Cardinals - Baycats suffer defeat in OBA semis

August 12, 2024

The Innisfil Cardinals and Barrie Baycats advanced to semi-final games in their respective Ontario Baseball Association (OBA) provincial championships on Sunday, losing in nail-biting games.

The Innisfil Cardinals played exceptional baseball at the 'B' championships in Listowel, losing in the extra inning semi-final 10-9 to the Simcoe Giants.

The Cardinals started the tournament with a 10-9 win over Clinton then dispatched Listowel 21-8, resulting in a bye into the fourth round.

Innisfil took their next game with Simcoe 8-4, leaving them undefeated with four teams remaining on Sunday.

With a rain delayed morning, the game with Stratford got underway at 12:30 p.m. where Innisifil suffered a devastating mercy-ending game losing 12-2 after five innings of play.

Stratford's win placed them into the finals, meaning Innisfil and Simcoe would meet for a second time in the semi-final game.

Simcoe striked first with a lone run in the second inning before the Cardinals scored three in the third. Simcoe tied the game in their half of the inning.

The game went back and forth with the game tied at five runs after seven innings.

With two out in the top of the eighth, Innisfil scored four runs, two scoring on a Tyrus Harper single and a Brennan Hedrick homer to advance a four-run lead.

In the bottom of the inning, Simcoe brought the game within one and a single to right field scored two runs to end the game and advanced Simcoe to the final matchup.

In the championship game, Stratford defeated Simcoe 6-3 for the title.

The Barrie Baycats and Orillia Royals attended the 'A' tournament in Kendal. With a Mississauga team exiting the tournament before it even began, the schedule was redrawn pairing the two North Dufferin teams in the first match. Orillia took the game 12-2.

The Royals moved on to face Mississauga South West suffering a 7-4 loss and were knocked out of the tournament by Kendal losing 17-1.

Meanwhile, the Baycats won their next two outings, defeating Kanata 5-3 and Windsor 10-0 before bowing out with a close 6-5 loss to the undefeated London West team in semi-final action.

In the semi-final game, Barrie scored two runs in the first inning with London tying the game in the third. The Baycats plated one run in the fourth and two in the sixth.

London, in the bottom of the inning scored three to tie the game and held Barrie in the seventh. A bases loaded walk advanced the winning run.

The undefeated London West team met Kendal in the final, with Kendal winning the game and forcing a second game. Due to rain delays, the game has yet to be played.