For the first time in 46 years, the London Majors are the champions of the Intercounty Baseball League.
With solid pitching and timely hitting, the Majors defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 8-4 in the deciding Game 5 of the IBL final at Labatt Park on Friday night. In front of a crowd of roughly 3,300 fans, the Majors overcame an early deficit to beat the Maple Leafs and claim the title.
Things didn't look good early for the Majors, as starter Owen Boon gave up single runs in each of the first three innings. But in the bottom of the third, London got on the board when Humberto Ruiz singled home Austin Wilkie, who had singled with two out. Then, with Ruiz on first and Carlos Arteaga on second, Byron Reichstein stepped to the plate and launched a 3-2 fastball into the night sky in right-centre field. The ball cleared the wall and gave the Majors a 4-3 lead that they would not relinquish.
Another run in the 4th would make it 5-3 Majors. London extended the lead again with two runs in the 7th. The Maple Leafs and Majors traded runs in the 8th before Eduardo Perez, who relieved Boon in the 7th, retired the side in order in the top of the 9th, striking out Marcus Knecht for the final out.
BREAKING: The @londonmajors are IBL champions after beating Toronto 8-4. #ldnont pic.twitter.com/bd5UmKQJjE
— BlackburnNewsLondon (@BlackburnLondon) October 2, 2021
The title is the Majors' first since 1975 and ends the longest title drought among active teams in the IBL.