Game Summary: Guelph Royals grabbed a six-run lead through the first four innings of play and topped the Hamilton Thunderbirds 13-2 in front of an enthusiastic crowd on ArcelorMittal Dofasco Opening Day in Hamilton's Bernie Arbour Stadium today.

Next action for the Thunderbirds is Tuesday when they travel to the Royal City to face Guelph in a return match at 7:30 pm in David Hastings Stdium.  The game is re-secheduled from Saturday, but rain washed out the Royals home opener.

Guelph pounded out 15 hits as pitcher Ryan Hart went six innings for the win allowing two hits and a walk.  He struck out seven of the batters he faced. He got relief help from Aaron Biggs in the seventh inning.  He added six more strikeouts while yielding a safety and a walk.

Kevin Whyte was charged with the loss for Hamilton as he gave up four runs on five hits and three walks through four innings.  He had three strikeouts.  Whyte had relief help from Kyle Nicoletta, Arthur Lebenda, Bill Lawrenece, Ryan Nowack and Jarrod Wehri.

Centrefielder Matt Mann was a one-man wrecking crew for Guelph as he connected for four hits including two doubles and a three-run home run 380 feet over the right field fence in the third inning.  He scored once.  Frankie Hare scored four runs on three hits and batted in two runs while Andrew Karkoulas added a single and a 290 foot solo home run over the left field fence in the fourth inning.  Jarrod Wehri and Richard Wrigth singled for Hamilton with Wright batting Wehri home in the sixth inning.

Game Summary: Guleph Royals punded out 15 hits to smother the Hamilon Thunderbirds 13-2.  Matt Mann had three hits for the Royals, including a 380-foot three run homer in the third inning, to pace the Guelph attack. Frankie Hare also had three hits and drove in two runs for Guelph, while Andrew Karkoulas added a mammoth solo homer of his own.
Ryan Hart got plenty of support but still pitched well, allowing just two runs on two hits over six innings with seven strikeouts and one walk for the victory. Aaron Biggs finished up, completing the three-hitter.
Richard Wright had an RBI single for the Thunderbirds. Starter Kevin Whyte, the first of six Hamilton pitchers, went 2 2/3 innings and took the loss. He allowed four runs on five hits with three strikeouts and three walks.
The game scheduled in Kitchener between the Panthers and the Brantford Red Sox was postponed due to wet field conditions. A make-up date will be announced shortly.
There is one game in the IBL Tuesday when the Hamilton Thunderbirds and the Guelph Royals will meet in a make-up of the game originally scheduled for Saturday afternoon. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Game Summary:In Brantford, Josh McCurdy and Al Stephens had two hits each including a home run by each to pace the Red Sox to an 8-2 win over the Hamilton Thunderbirds in one of three Intercounty Baseball League on Saturday. Stephens had three RBI's and while McCurdy added two RBI's. Tyler Burnell also had two hits. Winning pitcher Brad Hogeterp (1-0) allowed only one earned run and five hits in six innings. He walked none and struckout seven before being relieved by Scott Robinson, Adam Vella and Marc-Andre Major who each worked an inning. Kevin Whyte (0-1) was the losing pitcher, going 5 1/3 innings, allowing eight runs on eight hits and six walks. Richard Wright had a solo home run and Matt Bekar added two hits for Hamilton.

Game Summary:In Hamilton, the Thunderbirds scored six times in the bottom of ninth to defeat the London Majors 7-6.   Jarrod Wehri and Dan Marshall each had two hits and two RBI's for Hamilton while R.J. Lambert added two hits.  Bill Lawrence picked up the win allowing only two hits in two innings in relief of Dariel Saucedo who went seven innings, giving up five hits and eight walks with one strikeout.  Jeff Nunes was the loser (0-1) allowing two hits in relief of Rick Ross who gave up four hits in 2/3 innings. Mike Mitro started and went six innings followed by Ted Kalnins who pitched two innings.

