The Kitchener Panthers are an

independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s * Independ ...

, minor league baseball team of the

Intercounty Baseball League The Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) is a Canadian amateur baseball league, comprising teams of college players and former professionals from North America and beyond. The teams are located in Southern Ontario. The league was formed in 1919 and ...

based in

Kitchener, Ontario ) , image_flag = Flag of Kitchener, Ontario.svg , image_seal = Seal of Kitchener, Canada.svg , image_shield=Coat of arms of Kitchener, Canada.svg , image_blank_emblem = Logo of Kitchener, Ontario.svg , blank_emblem_type = ...

. 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.

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 The Brantford Red Sox are an independent team of the Intercounty Baseball League based in Brantford, Ontario. They play their home games at Arnold Anderson Stadium. History The Brantford Red Sox were founded in 1911 when they joined the Canadian ...

with fifteen. The Panthers have won in:

Past players

* Bob McKillop -

Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...

Organization 4-time ICBA MVP *

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organization * Ron Smith -

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organization *

Scott Medvin Scott Howard Medvin (born September 16, 1961) is a former professional baseball pitcher. He played parts of three seasons in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1988–89) and Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an Ameri ...

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...

and

Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West division. The team joined the American League ...

* Harry Psutka -

Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...

* Tom McKenzie - Canadian National Team * Daniel Procopio -

Houston Astros The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division, having moved to the division in 2013 after ...

organization *

Yoanni Yera Yoanni Yera Montalvo (born October 18, 1989) is a Cuban professional baseball pitcher for the Olmecas de Tabasco of the Mexican League, Cocodrilos de Matanzas in the Cuban National Series, and the Algodoneros De Guasave in the Mexican Pacific Le ...

- Cuba national team and

Mexican League The Mexican League (, ) is a professional baseball league based in Mexico and the oldest running professional league in the country. The league has 18 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games each season. Five te ...

2021 roster

Accurate as of June 8, 2021 Pitchers: * Stephen Gade * Brady Schnarr * Daniel Marquez * Matt Stoddart * Michael Mommersteeg * Christian Hauck * Jorden Carthy * Adam Robertson * David Bruinsma * Liam Devine * Ryan Douglas * Jacob Douglas Catchers: * Ryley Davenport * Noah Murciano * Nick Parsons * Dan Mahoney Infielders: * Stephen Whalen * Keegan Marsden * Evyn Sherman * Elliott Curtis * Lucas DiLuca * Liam Wilson * AJ Karosas Outfielders: * Jett Jarvis * Andy Leader * Blake Jacklin * Ethan Baptie * Jason Kauffeldt * Carter Arbuthnot

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 Barrie is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada, about north of Toronto. The city is within Simcoe County and located along the shores of Kempenfelt Bay, the western arm of Lake Simcoe. Although physically in Simcoe County, Barrie is politically i ...

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

, defeating the

Barrie Baycats The Barrie Baycats are an independent, minor league baseball team of the semi-pro Intercounty Baseball League based in Barrie, Ontario. They play their home games at Vintage Throne Stadium at the Barrie Community Sports Complex Barrie Communi ...

. They then went on to defeat the Guelph Royals and

. They were in 2nd place after 4 games, going 4-0 only behind the

London Majors The London Majors are an independent, minor league baseball team of the Intercounty Baseball League. The team was founded in 1925, and is based in London, Ontario. They play their home games at the 5,200 seat Labatt Memorial Park. Team history ...

, 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 The Welland Jackfish an independent, minor league baseball team based in Welland, Ontario, Canada. The Jackfish are a member of the Intercounty Baseball League, an independent baseball league established in 1919 which is not affiliated with Majo ...

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 29, against the

Hamilton Cardinals The Hamilton Cardinals is an amateur Canadian baseball team based in Hamilton, Ontario and playing in the Intercounty Baseball League. Founded in 1958, the club is the second oldest sports team in the city of Hamilton. Players range in age from 1 ...

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 #24 Tanner Nivins 2013-2019

References

The Kitchener Panthers themselves https://www.theibl.ca/ibl-2021-signing-tracker

External links

www.kitchenerpanthers.com

History of the Panthers
{{Ontario Sports Sport in Kitchener, Ontario Intercounty Baseball League Baseball teams established in 1919 Baseball teams in Ontario 1919 establishments in Ontario