 By Staff
June 19th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Eight games in 11 days proved to be too much for the InterCounty Baseball League Toronto Maple Leafs – they lost 6-1 to the Burlington Herd Sunday afternoon at Christie Pits.
Christian Hauck went seven innings on the mound for Burlington (5-9) to pick up his first win of the season. The Leafs (7-9) managed 10 hits and three walks off the Burlington starter, but Hauck got the big outs when he needed them.
Early rainouts have forced IBL teams to condense their make-up games into a small window. Toronto opened the week Monday at home against Kitchener before hitting the road for stops in Hamilton and Barrie on Tuesday and Thursday.
The Leafs won in Guelph Saturday, but looked like a weary team when they hit the diamond Sunday.
Toronto starting pitcher Zach Sloan got into trouble early and the Herd made him pay. Struggling to find the strike zone early in counts, Burlington opened the scoring in the top of the first when Cooper Lamb’s single brought home Canice Ejoh.
 Cooper Lamb added his second RBI of the afternoon. Burlington added runs in the second and third innings, before Justin Marra cut the lead to 3-1 when he drilled a Hauck pitch over the right-field fence for his fourth home run of the season.
 The Herd would get that back and more in the top of the fourth inning when it scored three times off Sloan. John Whaley drilled a two-run single and Lamb added his second RBI of the afternoon with a sacrifice fly that scored Ejoh.
Sloan would pitch one more inning before being relieved by Marek Deska in the top of the sixth, with Toronto trailing 6-1. Sloan gave up six earned runs on nine hits and three walks, while striking out two in five innings of work.
Whaley had a big day at the plate for the Herd, going 4-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored.
Julian Johnson and Justin Marra led the Leafs with a pair of hits each.
 By Staff
June 18, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Getting outhit didn’t stop the London Majors from outscoring the Burlington Herd.
Despite Burlington’s 13-9 advantage in the hit column, the Majors made the most of their contact with an 8-3 road win Saturday afternoon.
Chris McQueen went 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs, while Cleveland Brownlee and LeJon Baker each doubled and drove in a pair of runs. Humberto Ruiz picked up a pair of hits and had an RBI and a run, and Brett Sabourin singled twice and scored once. Byron Reichstein walked three times and scored twice.
Cory Hammond (3-0) went six innings and allowed two runs on 10 hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
Burlington leadoff hitter Justin Gideon went 3-for-4 with a run and stolen base. Ryan Freemantle had two hits and an RBI, and Carlos Villoria drove in a pair of runs. Canice Ejoh singled and scored.
Jesse Anderson (0-1) took the loss, giving up eight runs on five hits in 3.1 innings with seven walks and four strikeouts.
London improved to 12-0, and Burlington fell to 4-9.
Future games:
Sunday, June 18
Burlington at Toronto, 2 p.m.
Tuesday, June 20
Burlington at Barrie, 7:30 p.m.
Standings
Barrie Baycats 12-0
London Majors 12-0
Kitchener Panthers 11-3
Toronto Maple Leafs 7-8
Burlington Herd 4-9
Brantford Red Sox 3-10
Hamilton Cardinals 2-8
Guelph Royals 1-14
By Staff
June 17, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The season series between the Hamilton Cardinals local rival Burlington Herd finally got off the ground following three postponements as the Herd took the opener by a 7-0 score.
 Winning pitcher Adam Prashad (2-2) threw eight innings of shutout baseball, allowing three hits, a walk and striking out 10. Branden Kuzyk pitched the ninth inning, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out two to finish up.
The Herd were led at the plate by Justin Gideon’s two solo home runs, one in the first and the other in the seventh inning. John Whaley also had a solo home run in the fourth. Carlos Villoria and Canice Ejoh each had two hits for Burlington.
Cal Murphy had two hits for Hamilton.
Dan Weagle (0-3) took the loss going six innings, allowing five earned runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out one. Jackson Jones pitched the final three innings allowing two runs on four hits, walking two and striking out four.
The loss drops Hamilton to 2-8, a full game behind Burlington (who are in fifth place)
Future games:
Saturday, June 17
London at Burlington, 1:05 p.m.
Sunday, June 18
Burlington at Toronto, 2 p.m.
By Ken Pagan
June 15th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Rich Corrente has had two Tommy John surgeries on his left elbow, so how hard can he throw now that he’s recovered and back on the mound?
Doesn’t matter.
Corrente, 25, who is back in baseball after sitting out the 2016 season, is proving that less is more during a strong early showing for the Burlington Herd (3-8).
