The Toronto Maple Leafs opened up their 40th anniversary season in fine fashion Sunday afternoon.
With former major league greats Ferguson Jenkins, Gaylord Perry, Luis Tiant, Robin Roberts, Monte Irvin and Bob Feller on hand, the Leafs stopped the Barrie Baycats 3-2 in the 2008 Intercounty Baseball League opener Sunday afternoon at Christie Pits.
Rookie Drew Taylor pitched six solid innings and the Leafs made the most of their five hits. Taylor was outstanding, allowing just an unearned run on four hits with six strikeouts and no walks. Doug Dimma finished up, allowing one run on two hits over three innings, for the save.
Former Leaf Paul Spoljaric started for the Baycats but went just four innings. He allowed one run on two hits with three strikeouts and a walk. Three relievers finished up for the Baycats, including Jake Hynes (0-1), who was charged with two runs in 1 2/3 innings.
Spoljaric left the club after six stellar seasons to play closer to his home and says he was happy to be back at the Pits, despite hearing some boos during the opening lineups.
“It was nice to come back and shake some hands see the guys again,” Spoljaric said. “I didn’t treat this any differently than any other start.
“Sure there’s some history but I didn’t do anything differently. This (Leafs) is a good hitting club and they knew my routine.
“My location wasn’t the best early but for my first outing of the season, I can’t really complain too much.”
Nildo Puertas had two hits for the Maple Leafs, while Dan Gibbons drove in a run with a single and Gamin Teague added an RBI groundout. The Leafs third run, which turned out to be the game-winner, scored on a wild pitch by Chris England in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Toronto manager Dino Roumel was very pleased with the win.
“I was ecstatic with the way our pitching staff performed and we had great defence,” Roumel said. “We got the clutch hits when we needed it so that’s a good way to start the season.”
Leafs are in Stratford Sunday afternoon and host the Brantford Red Sox on Sunday, May 11 at 2 p.m. in a rematch of last season’s IBL finals.