After record breaking season Welland Jackfish prepare for postseason

By ROD MAWHOOD

It was a record breaking regular season for the Welland Jackfish, now they want to carry that into another championship playoff run.

Sellouts became the norm at Welland Stadium in 2024 as 42, 384 fans entered The Pond, for an average attendance of 2,018 over the course of 21 home games. That's an increase of almost 500 fans per game  from last season when the Jackfish were crowned Intercounty Baseball League Dominico Cup Champions.

And that success at the gate carried onto the field as the Jackfish recorded a franchise record 32-win regular season.

Now the playoffs begin.

First up for top seeded (32-10) Welland is the eighth ranked (13-27) Kitchener Panthers beginning Thursday night at home. 

Welland Manager Brian Essery is quick to praise his players, and fans in the Rose City.

"It was a great regular season, the credit goes to the players. We have a great clubhouse and they all care for each other and want to succeed as a group. I am so proud of them," explained Essery. 

"The fans also definitely deserve a lot of credit for this, we have such an advantage at home with all the support."

 The Jackfish enter the postseason on a six-game win streak, but Essery knows they can't take the Panthers lightly. 

"Kitcherner is a good team, we're definitely not looking past them or their record," Essery said. "They were the second place team behind us in last year's regular season and have many of the same players. They have good starting pitching and some dangerous hitters in their lineup. 

This is going to be a tough series."

Infielder Raul Gonzalez finished tied for tops in the IBL regular season with 42 runs batted in, and was third in home runs with 10. 

Catcher Nick Parsons was tied for third with 32 RBI. 

From a pitching perspective Yadian Martinez struck out 91 batters which was good for second in the league. 

A Welland player made the top-five in every offensive and pitching category.

Jake Sanford first in batting average: .393

Steven Moretto fourth in home runs with nine.

Matteo Porcellato fifth in home runs with eight. 

Robert Mullen tied for tops in RBI with 42. 

Steven Moretto tied for third in RBI with 32.

Ben Abram tops in wins with 10, fourth in strikeouts with 84 and fourth in Earned Run Average at 2.42. 

Enrique Saldana and Brandon Underhill tied for third in wins with seven apiece.

"We have to continue to play with intensity and commitment to winning. We have a battle tested group that knows how to win," added Essery.

"We have a number of players who have been deep into playoff baseball the past three seasons. We've proved we can finish games and series. 

Pitching and defence is our key to winning. We take all of that and our lineup will score enough to win."

Abram will start Game 1, newly acquired Teodoro Ortega Game 2 and Saldana Game 3 in the best of five opening round playoff series against the Panthers. 

The Jackfish have home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

Tickets are on sale now at wellandjackfish.com or by calling the box office at 905-735-9834.