Brian Backland Photography 

By Ryan Eakin

BARRIE, ON -- Once 6-6 -- uncharted territory for a team who lost back to back games just once from 2014 to 2017 -- the Barrie Baycats finished their 2018 regular season 27-8, on a thirteen game winning streak, and in first place in the Interconty Baseball League standings. 

Baycats general and field manager Angus Roy said the regular season was a success. 

"If you go back to our conversation that we had at the start of the year, it went pretty well according to that conversation," said Roy. "Our main goals (heading into the season) were to get to the playoffs healthy and properly assess our team and make any changes that we needed to prior to the deadline. 

"Health wise I think we are pretty good. I wouldn’t say everyone is perfectly healthy but I don’t think any team in the league can say that at this point. There are always little aches and pains but overall no major injuries. And we feel like we have fixed some of the issues we had at the start of the year and solidified our lineup and staff."

After starting 6-6, the Baycats revamped their roster by signing former San Diego Padre starting pitcher Frank Garces, former St. Louis Cardinals farmhand Starlin Rodriguez, and former Canadian National Team member Tim Smith.

All three will play key roles if the Baycats are able to capture their fifth Intercounty Baseball League championship in a row.

But, before they can, they must first beat the eighth-seeded Burlington Herd. 

And Roy isn't expecting it to be easy.

A five game series -- rather than a seven game series -- makes the margin for error razor thin, no matter who you are facing. 

The task becomes even more challenging when you consider the Herd have two of the best young players in the entire league in Vaughn Bryan and Justin Gideon, starter Chris Boatto -- who has pitched well against the Baycats in the past, and Jeremy Gwinn, one of the best relievers in the IBL. 

They are also the underdog -- and then some -- in this series. 

Roy said that is what concerns him the most. 

"The nothing to lose component is probably the worst," said Roy. "When teams can play free and easy with nothing to lose they can be very challenging. 

"The top of their lineup can cause some issues as well. And if they take game one they will be playing with a lot of confidence so we need to make sure that we are focused and play with energy to try and avoid that."

Overall, if the postseason is anything like the regular season, it should be the most competitive and exciting postseason the IBL has seen in years.  

"Every team in this league has at least two quality arms. And when you have quality arms, anything can happen," said Roy. "They say good pitching beats good hitting. 

"The three out of five also can play a roll as well. "Only having to win three games is far different than having to win a fourth. And if you look at the standings, there was an awesome race for 4th-8th, so it could be incredible. 

"I just hope our series is short and boring."

Game one of the best-of-five quarter-final series for the Baycats goes tomorrow from Coates Stadium in Midhurst. 

Start time is set for 7:30 pm, with Garces taking the mound for the Baycats. 

Starting game two will be former Burlington Bandit Matthew St. Kitts, while Santos Arias will get the ball in game three when the series returns to Midhurst on Sunday evening.