The Barrie Baycats have moved on to the second round of the Intercounty Baseball League playoffs following Saturday's home win over the Welland Jackfish to take the best-of-three opening-round series, 2-0.
With the series victory, the Baycats continue their quest for a seventh straight IBL championship.
Marcel Lacasse's bases-clearing double sparked a five-run third inning for the Baycats in Saturday's 6-2 win at Coates Stadium.
Barrie's Ryan Rijo went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run, while Carson Burns and Royce Ando added an RBI apiece.
Baycats pitcher Juan Benitez (1-0) earned the win, allowing two runs on seven hits in 6.2 innings. He walked two and struck out seven.
Griffin Keller and Dennis Dei Banning each had two hits and an RBI for the Jackfish. All six of the runs Jake Polancic (0-1) gave up were unearned after an error to open the decisive third inning. Polancic scattered five hits over six innings, walking three and striking out five.
Barrie will now face the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round.
In other IBL action on Saturday, Brantford's Adam Jafine struck out 16 batters and four different Red Sox players drove in a run to defeat the Kitchener Panthers, 4-2, at Arnold Anderson Stadium to sweep the best-of-three series.
2021 IBL PLAYOFFS
SERIES 'A' - TORONTO (2) VS. HAMILTON (7)
Toronto wins series, 2-0
GAME 1: Toronto 21, Hamilton 6
GAME 2: Toronto 8, Hamilton 2
SERIES 'B' - KITCHENER (3) VS. BRANTFORD (6)
Brantford wins series, 2-0
GAME 1: Brantford 10, Kitchener 8
GAME 2: Brantford 4, Kitchener 2
SERIES 'C' - WELLAND (4) VS. BARRIE (5)
Barrie wins series, 2-0
GAME 1: Barrie 5, Welland 3
GAME 2: Barrie 6, Welland 2
**Semifinal dates TBA**
