BRIAN BACKLAND PHOTOGRAPHY 

By Ryan Eakin

MIDHURST, ON - Glenergy.

The Barrie Baycats defeated the Branford Red Sox 16-14 on Thursday evening to improve to 22-8 on the regular season.

With the loss, the Red Sox fall to 10-16.

Baycats starter Emilis Guerrero recorded the victory, tossing six innings giving up eight earned runs on ten hits and two base on balls, while striking out six batters along the way.

Baycats centre fielder Glenn Jackson led the way at the plate, going three-for-four.

He hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning, after hitting a two-run triple in the bottom of the second inning.

Red Sox reliever Michael Bucci took the loss, tossing two and one-third of an inning while giving up four earned runs on six hits and one base on balls, while striking out one batter along the way.

BRANTFORD - 14-17-6

BARRIE - 16-20-2

BIGGEST PLAY OF THE GAME: With the tying run at the plate in the top of the ninth inning, Baycats closer Chris Nagorski struck out Red Sox centre fielder DeAndre Asbury-Heath for the final out of the ball game.

NICEST PLAY OF THE GAME: Down 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning, Jackson hit a two-run triple to score Baycats infielders Carson Burns and Branfy Infante. 

The triple began the Baycats comeback after falling down 7-0 to the Red Sox early on.

BIGGEST TAKEAWAY FROM THE GAME: The MVP race in the Intercounty Baseball League may very well come down to a pair of Baycats.

Third basemen Kevin Atkinson and first basemen Jordan Castaldo sit first and fifth respectively in home runs, first and second in runs batted in, second and fourth in OPS and first and ninth in home runs after going a combined six-for-seven with two base on balls tonight.

POST-GAME QUOTES: "Right now I just feel good man," said Jackson. I made an adjustment as Timmy (fellow outfielder Tim Smith) made an adjustment with me on my lower half and since then, I feel great man. At the end of the day, I just wanna be apart of that roll call. It's just a nice night man. I feel 25 tonight."

"We are a little older, so it took us a little bit longer to get going, but now we are getting going. Em (Guerrero) had a rough night tonight, but that's okay. When you are at camp all day hustling, that's what goes. But it was a good night. There's going to be some battles, but if we play our game, and if we are at our home, we got a chance."

"I rather play here, on a big field, than somewhere else for a game seven. If you are playing a game seven in the Pits for example, you are just praying, because anything can go out. So yeah, we want to win the pennant. Why not? Have goals, man. Pennants and championships, you know?"

The Baycats return to action Saturday evening against the Hamilton Cardinals from Coates Stadium in Midhurst.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 pm.