Cardinals win final matchup with Panthers

The Hamilton Cardinals once again, came from behind to beat the Kitchener Panthers 8-5 at Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium on Friday night.

Stefan Strecker got credit with his 47th career IBL victory after pitching a clean eighth inning, giving up no runs on no hits with a walk and a strikeout.

The Cardinals fell behind 4-0 early in the game and began to come back in the bottom of the second inning.

Cardinals’ call-up, Maclean Van Raay, started at second base and played another outstanding game for Hamilton. Van Raay had a three-RBI triple in the second inning to make it 4-3. He also had four assists on defence and added a fourth RBI later in the game.

The Cardinals clutched up with five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to take an 8-5 lead.

Josh Niles was three for four for Hamilton with a stolen base and a run. Luis Jean also added two hits and an RBI as Hamilton and Kitchener both finished with 10 hits apiece. 

Closing pitcher, Jose Fernandez (0.60 ERA), was credited with his second save of the year and hit the 30-strikeout mark in his 15th inning pitched. 

Centrefielder, Tyler Duncan, had two RBI’s and a double in the contest, his 53rd hit of the season.

Ryan Burnside was all over the field tonight, pitching three innings, striking out four and adding two hits, two runs and a walk.

Since ending their losing streak, Hamilton has won six of their last nine games and are now 12-29 on the year and locked into 7th place in the IBL. The Cards won’t know their playoff opponent until the end of the season due to a log jam at the top of the standings between Welland, London and Guelph. 

Only one team in the history of the IBL has finished in seventh place and gone onto win the championship, the 1979 Cambridge Terriers (14-16).

The Cardinals wrap up their regular season on Sun, Aug 21 against the Welland Jackfish at 2:05 p.m. at home. 

Get your tickets for the Cardinals final home game of the 2022 IBL regular season through SeatGIANT.

The Hamilton Cardinals Baseball Club is 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, established in 1919.

Written by Jarrett Matthews
Photo by Art Ward