The Toronto Maple Leafs couldn’t have come any closer to winning the Intercounty Baseball League pennant on Monday night – but they didn’t.

Jason Gotwalt hit a walk-off, two run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning off reliever Cody Powell to give the Brantford Red Sox a stunning 3-2 win over the Leafs in Brantford, denying the Leafs the IBL pennant.

The Toronto Maple Leafs ended the expansion season of the Ottawa Fat Cats on Sunday afternoon, and took a big step towards another Intercounty Baseball League pennant at the same time.

Kern Watts had three hits, including a solo home run, scored three runs and drove in another as the Leafs downed the Fat Cats 10-3 at Dominico Field at Christie Pits, taking a half-game lead atop the IBL standings while knocking Ottawa out of the playoffs.

The first battle in the war for first place in the Intercounty Baseball League has gone to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Jake Gallo and Cody Powell combined on a six-hitter as the Leafs edged the Brantford Red Sox 2-1 on Friday night in Brantford, taking over first place in the IBL with the victory.

Toronto (22-12) now leads Brantford (20-11) by a half game as the IBL season comes down to its final few days. But the war for first is far from over.