 Rich Corrente The three-year IBL veteran threw a career-high 115 pitches in a complete-game 4-1 win over the Brantford Red Sox on Saturday, his most impressive outing yet that leaves him second in the IBL with a 1.12 ERA. In 24 innings this season, he has given up just three earned runs with a 0.75 WHIP (11 hits and seven walks).
The numbers are quite a contrast from when he last picked up a baseball during the 2015 IBL season (7.33 ERA over 54 innings with the Burlington Bandits) and in 2014 (5.76 ERA in 39 innings).
“I don’t even know,” Corrente said when asked to explain his early success. “I took last year off and rested my arm. Every time I get my chance to go in, I’m just doing my thing. This is my third year in the league and I always tell guys, ‘you have to know how to throw to guys in the IBL.’ You’re not going to throw hard enough to throw a fastball by anyone, so you have to trust your offspeed stuff and go with that.”
The six-foot-two southpaw, a Chatham native now living in Burlington, had his first Tommy John ligament replacement surgery in 2010 while attending Erie Community College. He had the procedure again in 2013 while pitching at St. Catharine College in Kentucky.
He has emerged post-Tommy John with more of a three-quarter delivery, which not only limits elbow soreness, but probably adds some movement to his pitches.
He thinks he can probably still gas up his fastball to the low-80s if he had to. But he doesn’t have to. And good luck if you go up against him looking for a fastball.
“Honestly, I don’t even care how hard I throw,” said Corrente. “In my mind, it’s not how hard you throw, it’s how consistent you are. You have to throw strikes and you’re not going to blow a fastball by anybody. If it’s down the middle, they’re crushing it.”
The year away from baseball in 2016 wasn’t so much about letting his arm rest as much as it was about enjoying his personal time, but he’s refreshed and glad to be back on the mound with the Herd.
“I just wanted to enjoy my summer,” he said of sitting out last season. “You don’t get much of a summer when you’re playing ball.
“I’m having fun. I’m glad to be back. I feel like I bring some experience and we have a young team.”
Corrente will return to the mound this weekend with the Herd preparing for three games in three days. Burlington visits Hamilton to face the Cardinals (2-7) on Friday night before hosting the London Majors (10-0) on Saturday at Nelson Park at 1:05 p.m. The Herd then travel to Toronto on Sunday afternoon for a date at Christie Pits with the Toronto Maple Leafs (6-7).
By Staff
June 12, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Well – everyone knew it wasn’t going to last forever – and they were up against the top team in the league – Barrie Baycats with a 10-0 record.
 Rich Corrente Carlos Villoria earned the Burlington Herd’s RBI.
Justin Gideon and Eddie Chessell had two hits apiece atop the lineup. Gideon also scored a run.
Brad Smith (0-1) took the loss, giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits in 2.2 innings before leaving the game with an injury. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out three.
Barrie improved to 10-0, and Burlington dropped to 3-8.
Standings
London Majors 10-0
Barrie Baycats 10-0
Kitchener Panthers 9-2
Toronto Maple Leafs 6-5
Burlington Herd 3-8
Brantford Red Sox 2-9
Hamilton Cardinals 1-7
Guelph Royals 1-11
By Staff
June 11th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Now that they know just what they are supposed to do on the baseball diamond the Burlington Herd is clearly on a roll.
The won their Saturday afternoon turnout against the Brantford Red Sox 4-1 to sweep the home-and-home with the Red Sox. Third game in a row that the team has won
Canice Ejoh, Cooper Lamb and Grant Okawa all picked up a hit and drove in a run. John Whaley and Justin Gideon each singled, doubled and scored. The host Herd broke a 1-1 tie with a three-run sixth.
That was enough offence for Burlington hurler Rich Corrente, who tossed a five-hit complete game. Corrente (1-1) struck out four and walked two and has a 1.12 earned-run average in four games (three starts).
Tyler Soucie (1-1) took the loss for Brantford, giving up three runs, three hits and three walks in two-thirds of an inning. He relieved Justin DAmato, who went the first five and allowed a run on five hits with three strikeouts.
Burlington improved to 3-7, and Brantford dropped to 2-8.
The Herd is feeling a lot better about their game these days. They are up against Barrie Baycats on Sunday who have yet to lose a game.
Future games:
Sunday, June 11
Burlington at Barrie, 7 p.m.
