Jackfish down Royals in wild one

By ROD MAWHOOD • Photo by Brandon Taylor

The benches cleared twice, the first five runs in the game were all unearned - in the end, the Welland Jackfish edged the Guelph Royals 5-4 to take a 2-1 best-of-five Intercounty Baseball League semifinal series lead.

Guelph opened a 2-0 first-inning lead, and led 4-3 in the sixth inning, before Brandon Hupe's first home run of the post-season - a two-run shot - gave the Jackfish a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

"Ya, it was a wild one and had a bit of everything," proclaimed Welland Manager Brian Essery after the three-hour and 32-minute affair.

"It was a great team win. We chased the lead from the first inning but never gave up.

Hupe with the big two-run blast. It was great to see it from him, and I'm super happy for him."

The trio of Ben Abram, who picked up the win, Pedro De Los Santos and Deivy Mendez, who registered the save, gave up only one earned run on the night.

"Excellent pitching from all three guys - they gave us a chance," Essery said.

Game four goes Wednesday night in Guelph.

"One more to get, which will be the hardest," added Essery.

Game five, if necessary, goes Thursday night back in the Rose City.