By Dan Estey

The Niagara Metros are back in the COBA Major Baseball League for the 2019 season. The club, who will be led by GM Jono Marchetere and head coach Kerry Hedden, will be looking to right the ship after a bit of a rocky 2018 season. Last season the team went 15–24–1 overall and 12–15–1 in league play, good for top spot in the Johnson Division and fourth spot overall in the league.

The Metros took part in three tournaments last season. They attended the Lakeside Invitational Tournament in London in early July where they went 1 2 in round robin play missing out on the playoff round. Later in the month, they attended the annual Hap Walters Tournament where the Niagara club went 0-3 and again missed off on the playoff round. Later on, the civic holiday weekend, the Metros were in the Ontario Sr. Elims Tournament where the team had a very tough 16 inning marathon loss to the Ilderton Red Army. Using a lot of pitching in this game, the tired Metros dropped their second game to go a disappointing 0–2 and out of the tournament.

The veteran squad will return several of their players from last season led by COBA Major Rookie of the Year P/SS Brandon Underhill (.275, 23 runs, 28 hits, seven doubles, 13 RBIs/3-2, 30 1/3 innings, 40 hits, 23 runs, 16 earned runs, 30 strikeouts, 24 walks, 4.75 ERA) and COBA Major Pitcher of the Year nominee Justin Ayles (5-3, 71 innings, 79 hits, 45 runs, 30 earned runs, 73 strikeouts, 29 walks, 3.80 ERA). Other key returnees in the field include former major league player Dave Davidson (.350, 23 runs, 43 hits, nine doubles, five home runs, 42 RBIs), IF Jon Paul (.260, 12 runs, 25 hits, three doubles, 12 RBIs), and OF Chris Anderi (.315, 34 runs, 35 hits, four doubles, five triples, 21 RBIs, 13 stolen bases).

Other notable pitchers returning with Ayles and Underhill are Geoff Strong (0-6, 46 2/3 innings, 60 hits, 39 runs, 24 earned runs, 43 strikeouts, 12 walks, 4.63 ERA), and Dylan Perego (3-5, 67 innings, 81 hits, 56 runs, 35 earned runs, 38 strikeouts, 17 walks, 4.70 ERA). Marcheterre (.212, 16 runs, 26 hits, three doubles, a triple, 17 RBIs) will be a veteran presence behind the dish to help handle the pitching staff.

The Metros have also added several bodies to their roster this season to help with some depth issues they were having last season. Joining the club for 2019 are: P Liam Jacques (comes to the club from Leaside), P Jacob Renpenning (Brock University), OF Austin Wheeler (ECC/Salem University), OF Ethan Pasco (Monroe Community College), Nathan Laird (Brock University) and SS Bryan Lapaix. Also, three players are returning to the team after a year off. IF Taylor Anderson will return in 2019 after some injury issues in 2018 limited his playing time. Also returning to the club are P Andrew Cartaginese and C/IF Matt Casburn who will figure to help Marcheterre out behind the dish as well as platoon around the infield when needed.

With the additions come a few departures from the team as well. Not returning this season are SS Jordan Grant (Injured), 1B Ryan Laird (Moved out of the area), C/OF Troy Findlay (Work) and P/IF Ben Baltrusiunas (Work). All four players leave a big hole for the newcomers to fill as Grant and Findlay are both former league all-stars while Laird has had some great power numbers in his time with the Metros and Baltrusiunas was a dual threat both in the infield with over 100 PA and on the mound going 3-5 and logging 56 innings last season. LHP Ryan Bench, who played a limited role last season and then pitched in Palm Springs for the rest of the summer, has signed with Welland of the IBL.

Overall, the re-tooled Niagara club will be looking to make large strides this season and have added the proper pieces to make a run at the top of the league.