Standings
London Majors 9-0
Barrie Baycats 9-0
Kitchener Panthers 8-2
Toronto Maple Leafs 5-5
Burlington Herd 3-7
Brantford Red Sox 2-8
Hamilton Cardinals 1-6
Guelph Royals 1-10
By Staff
June 10th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Now that they have won a baseball game in the InterCounty Baseball League, the Burlington Herd appears to like that idea and went on yesterday to defeat the Brantford Red Sox 4-2
Trailing 2-1, the Herd took the lead with two runs in the seventh inning and added an insurance run in the ninth. Carlos Villoria had two hits and an RBI for Burlington, which improved to 2-7 – the same record as Brantford.
Canice Ejoh and Nolan Pettipiece each singled and drove in a run. Justin Gideon went 3-for-5 with a run, and Eddie Chessell singled, doubled and scored.
 Herd player sliding home. Photo by Crystal Young Ryan Beckett (1-1) threw four innings of relief for the win, giving up a run on three hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Starter Brandon Hiller lasted five innings and allowed one run on one hit with two walks and two strikeouts.
Chris Dennis homered for the third time this season and drove in both Brantford runs. Benjamin Bostick singled and scored.
Matt Betts (0-2) took the loss, giving up two runs on five hits in an inning. He took over for Graham Tebbit, who went six innings and gave up a run on three hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
A Herd that is not in the basement is nice to see.
Future games:
Saturday, June 10
Brantford at Burlington, 1:05 p.m.
Sunday, June 11
Burlington at Barrie, 7 p.m.
Standings
London Majors 9-0
Barrie Baycats 8-0
Kitchener Panthers 7-2
Toronto Maple Leafs 5-5
Brantford Red Sox 2-7
Burlington Herd 2-7
Hamilton Cardinals 1-5
Guelph Royals 1-9
 By Staff
June 10th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Temporary lane restrictions will be in effect on New Street between Guelph Line and Cumberland Ave June 13 to June 16 due to paving work.
 Markings identifying portions of the street intended for cyclists. This is not New Street – but it is what is expected to appear on New Street once the paving is completed. And that paving work means road markings will follow setting out bike lanes which will rev up the comments on pilot bike lanes on New Street. The roll out of that project has been in the works for well over a year.
By Staff
June 9th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Finally – a win for the Herd.
Nine different players picked up at least one hit, and eight players drove in at least one run in an 18-11 victory over the Guelph Royals Thursday night. That qualifies as a team effort,
Ryan Freemantle went 3-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and two runs. Eddie Chessell had three hits, three RBI and a run, Carlos Villoria singled three times and drove in a run. He also scored once.
 Herd bats came alive Canice Ejoh singled, doubled and scored four times and had an RBI. Justin Gideon singled and had an RBI and two runs, Logan Stewart and Nolan Pettipiece each had a pair of RBI and scored a run, and Andrew Mercier had an RBI. Kevin Hussey and Resse OFarrell each scored twice.
Adam Prashad (1-2) earned the win, giving up four runs on eight hits in seven innings, walking three and striking out six.
Guelph hit three home runs in the loss. Matt Schmidt went 3-for-6 with a home run and four RBI, Mike Hart homered, drove in two and scored three times, and Darren Saunders added a solo blast.
Marquis Kidd singled and drove in two, and Quinton Bent singled twice, doubled and scored twice.
Starting pitcher Cam Gray was pulled without recording an out. He was charged with three runs without allowing a hit and was hurt by three walks. He didn’t register a strikeout.
Burlington is 1-7, and Guelph is 1-8.
Future games:
Friday, June 9
Burlington at Brantford, 8 p.m.
Saturday, June 10
Brantford at Burlington, 1:05 p.m.
Sunday, June 11
Burlington at Barrie, 7 p.m.
Standings
London Majors 8-0
Barrie Baycats 7-0
Kitchener Panthers 7-2
Toronto Maple Leafs 5-5
Brantford Red Sox 2-6
Hamilton Cardinals 1-4
Burlington Herd 1-7
Guelph Royals 1-8
 By Staff
June 7th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
One supposes that being rained out is better than losing the ball game.
Either way – the rained out game between the Hamilton Cardinals and the Burlington Herd still left the Herd at the very bottom of the InterCounty Baseball League standings.
No make-up date has been announced.
Future games:
Thursday, June 8
Guelph at Burlington, 7:15 p.m.
Friday, June 9
Burlington at Brantford, 8 p.m.
