K-W Braves rookie Jakob Knowles handles the ball against the St. Catherines Athletics earlier this season. (Photo courtesy of Rians Photography)

 

Local Jr. A, B and C Lacrosse teams in action this weekend

 

All three local teams across the Ontario Jr. A, B and C Lacrosse Leagues were on the floor this weekend, as each prepares for its push toward the playoffs.

 

In Jr. A Lacrosse, the Kitchener-Waterloo Braves struggled losing twice on the weekend, falling further out of the playoff picture. On Friday night, the Braves fell to the Toronto Beaches, 10-8, on the heels of a strong first period from Toronto. Corson Kealey scored twice for the Beaches in the period as they took a 3-1 lead into the second. Reed Kurtz scored the lone Braves goal. 

 

The opening frame proved to be the difference in the game, as Toronto and K-W each scored four times in the second period and three times in the third as the Beaches held onto the two-goal lead throughout. Kurtz led the way for the Braves scoring five of the team's eight goals, with the other three coming from brother Tye Kurtz and Trent DiCicco (2). 

 

On Sunday night, the Braves lost to the Oakville Buzz, 10-6, despite outshooting the home side, 47-40. The first period was again K-W's undoing, as Oakville scored six times in the opening 20 minutes. From there, the Braves were unable to find a way to break through against the Buzz, with the exception of Tye Kurtz. Kurtz scored a hat-trick and added three assists, contributing on all six of the Braves' tallies. Reed Kurtz, DiCicco and Devyn Oprana scored K-W's other goals.

 

K-W, which falls to 3-13 on the season, will be home to Mimico tonight and Whitby on Thursday. Both games start at 8 pm at Kinsmen Arena in Kitchener.

 

 

The playoffs are officially underway in Jr. B Lacrosse, and the reigning champion Elora Mohawks jumped out to a 2-0 series lead against the St. Catharines Spartans. The series opened on Saturday night in Elora, and the Mohawks sent the crowd home happy, winning 12-9. 

 

Elora dominated the game from the opening faceoff, putting everything they had toward the St. Catherines goal. Zack Cameron led the offense, scoring five goals and three assists, while Ryan Fitzgerald was strong in goal when needed, stopping 30 shots. Elora nearly doubled the Spartans' shot total, putting up 61 to the visitor's 39.

 

Game 2 was more of the same on Sunday in Thorald, as Elora took a commanding 5-1 lead after the first period. After a four-goal second period from St. Catherines tied the game, the Mohawks showed their championship pedigree in the third, scoring four times and holding the Spartans to just one goal. Fitzgerald was even sharper on Sunday, stopping 43 shots, while Cameron again led the way with two goals and two assists.

 

The Mohawks now have an opportunity to sweep the series on Wednesday night at 8 pm in Elora.

 

 

The was only one game featuring a local squad this weekend in the OJCLL, as the Wilmot Wild downed the Fergus Thistles on Sunday afternoon, 8-7. The teams were deadlocked at two after the first period, but both offenses broke out in the second. Wilmot took a 5-2 lead just three minutes into the second period, but Fergus climbed back into the game with two goals of their own. From there, the teams traded goals until the period ended.

 

A goaless third period left the score at 8-7 in Wilmot's favour, and that's how the game ended. Kent Radbourne and Tyler Nagy each scored twice for Wilmot, while McCaiden Dixon led Fergus with five points. The win puts Wilmot two points clear of Fergus atop the division, giving the Wild home-floor advantage through the divisional rounds of the playoffs beginning next week.

 

Panthers win two of three to stay within striking distance of first in IBL

 

The Kitchener Panthers are enjoying another successful Intercounty Baseball League regular season thus far, carrying their momentum into a two-win weekend. The Panthers beat Guelph on Friday, 7-4, lost to Welland on Saturday, 10-3, then bested Brantford on Sunday, 8-4.

 

A six-run second inning catapulted Kitchener to victory on Friday night, as Yorbis Borroto and Zach Johnson both hit homeruns to lead the charge. Yoennis Yera earned the victory on the mound and Miguel Lehera got the save, his third of the season.

 

On Saturday night in Welland, the Panthers were out-hit 13-5 by the Jackfish and were held to three or fewer runs for just the third time this season. Starting pitcher Christian Hauck was tagged early, giving up nine hits and nine runs over two-plus innings to begin the game. The bats could not will Kitchener back into it, and Welland cruised to victory.

 

Last-place Brantford was a welcome sight for Kitchener on Sunday, as the Panthers were playing their third game in under 48 hours. After opening the scoring in the second inning, Kitchener extended its lead to 4-0 in the fifth when Borroto knocked in two men with an RBI double to right field. Borroto leads the IBL with a .471 batting average this season. Brantford broke through in the top of the sixth, chasing Kitchener starter Yoen Socarras when they tied the game 4-4, but the Panthers answered with four runs in the bottom half and the bullpen locked down Brantford's bats the rest of the way.

 

Kitchener will play another 3-in-3 this weekend, beginning on Friday night in Hamilton, then Saturday afternoon in Guelph and Sunday afternoon at home against Hamilton. The Panthers are half a game back of Barrie for first place in the IBL.