It was an interesting start to the young season for the London Majors, as their best-ever start in the team’s history saw them go 7-0 to open the year, only to come back down to earth and sport a 9-7 record after 16 games. That put them fourth in the Intercounty Baseball League standings three weeks into June.
The Majors’ season started with an opening pitch from London Mayor Matt Brown, and it continued in an upward trend with plenty of solid individual performances on the field, including Majors third baseman Alex Martinez earning IBL player-of-the-week honours.
Three weeks into June, Luis Pina led the Majors and was 5th in the IBL with a 2.70 ERA and 4-2 win-loss record. Oscar Perez had a 3-1 record and was second in the league with 30 strikeouts.
“Those two pitchers have been the backbone of a strong pitching staff,” said Roop Chanderdat, the Majors’ co-owner, GM and on-field manager. “Luis and Oscar have been incredible so far, and will continue to lead our pitching staff.”
The Majors had their highlights at the plate in the early going as well, as Cody Mombourquette sat in sixth place in the IBL with a .405 batting average three weeks into June. He was also 5th in the league with 11 RBI.
“Cody has had a hot start to the season and his hard work during our winter workouts and spring has paid off,” Chanderdat said. “Mombo is providing us with solid defence, and his bat is helping us win games.”
The Majors also announced the signing of 24-year-old Japanese player Kenta Nishii. He most recently played for the now-defunct Mount Vernon squad in the Mount Rainier league after spending time playing professionally in Ohio and Rio Grande.
“Nishi is the second Japanese born player to play for me and the Majors,” Chanderdat noted. “The first was Toshi Sasa in 2008.
“Kenta is a versatile player that can play both infield and outfield. He’s a true professional, and I enjoy coaching him.”
The Majors continue to make strides within the community, and are holding their sixth annual Purple in the Park night on July 10. If ticket sales for their sixth annual Pack and Park event are any indication, the Majors are continuing to make inroads both on the field and in the stands with excitement building for the second half of the season.
Story and photo submitted by: London Majors