Standings
London Majors 8-0
Barrie Baycats 6-0
Kitchener Panthers 6-2
Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3
Brantford Red Sox 2-6
Hamilton Cardinals 1-4
Guelph Royals 1-7
Burlington Herd 0-7
By Staff
June 6th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
It looks like it is going to be that kind of a season – rain delays which will play pure havoc with the schedule.
Doesn’t appear to be having an impact on the Burlington HERD – still 0 for 7
 This is looking like a season that will see ha;f the schedule rained out! The Herd was going to visit Kitchener but that got rained out
All games have yet to be rescheduled.
Future games:
Tuesday, June 6
Burlington at Hamilton, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 8
Guelph at Burlington, 7:15 p.m.
Standings
London Majors 7-0
Barrie Baycats 6-0
Kitchener Panthers 5-2
Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3
Brantford Red Sox 2-5
Hamilton Cardinals 1-4
Guelph Royals 1-6
Burlington Herd 0-7
 By Staff
June 6th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer Road Closures – Saturday, June 10, 2017
The 10th annual Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer bike race will take place on Saturday, June 10, 2017.
 This is the Quebec crowd during the 5th Annual Ride to Conquer Cancer – expect a smaller crowd in Burlington on the 10th of June. The following road closures will be in place:
• Millar Crescent will be closed to traffic between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.. Local resident access only.
The following lane closures will be in place:
• Cyclists will travel in the dedicated lane while vehicular traffic will be allowed to travel one way in the opposite direction along the event route.
Emergency services access will be maintained at all times along the event route.
By Staff
June 4, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
A Toronto Maple Leaf baseball player pulled off a three-run home run that capped a five-run ninth inning for the Leafs, who defeated the Burlington Herd 8-2 Saturday afternoon at Nelson Park.
For Burlington, Carlos Villoria went 2-for-4 with an RBI, Kevin Hussey drove in a run, and Canice Ejoh had two singles, two runs and two steals. Burlington swiped five bases in total.
Four errors hurt the Herd, as only two of the eight runs allowed were earned.
Starting pitcher Rich Corrente (0-1) gave up three runs (one earned) in seven innings, scattering three hits while striking out three and walking two.
The Herd dropped to 0-7.
Future games:
Sunday, June 4
Burlington at Kitchener, 2 p.m.
Tuesday, June 6
Burlington at Hamilton, 7:30 p.m.
Standings
London Majors 7-0
Barrie Baycats 6-0
Kitchener Panthers 5-2
Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3
Brantford Red Sox 2-5
Hamilton Cardinals 1-4
Guelph Royals 1-6
Burlington Herd 0-7
By Staff
June 1, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Like Ice Cream? Who doesn’t!
The Herd, Burlington’s InterCounty Baseball League member will be playing the Toronto Maple Leafs this Saturday at the Nelson ball park.
 There is a special treat – $1 ice cream day presented by Murphy’s Ice Cream Parlour.
If the Herd win the game it will be their first win of the season.
By Ken Pagan
May 29th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Justin Gideon is staying positive and, with a touch more confidence in his game, the results are showing on the field.
The Burlington Herd leadoff hitter, fresh off being named the IBL Batter of the Week, continued pumping out the hits on Saturday, mashing a long home run to centre-field as part of a 3-for-5 day in an 8-7 loss to the Brantford Red Sox.
Gideon, who turns 22 next month, is fourth in the IBL with a .478 batting average after six games, and leads the league with 11 hits and four doubles. His nine runs scored are second-most in the IBL.
 Justin Gideon, IBL Batter of the Week for May 15-21 swings for the win-less Burlington Herd “I’m feeling more confident,” said Gideon, now in his third season with Burlington’s IBL squad. “As a rookie, sometimes you’re kind of hoping for hits, but when things are going well, you’re expecting to get hits and that makes a huge difference. I think that positive attitude really helps.”
He was named IBL Batter of the Week for May 15-21, after going 7-for-9, which included a monster 5-for-5 game in a 14-12 home loss to the Barrie Baycats.
“I haven’t changed too much with my approach, just some subtle things,” he said. “On the mental side, I feel like I’m playing with a lot more confidence, especially with being a leader on the team. I think you have to have that confidence regardless of how you’re doing.
“You have to take things one at-bat at a time. You can’t look at your day and see that you’re 0-for-2 and be scared to go 0-for-3. You have to look at the next at-bat and try to get a hit. You have to have a short memory.”
