Brian Backland Photography 

By Ryan Eakin

BARRIE - Up 3-2 in the top of the seventh inning, with one out and no one on base, the Kitchener Panthers seemed destined to win game six last night and force a game seven back in Midhurst on Saturday evening.

On the mound, they had reliever Mike Schnurr -- the best reliever in the Intercounty Baseball League all season long -- while waiting in their bullpen was their Cuban closer Miguel Lahera, a former pitcher for the Cuban National Team.

However, with the count 1-2 to Baycats centre fielder Glenn Jackson, Jackson crushed a solo home run to right field to tie the game at three runs apiece.

He flew around the bases -- with his helmet high in the air -- as if he just hit the biggest home run the IBL has seen all season.

Probably because he did.

At least for a few minutes.

Baycats right fielder Ryan Spataro would follow by reaching base via a base on balls, setting the stage for Baycats shortstop Starlin Rodriguez, who -- in the bottom of the sixth inning - injured his groin catching a pop up.

With the count 0-1 to Rodriguez, he would crush a two-run home run to give the Baycats a 5-3 lead.

He did not move, admiring his home run for many seconds.

He would then flip his bat high in the air, and would then take his time, and then some, trotting the bases, due to injuring his groin even worse on the swing.

Panthers catcher Mike Gordner then greeted Rodriguez at home plate, after taking offense to Rodriguez's bat flip.

The benches would clear after Rodriguez pushed Gordner, with Baycats outfielder Stevie Lewis being ejected from the ball game, as well as Panthers manager Luke Baker.

Baycats left fielder Jeff Cowan had to be restrained by his teammates as well.

The game would continue after a delay, but on the first pitch that followed to Baycats first basemen Jordan Castaldo, Schnurr threw well inside and was ejected.

Whether he intentionally meant to throw at Castaldo -- or whether he was simply rattled from Rodriguez's bat flip -- is something that only Schnurr and Gordner could answer.

Castaldo would end up reaching base on a base on balls, and would end up scoring on a two-out double by Baycats catcher Kyle DeGrace.

The rest was history.

The Baycats would record the last six outs, and so went on to clinch their fifth Dominico Cup in a row, and their sixth in franchise history.

Baycats general and field manager Angus Roy, after the win on the field, described Rodriguez's bat flip as elation in its most purest form.

"He hit it into the trees man, you aren't expecting that," said Roy. "It was the biggest swing of the series. It was the swing that won us a championship.

"You knew it was gone the second he made contact. You could hear it. Just pure elation. You knew there was still two more innings to play, but there was just elation when he hit it out. It is a moment that no one here will ever forget."

DeGrace said he absolutely agreed with Rodriguez bat flipping in that moment.

"Man, I just think it was some frustration he was letting out from our bats not showing up all series.

"He has been grinding for us too. He tore his damn groin the inning before and still managed to come up with a huge at-bat for us, so yeah."

Having won five championships in a row, while making it to the championship series seven years in a row, DeGrace said even he did not picture this when leaving the Toronto Maple Leafs after the 2011 season.

"Not winning five championships in a row, but winning? Yeah, that is why we came up here. Castaldo followed, and then some other guys followed, and our (pitching) staff that we have had the last two years, it's been incredible to come to the yard every game and catch these guys."

With the drive for five complete, the quest to tie the 2007-2013 Brantford Red Sox record of six championships in a row will become a hot topic around the league.

DeGrace said tying that record would be special.

"Yeah man, I think if we get to the finals next season, that would be eight times in a row since I and the core group have been up here.

"That would be special and pretty damn cool, but lets enjoy this one first."

Stayed tuned here for more coverage of the Baycats' sixth championship in franchise history.