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.
2020
The Jackfish and Intercounty Baseball League seasons were cancelled due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. The Jackfish held three separate summer events at Welland Stadium including Yoga on the Field, 1st Annual Cornhole Tournament, and a Jackfish Home Run Derby for a chance to win a one-day contract with the club. The team also started many capital improvements including refurbishing the clubhouse, new branding throughout the concourse, and more.
2019
The Welland Jackfish were founded in November 2018 when the current owners of the Burlington Herd moved the club to Welland, Ontario, and Welland Stadium. On October 2, 2018, the Burlington Herd were approved to relocate to Welland and renamed the Welland Jackfish. The Jackfish hired their first Field Manager in franchise history with former professional and Great Britain National Team pitcher Brian Essery taking the reigns. The Jackfish opened at home on Saturday, May 18th, defeating the London Majors 9-1 in front of an announced 1,008 fan in attendance. In their first year in Welland, the Jackfish had their best regular season with a 19-17 record, and earned their first playoff series victory over the London Majors, 4-1, before being losing to the eventual champion Barrie Baycats.
YEAR BY YEAR HISTORY
SEASON | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | RF | RA | ATTENDANCE | AVG. | PLAYOFFS |
2023 | 31 | 11 | .738 | 352 | 225 | 33,361 | 1,589 | WON CHAMPIONSHIP |
2022 | 31 | 11 | .738 | 426 | 218 | 23,526 | 1,120 | L, SEMI-FINALS |
2021 | 15 | 15 | .500 | 220 | 219 | 12,025 | 802 | L, QUARTER-FINALS |
2019 | 19 | 17 | .528 | 220 | 190 | 15,292 | 849 | L, SEMI-FINALS |
JACKFISH AWARDS
2022
Brian Essery - Field Manager of the Year
Sam Cawker - Rookie of the Year
Justin Gideon - First Team All-Star (OF)
Gianfranco Morello - First Team All-Star (OF)
James Smibert - First Team All-Star (SS)
Rich Corrente - First Team All-Star (LHP)
Matt Hilderbrandt - Second Team All-Star (DH)
2021
Dane Tofteland - First Team All-Star (3B)
Brendon Dadson - First Team All-Star (SS)
Griffin Keller - Second Team All-Star (1B)
Matt Hilderbrandt - Second Team All-Star (DH)
2019
Brendon Dadson - IBL Rookie of the Year
Brendon Dadson - Second Team All-Star (1B)
Wilson Soriano - Second Team All-Star (SS)
Euclides Leyer - Second Team All-Star (RHP)
Ryan Harrison - IBL Executive of the Year
PLAYER ADVANCEMENT
SEASON | NAME | TEAM | LEAGUE |
2022 | Ethan Hunt | Trois-Rivières Aigles
| Frontier League |
2022 | Scott Gillespie | Ottawa Titans | Frontier League |
2021 | Christian Young | Milwaukee Milkmen | American Association |
2021 | Brendon Dadson | Sioux City / Milwaukee | American Association
|
2021 | Cole Warken | Sioux City / Milwaukee
| American Association
|