first lead of the game.
But it was Greyson Barrett's two-RBI single off Ramon Henriquez with two outs in the fifth that broke it open for the Jackfish.
Every player in the Jackfish lineup got a hit and drove in at least one run. Brendan Luther was four-for-five with three RBI and a stolen base, while Brandon Hupé also drove in three and swiped a bag.
Ben Abram went 6.2 innings in a winning performance, earning a standing ovation when manager Brian Essery pulled him in the seventh. He allowed four earned runs on five hits and a walk while striking out four.
Noel McGarry Doyle homered off him in the fifth to put Barrie up two, while Adam Odd was two-for-four with two RBI in his return to the lineup after missing game four due to personal reasons.
Abram gave way for Pedro De Los Santos to add two more scoreless innings against Barrie during the series before Deivy Mendez was given the final out.
Seven players on Welland's playoff roster were on both of its title-winning teams that defeated Barrie in the Finals. Including Gio Morello, who was the team's unofficial captain and got the honour of lifting the trophy first.
Barrie won the title in 2024, but faced adversity all season long en route to a third-consecutive Finals appearance. Injuries to key players set the team back, and many consider the Baycats lucky to have advanced past the first round.
"I'm proud of the boys We fought through the nail throughout the playoffs and, you know, we got where we should be," Matlow said. "We were one of the top two teams, and unfortunately, it wasn't our year. We played a very good team and we have nothing to be ashamed of."
