Sold out Crowd watches victory over Barrie to celebrate 2023 Championship

By ROD MAWHOOD

WELLAND - The Welland Jackfish celebrated their 2023 Intercounty Baseball League Dominico Cup Championship with a 6-4 win over the Barrie Baycats in their 2024 home opener.

3,242 fans packed The Pond as Gio Morello, Steven Moretto and Tyler Dupuis all homered in the victory.

Morello finished the night 3-for-3 with two runs scored.

"Gio is our leader and he wasn't going to let us drop this one, he was great, " said Jackfish Manager Brian Essery.

Starter Ben Abram picked up the win while Danny Howat, in his Welland debut, and Deivy Mendez pitched three-plus scoreless innings in relief.

Mendez registered the four-out save on just 13 pitches.

"Ben was good, Howat was fantastic, and Mendez did what he does," Essery said.

With the Dominico Cup on hand, the players received their championship rings after the contest.

"It was definitely a game we wanted to win," added Essery.

"Sold out crowd, it was fantastic.

The guys were ready tonight."

The Jackfish return to The Pond on Saturday, May 25th at 1:05 pm for a matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Single Tickets and Flex packs are available at https://www.wellandjackfish.com/tix or by calling 905-735-9834

The Welland Jackfish are a member of Canada’s best league, the Intercounty Baseball League. The over 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