The Barrie Baycats open the 2022 Intercounty Baseball League season tonight by hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs.
First pitch is scheduled for shortly after 7:30 p.m. at Vintage Throne Stadium at the Barrie Community Sports Complex in Midhurst.
This year marks the Baycats' 21st season, while the IBL settles into its 103rd year.
The Baycats recently announced the return of import player Starlin Rodriguez for the upcoming season, one of their top players from 2018 and 2019. He played 80 games for the Barrie team across those two years and is expected to play a combination of infield and outfield this summer. In his Baycats career, Rodriguez has a .329 batting average with 10 home runs and 72 RBI.
Some of the team's other recent signings include pitchers Juan Benitez, Adam Khan and Dalton Brownlee, outfielders Jake Wilson and Noel McGarry-Doyle, as well as infielders Branfy Infante, Adam Odd and Ryan Rijo.
The Leafs come into Thursday's game with an 0-1 record following a 6-3 loss to the defending-champion London Majors on Sunday afternoon in a rematch of last year's IBL final.
In other IBL action tonight, the Welland Jackfish host the Brantford Red Sox at 7:30 pm.
Tickets for tonight's Baycats game are $8 for seniors and $10 for adults, while kids 12 and under get in free.
The Baycats are also in action on Saturday afternoon when they host the Hamilton Cardinals at 4 p.m.