Game Summary: Richard Wrigth had two hits, including a two-run homer and Jarrod Wehri added two hits and drove in three runs as the Hamikton Thunderbirds beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 9-5 in Intercounty Baseball League play Friday night at Bernie Arbour Stadium.  Zach Staniewicz pitched a complete game nine-hitter for the Thunderbirds, striking out 10 as the Thunderbirds improved to 2-3 ion the season while handing the Leafs their first loss after three wins to start the season.  Geoff Allen had three hits and drove in a pair of runs for Hamilton, while Henry Duke added a pair of hits, including a doulbe, to add to Hamilton's 13-hit attack.  Yole Reina was the loser for the Leafs, going 5 2/3 innings.  He allowed eight runs on 10 hits, striking our four, as the Thunderbirds broke open the game with five runs in the sixth inning.  Damon Topolie paced the Leafs attack with two hits and three RBI, while Matt Logan had a double and two RBI and Nildo Puertas added a pair of hits.

Game Summary:In Oshawa, 15 year old Evan Grills picked up his fist IBL win as the Oshawa Dodgers got past the Hamilton Thunderbirds.  In his second career start, Grills went eight solid innings, allowing just two earned runs on five hits, striking out nine and walking three, to help the Dodgers imporve to 2-1.  Reliever Gilbert Santana pitched a perfect ninth for the save as Oshawa overcame four errors to drop Hamilton's record to 2-4.  Daniel Telford drove in three runs for the Dodgers, while Sean Cunningham had two hits, scored a pair of runs and drove in another for Oshawa, as the Dodgers broke open the game with a four run seventh inning.  Hamilton Starter Keven Whyte went 6 2/3 innings, allowing five unearned runs on six hits with seven strikewouts and four walks, but reliever Andrew Schwalm was charged with the loss, allowing an unearned run on one hit in 1 1/3 innings.  All six Oshawa runs were unearned.  Jesse Robertson had two hits, including a double and a homer, while Matt Bekar also had two hits and a RBI for Hamilton.

Game Summary: In Hamilton, Henry Duke drove in three runs as the host Thunderbirds closed in on a playoff spot with an 11-8 win over the visiting Baycats.
Hamilton moved 2 ½ games ahead of idle Stratford for the final playoff spot in the IBL with the win, while the Baycats were officially eliminated from pennant contention with the loss.
Duke had a two-run double and Scott Wells and Richard Rausch both added two hits for the Thunderbirds, who won the game with a three-run eighth inning and took advantage of four Barrie errors.
Reliever Aaron Boag got the win with 2 1/3 hitless innings of relief, walking just one batter. Starter Rob Foscarin allowed four runs on 13 hits over his 6 2/3 innings, striking out four and walking four.
Reliever Chris England was the loser for Barrie, allowing three runs on two hits in the eighth inning, striking out two and walking one. Starter Angus Roy allowed four runs – all unearned – on six hits over five innings as the Thunderbirds scored a total of eight unearned runs in the game.
Jared McCord had four hits for the Baycats, while Randy Schwartz had two hits, including a three-run homer, and drove in four runs. Ryan Spataro, Ian Choy and Glenn Jackson all had two hits for Barrie.

Game Summary: In Toronto, Damon Topolie drove in the winning run with a seventh inning single to lead the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 4-3 win over the Hamilton Thunderbirds Wednesday night at Christie Pits, lifting the Leafs into a first place tie with the Oshawa Dodgers.  Toronto imporved to 4-1 with the win.  Joe Colameco added a RBI double for the Leafs and Rob Gillis added a pair of singles for the Leafs, who made the most of their eight hits to drop Hamilton's record to 2-5.  Starter Doug Dimma went six solid innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on seven hits with six strikeouts and no walks,  Reliever Mark Sikorski pitched two hitless innings for the win, striking out one and walking one and Matt Firth got the last three outs for the save.  Hamilton reliever Anthony Carlo took the loss, allowing one run and one hit in 2/3 innings.  Mike Bonanno had three hits and two RBI and Richard Wright and Tommy Robertson both had two hits for the Thunderbirds.

Game Summary: In London, the Majors improved to 4-1 with a 7-2 win over the Hamilton Thunderbirds.
Adam Echlin went eight complete innings for London for the win. Josh Palmer allowed two runs in the top of the ninth and finished up.
Jess Bechard hit a two-run homer for the Majors and added a single. Toshi Sasa had three hits, including a double, and drove in a run while Mason Reilly added a triple for London.
Chase Gaff went 6 2/3 inning for the loss, but London"s 4-run 8th inning was charged to reliever Scott Wells.
Geoff Allen, Rich Rausch and Jesse Robertson all had two hits for the Thunderbirds, while Richard Wright supplied a double.
The Majors mad