Kitchener Panthers
The Kitchener Panthers are an independent, minor league baseball team of the Intercounty Baseball League based in Kitchener, Ontario. They play their home games at Jack Couch Baseball Park. The Panthers used to play at a ballpark in Victoria park before Jack Couch Park was built to replace the old Victoria Park stadium in 1967.
| Kitchener Panthers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Information | |
| League | Intercounty Baseball League (1919–present) |
| Location | Kitchener, Ontario |
| Ballpark | Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex |
| Year founded | 1919 |
| Nickname(s) | Panthers |
| League championships | 13 |
| Former name(s) |
|
| Former ballparks | Victoria Park Downtown Kitchener |
| Colours | Yellow and Black |
| Manager | Matt Schmidt |
| General Manager | Mike Boehmer |
| President | Bill Pegg |
| Media | Twitter- @IBL_Panthers Facebook- Kitchener Panthers Baseball Instagram- @IBL_Panthers |
| Website | http://www.kitchenerpanthers.com |
History
The Panthers were a founding member of the Intercounty Baseball League (along with Galt, Guelph and Stratford in 1919). The team changed names when the current league began play in 1957 as the Legionnaires and Dutchmen, but reverted to the current name in 1960.
Championships
Kitchener has won thirteen championships, the second most in the league, behind the Brantford Red Sox with fifteen. The Panthers have won in:
- 1941
- 1950
- 1952
- 1957
- 1967
- 1968
- 1971
- 1973
- 1990
- 1996
- 1998
- 2000
- 2001
Past players
- Bob McKillop - Chicago White Sox Organization 4-time ICBA MVP
- Gary Ebel - Oakland Athletics organization
- Ron Smith - San Francisco Giants organization
- Scott Medvin - Pittsburgh Pirates
- Harry Psutka - Detroit Tigers
- Tom McKenzie - Canadian National Team
- Daniel Procopio Los Angeles Angels organization
Current players
Pitchers:
- 18 Matt Vickers
- 27 Jasvir Rakkar
- 15 Stephen Gade
- 20 Austin Hassani
- 17 Christian Hauck
- 42 Miguel Lahera
- 45 Geoff Moroz
- 23 Brady Schnarr
- 26 Mike Schnurr
- 12 Yoen Socarras
- 30 Yoennis Yera
Position players:
- Andy Leader #16
- Yorbis Borroto #35
- Stephen Whalen #5
- Zarley Cina #2
- Keegan Marsden #34
- Liam Wilson #37
2015 season
The Kitchener Panthers had a great start to the 2015 season, first defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs, followed by a great pitching performance the following week in Barrie, Ontario, defeating the Barrie Baycats. They then went on to defeat the Guelph Royals and Brantford Red Sox. They were in 2nd place after 4 games, going 4-0 only behind the London Majors, who started 7-0.
The Panthers' field was being reconstructed so even though their season started in early May, their home opener wasn't until May 28, 2015. In the home opener they played the Burlington Bandits and lost 8-7. Coach Tebo was ejected from the game for arguing a bad call by the umpire. The next Panthers game was on Friday, May 29th, against the Hamilton Cardinals in Hamilton. The Panthers clinched the playoffs 2nd, and they faced the Hamilton Cardinals in the first round in 5 games. The second round went to 7 games against the London Majors. The Panthers won that, so they will play the Barrie Baycats in the finals with game 1 beginning Tuesday, August 25. The Panthers lost the series 4 games to 1 and Barrie won its 2nd straight IBL Championship.
Panthers Hall of Fame
- 8 Tom Mckenzie 1966-1980
- 9 Bob Mckillop 1966-1977
- 10 Kevin Curran 1984-1999
- 13 Jeff Pietrazko 1995-2014
- 22 Randy Curran 1984-90, 95-2003
References
The Kitchener Panthers themselves
