Gameday in 5

A look to the week ahead — and a recap of the week that was (June 28-July 3) — for London’s teams and athletes.

Jessica Zelinka, a former Olympic heptathlete, was named last week as one of four new inductees into the London Sports Hall of Fame (Photo: Athletics Canada)

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London Majors

The Majors swept the weekend, winning each of their games by overpowering the competition offensively. Things got started Friday with a 7-0 win over the Barrie Baycats on Canada Day. Owen Boon got the start, and he tossed 7 innings of shutout baseball, allowing 5 hits and striking out 12 en route to his sixth win of the season. Keith Kandel, who drove in the first run of the game with a sac bunt, later hit a solo homer to finish with a nice day at the plate. Robert Mullen and Gibson Krzeminski each went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Byron Reichstein, playing in his first game since re-joining the team, reached base twice and scored once.

Saturday took the Majors to Welland, where they faced the Jackfish for the third time on the road this year (the first two being one-run losses). This time, it was London who came away with the win — and first place in the IBL standings as a result. Things didn’t start well, as the Jackfish struck for 4 runs in the first inning — and off Jose Arias, London’s best pitcher so far this year. But following a quiet first inning offensively, the Majors started scoring in the second and didn’t stop, putting up a run in every inning for the remainder of the contest. London took a 7-5 lead in the 5th and broke it open in the 6th, with Starling Joseph, Krzeminski, Kandel driving in a combined 4 runs in the inning. The Majors’ overpowering offense resulted in a 14-6 victory, putting them a half-game ahead of their opponents for top spot in the league. Kandel finished 4-for-6 with 3 RBIs, Joseph, Krzeminski and Dan Perrier tallied three hits apiece, and Drew Lawrence reached three times, including on a pair of hits.

For the second time in two days, the Majors’ opponent scored first on Sunday, as the Brantford Red Sox put a run on the board in the top of the second inning at Labatt Park. But, once again, it was all Majors after that. They scored three in the 3rd, and then tallied a combined eight runs from the 4th thru 6th innings to take a commanding 11-3 lead. Things finished with London coming away with a 14-4 win. Left-hander Pedro De Los Santos pitched six innings, allowing 3 runs and logging 4 strikeouts. He gave up 10 hits but he didn’t walk a batter. Mullen (3-for-5, 2 RBI), Cleveland Brownlee and Phil Whelan (2-for-2, 4 RBI) each knocked out a home run in the contest. Jakob Newton and Austin Wilkie both went 2-for-4, with Wilkie reaching base four times on the afternoon.

Up next:

The Majors (15-5), winners of each of their last four games, take a half-game lead on Welland in top spot in the standings into action Tuesday. The Jackfish will get a rematch — at Labatt Park — on Sunday, but first London will play a trio of games, including a Wednesday weekday matchup in Brantford.

Wed. July 6 (8:00pm @ Brantford Red Sox)
Fri. July 8 (7:35pm vs. Toronto Maple Leafs)
Sat. July 9 (7:30pm @ Guelph Royals)
Sun. July 10 (7:35pm vs. Welland Jackfish)

FC London

Women’s team:

After losing a game the previous week (to Vaughan Azzurri) for just the second time this season, the FC London Women bouned back and went undefeated this past week (albeit earning a tough draw along the way). That draw happened Wednesday night against Tecumseh SC, as things ended 2-2 in London. Julia Benati opened the scoring for the home side in the 32nd minute. The visitors tied things six minutes later, but Benati responded with her second three minutes after that. With London leading after the break, Tecumseh SC managed to find the back of the net in the 76th minute to tie things 2-2. And that’s the way it ended.

After Wednesday’s draw, the FC Women secured a win Saturday with a close 1-0 decision over North Mississauga SC. London had control for most of the first half but was unable to break through. After a hard-fought start to the second, they finally managed to do so — and it was Benati once again. She scored her 11th goal of the season on a free-kick at the end of the game to secure the win.

Up next:

The women (11-2-2, 35 points) entered the week back in top spot in the League1 standings, one point ahead of the National Development Centre - Ontario (NDC-Ontario) and the Woodbridge Strikers — and two points up on Vaughan Azzurri, who have two games in hand. In other words, it’s tight at the top. FC London gets St. Catharines Roma (7-6-1) on the road this weekend.

Sun. July 10 (2:00pm @ St. Catharines Roma)

Men’s team

The Men’s team played Darby FC to a 2-2 draw on Saturday in their lone game last week. It was a hard-fought draw, as FC London played from behind most of the game. Down 1-0 in the first half, Aidan Marr tied the game in the 30th minute (assisted by Kuhle Bekwayo). Darby FC retook the lead in the second half, but once again London tied the game. This time Mike Sneddon was the goal scorer, knotting the match at 2, and the teams played to a draw.

Up next:

The men (2-8-3) are back in action Saturday, at home, when they take on ProStars FC (7-5-1).

Sat. July 9 (7:00pm vs. ProStars FC)

London Sports Hall of Fame

Last week, four new inductees were announced by the London Sports Hall of Fame for 2022 (they will be formally honoured at the Spirit of Sport & Hall of Fame induction event — to be held for first time since 2019 — this fall in the Carousel Room, Western Fair District. Date TBA). Inductees include:

• Jessica Zelinka: Two-time Olympic heptathlete (5th place in Beijing, 2008, and London, 2012 Games) and Canadian record-holder. Now head track coach at University of Calgary.

• Steve Rucchin: 12-year NHL career (489 points in 735 games), including 10 with Anaheim, where he served as captain. Starred in OUA at Western before pro career.

• David-Lee Tracey: Innovative cheer coach, guiding Western to 34 national championships in 35 years. Also coaches Fanshawe College cheer team and founder of Power Cheer Gym.

• Jim Agathos: Financial supporter, organizer of minor sports in London for nearly four decades. Sponsored over 35 minor sports teams each year for over 35 years (~ $1 million). 2002 Queen Elizabeth ll Golden Jubilee Medal recipient.