BRIAN BACKLAND PHOTOGRAPHY 

By Ryan Eakin

MIDHURST, ON - Into the record books.

The Barrie Baycats defeated the Kitchener Panthers 11-4 on Thursday evening to improve to 25-8 on the regular season.

With the loss, the Panthers fall to 24-11.

Baycats ace Frank Garces recorded the victory, tossing seven innings while giving up one earned run on two hits and zero base on balls, while striking out six batters along the way.

Baycats left fielder Jeff Cowan led the way at the plate, going two-for-three with two runs batted in.

Panthers starter Noelvis Entenza took the loss, tossing four innings while giving up eight earned runs on eleven hits and three base on balls, while striking out two batters along the way.

KITCHENER - 4-8-3

BARRIE - 11-15-1

BIGGEST PLAY OF THE GAME: Leading off the bottom of the first inning for the Baycats, Baycats right fielder Ryan Spataro hit a solo home run to give the Baycats a 1-0 lead.

The Baycats would go on to score four more runs in the bottom of the first, with Spataro's home run setting the tone.

NICEST PLAY OF THE GAME: With two outs in the top of the seventh inning, Baycats centre fielder Glenn Jackson made a diving catch to rob Mike Glinka of a base hit. 

NEWS AND NOTES: With his outing tonight, Garces will finish the 2017 regular-season with an earned run average of 0.38.

It will win him the ERA Title, and it sets the single season Baycats record for best ERA.

POST-GAME QUOTES: "The cushion is always nice," said Baycats left fielder Jeff Cowan on the 5-0 lead after the first inning. "But we are a pretty confident team. We can come from behind but we can also play those one run games. But it is always huge, because it gives your starting pitcher the chance to settle in. Not to relax, but just to be able to go at hitters and throw strikes."

"He's fantastic," Cowan said of Garces. "It's really fun to play behind him. He works quick, and he's a huge, huge piece to this team. I can't say enough of what he does for this team. He's a professional. He knows what he needs to do, he knows what he needs to do to get ready and he keeps his defense in the game."

"It was so unfortunate," said a smiling Cowan about last night's debcale in the Pits. "We always say that if you play baseball long enough, you'll see everything, and that is something that we have never seen."

"I think it was kind of a wake up call for us," said Cowan about the 20-6 loss to the Panthers earlier in the season. "But it was early on, and we knew that. It's always nice to get your buts kicked," said Cowan before Baycats catcher Kyle DeGrace interrupted to say that Cowan is now the all-time hits leader in (inaudible). 

"He hasn't asked that question yet," said the humble Cowan. "He doesn't need to ask the question, you just need to announce it'," responded DeGrace.

Unable to understand on audio what Cowan is the all-time hits leader in, I'll do some very serious investigative journalism to find out.

The Baycats return to action this Saturday against the Guelph Royals from Hastings Stadium in Guelph.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 pm.