IBL PLAYOFF ROUNDUP: Jackfish advances to IBL final

Photo by Brandon Taylor

WELLAND – It will be Welland and Barrie in the IBL final.

Two days after the Baycats punched their ticket to the championship, the top-seeded Jackfish joined them after beating Toronto 7-5 Thursday night in Game 5 of the other semifinal. 

Steven Moretto and Ethan Hunt each drove in two for Welland, which scored six straight runs after falling behind 5-1 in the second inning. James Smibert added an RBI, while leadoff batter Hogan Brown went 2-for-4 with a run. 

James Bradwell stepped up in relief for the Jackfish, throwing 5.1 scoreless innings to earn the win. He walked two and struck out seven. 

Welland starter Jake Harford allowed five runs on four hits in 1.2 innings. He walked two and struck out two. 

Deivy Mendez struck out three of the six batters he faced to pick up the save. 

Jose Vinicio had a pair of RBI for the fourth-place Leafs. Jordan Castaldo, Dan Marra and Connor Lewis drove in the other runs. 

Toronto starting pitcher Daniel Procopio was charged with five earned runs in 4.2 innings for the loss. He scattered four hits, walked six and fanned five.