Gideon has played four seasons of OUA baseball at Brock University, where he has thrived, twice being named Brock’s MVP and earning OUA Top Hitter accolades. He was second in the OUA with a.469 batting average and two homers in 64 at-bats in 2014 and followed with a .422 average and three homers and a league-leading 30 runs scored in 2015.
 But things came untracked in the 2016 fall season, when his average fell below .200
“It was just a combination of things,” he said. “I try not to make excuses, but it was just a slump I couldn’t get out of. It’s a lot shorter season and there are not as many at-bats (to come out of it), so it was just tough.”
However, he is making the most of a shot at redemption to get things back on track with the Herd this season. As the team’s table-setter and centre-fielder, he wants to continue setting high standards on the field.
“I want to bring a sense of leadership and try to keep a positive attitude among the guys and perform well every game,” he said. “ Even if I’m not performing offensively, I want to bring it defensively and just always be hustling and play with the same intensity every game.”
 By Staff
May 29, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
It took the Brantford Red Sox five games to pick up their first win of the season, and it came against another win less team – the Burlington Herd who have gone six games without a win.
Dan Jagdeo’s solo home run with one out in the top of the ninth inning lifted the Red Sox to an 8-7 victory over the Burlington Herd Saturday afternoon.
Brantford is 1-4, and Burlington is 0-6.
Ricky Murray had three hits and drove in a run and scored once for the Red Sox. Chris Dennis and Nic Burdett each had an RBI and run, while Benjamin Bostick singled twice, scored twice and had an RBI.
Brandon Dailey had two hits and two runs, and Cody Mombourquette drove in a pair.
Tyler Soucie (1-0) earned the win, giving up a run in one inning of relief. He walked one and struck out one. Tanner Guindon tossed a scoreless inning with two strikeouts for his first save.
Starter Justin DAmato went 3.2 innings and allowed five runs on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
For Burlington, Justin Gideon went 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBI, while Canice Ejoh also had three hits, two RBI and a run. Cooper Lamb had two RBI, and Grant Okawa had two hits and scored twice.
Kyle Symington (0-1) took the loss, giving up a run on two hits in an inning. He struck out one.
Starter Brad Smith gave up six runs (four earned) on seven hits in three innings. He walked three and struck out one.
By Staff
May 25, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington HERD game will not take place this evening.
The Intercounty Baseball League announced today that the three scheduled contests for Thursday, May 25 have been rained out.
Burlington was to host Hamilton at 7:15 p.m
No make-up dates have been announced.
By Staff
May 25th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
 The picture that is worth 1000 words. All natural grass sport fields (diamonds and rectangular fields) are closed Thursday May 25./
Too much rain has resulted in very soggy playing fields.
By Staff
May 24, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Herd is still looking for that first game win this season.
They play Hamilton in Burlington on Thursday, May 25 at 7:15 pm
On Friday, May 26 they travel to London and play at Labatt Park – 7:35 pm
By Staff
May 20, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
It’s getting tough to actually win a game.
The Burlington Herd took an 11-4 shellacking from the Toronto Leafs in a Saturday afternoon game in Burlington.
A seven-run ninth inning turned a close game into a blowout for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Toronto led 4-3 before racking up five hits and taking advantage of a Burlington error in the bat-around inning.
Ryan White singled twice and doubled with an RBI and two runs to lead the Leafs. Daniel Szpik and Justin Marra each had two hits, an RBI and a run. Tyler Hardie singled twice and had an RBI and a run, while Grant Tamane, Adam Odd, Brendan Keys and Connor Lewis all drove in a run.
Toronto batters reached base 22 times with 12 hits and 10 walks.
 Justin Cicatello (1-0) went six innings for the win, giving up three runs (none earned) on five hits. He walked three and struck out three.
 John Whaley had three hits and an RBI for the Herd, which fell to 0-4. Carlos Villoria had the other RBI. Justin Gideon singled, doubled and scored twice.
Adam Prashad (0-1) took the loss, going four innings and allowing a run on four hits with four walks and five strikeouts. He relieved Rich Corrente, who gave up three runs (one earned) on three hits in four innings. Corrente walked two and struck out two.
The Herd play next on:
May 21: 2:00 PM Burlington Hamilton
May 25: 7:15 PM Hamilton Burlington
May 26: 7:35 PM Burlington London
May 27: 1:05 PM Brantford Burlington
|
|
The Herd would get that back and more in the top of the fourth inning when it scored three times off Sloan. John Whaley drilled a two-run single and Lamb added his second RBI of the afternoon with a sacrifice fly that scored Ejoh.
