It came down to one game for the Intercounty Baseball League pennant and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
The Barrie Baycats didn't disappoint, defeating the visiting Kitchener Panthers, 4-2, on Tuesday night at Coates Stadium.
"Obviously, you want to win the pennant, because you get home field and we play well at home, so people have to beat us at home," manager Angus Roy told BarrieToday on the field moments after his team logged the final out. "But at the end of the day, we were going to be first or second."
Roy said it's a good to enter the post-season on top and go for a shot at a sixth consecutive IBL crown.
"I think it was a good last game before the playoffs, too, because that's a really good ball club over there, so if we're going to win the whole thing, chances are we're going to have to play them again at some point," he said. "To play in a little higher-stakes game leading into the playoffs is probably good for the boys."
For Roy, a former Baycats pitcher himself before joining the managerial ranks, it was his first experience with a one-game playoff to determine first place in the IBL following the 36-game regular season.
He thought about the game plan for a few days, including who he would start on the mound. In the end, Roy decided to go with Adrian Salcedo to start the game.
"I thought Salcedo was outstanding for us. He gave us seven shutout innings," Roy said of his starter, who scattered four hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
Santos Arias came into the game to pitch the final two innings, picking up the save after allowing two runs on two hits with a pair of punchouts.
For Kitchener, Yoen Socarras took the loss after surrendering three runs on eight hits over six innings. He walked two and struck out eight.
Local native Ryan Rijo doubled and drove in two for the Baycats. Kevin Atkinson had the other RBI. Starlin Rodriguez went 2-for-4, Jordan Castaldo scored twice, and Conner Morro added a pair of singles.
Roy said it came down to his Baycats scoring when they opportunity presented itself.
"We capitalized on a couple of chances to score," he said, noting clutch hits from Atkinson and Rijo.
"Rijo had a big knock with two out," said Roy. "That's kind of what wins ball games and that's usually what wins championships. You've got to get those big two-out hits, so I was happy with it.
"We were clean defensively, so overall it's a good win and a positive going into the playoffs."
Although other IBL series are already underway, Barrie will open the playoffs against the Brantford Red Sox on Thursday night at home.
"I always look at us and what we do," said Roy, "so if we can continue to throw strikes on the mound and continue to capitalize on opportunities to score, we're going to be pretty tough to beat."
Roy noted the Red Sox, who finished in eighth place, come into the series with quality starting pitching they can throw at the Baycats.
"Those games are going to be a grind," he said. "When you have a 1-8 situation, they have absolutely nothing to lose. Everybody is expecting us to win and probably for it to be fairly easy for us, so you can't take them for granted. You have to come out and play really hard.
"It's the playoffs, so I think we'll flip the switch."
2019 IBL PLAYOFFS
Best-of-seven quarterfinal
SERIES A: (1) BARRIE VS. (8) BRANTFORD
Game 1: Thursday, Aug. 8 at Barrie 7:30 p.m.
Game 2: Saturday, Aug. 10 at Barrie 7 p.m.
Game 3: Sunday, Aug. 11 at Brantford 8 p.m.
Game 4: Wednesday, Aug. 14 at Brantford 8 p.m.
* Game 5: Thursday, Aug. 15 at Barrie 7:30 p.m.
* Game 6: Friday, Aug. 16 at Brantford 8 p.m.
* Game 7: Saturday, Aug. 17 at Barrie 7 p.m.
(* if necessary)
