Jackfish scores early, often against Barnstormers

WELLAND – Welland scored early and often in a 20-4 home win over Chatham-Kent on Saturday. 

Daiki Abe and Jonah Weisner each had five hits and combined to drive in nine runs for the Jackfish, who scored in each of the first four innings and led 10-0 going into the fifth. 

The Welland duo atop the lineup also combined to score six times. Logan Grant and Ethan Mann each had two RBI, Brendan Luther went 3-for-5 with an RBI, Brandon Hupe drove in a run and scored four times, Robert Mullen, James Smibert and Carson Johnson all had an RBI, and Justin Gideon hit a solo home run. 

Teodoro Ortega (3-2) started for Welland and went seven innings. He gave up two runs on six hits and struck out seven as the fourth-place Jackfish moved to 15-9. Austin Gurney went 2-for-4 with two RBI for the Barnstormers (7-16), who have dropped five straight. Yushin Ohta and Owen Constantineau each drove in a run, Spencer Morin had three hits, and Evan Morrison singled twice and scored twice. 

Dakota Parsons (0-2) was charged with five runs (four earned) on four hits in two innings to take the loss. He struck out one and walked one.