JAMESTOWN, N.Y. (CCS-TV) — On a warm Thursday night under the lights at Diethrick Park, international baseball officially arrived in Jamestown as the Tarp Skunks hosted the newly formed Niagara Ironbacks in a first-of-its-kind cross-border matchup.
In the Canadian franchise’s Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL) debut, the Tarp Skunks came away with a 7-4 win — but the evening was about more than just the scoreboard. The game marked a significant milestone for both leagues and communities, as fans welcomed a team from St. Catharines, Ontario, into the PGCBL fold for the first time.
During the CCS-TV broadcast, play-by-play announcer Dre Guinness spoke with Ironbacks owner Mal Romanin, who shared how the vision to bring elite-level summer baseball back to Southern Ontario had been nearly two years in the making.
“It didn’t happen overnight,” Romanin said. “We did a ton of research on leagues, cities, stadiums — and the PGCBL checked every box. High-end talent, proximity to the border, and strong local support. Once St. Catharines came on board, we knew we had something special.”
St. Catharines, which previously hosted a New York–Penn League team, shares strong historical ties with many current PGCBL markets. That connection, Romanin said, helped pave the way.
“Our mayor, Mayor Mat Siscoe, and the city really welcomed us back. The buzz has been tremendous,” he said. “And it’s meaningful — now, Canadian players don’t have to always leave home in the summer. They can play elite baseball and do it in front of their families.”
Romanin added that the Ironbacks aim to be more than just a new team — they hope to serve as a model for future Canadian franchises in the PGCBL.
“There’s a real opportunity for expansion on the eastern side of Toronto — places like Kingston or Ottawa,” Romanin said. “This is an untapped market for summer collegiate baseball. If we do it right, we’re not going to be the only Canadian team for long.”
The team also plans to livestream games and build out its digital presence to reach fans on both sides of the border.
“We’ll be streaming games on YouTube starting Saturday,” Romanin said. “We’re starting sharp and simple, but we want people across both countries to enjoy this team.”
And for fans wondering about food?
“This year we’re keeping it classic — burgers, dogs, sausage. But hey, some Canadian bacon and poutine might show up in the future,” Romanin joked, after Guinness mentioned he’d be heading north with passport in hand later this summer.
On the Field: A Fast Start for Jamestown
While the night marked a celebration of growth and opportunity for the PGCBL, Jamestown (3-1) also handled business between the lines.
The Tarp Skunks struck early, plating three runs in the first inning and four more in the fourth. Brady McGuire went 2-for-5 with two RBIs, Nolan Smith added a 2-for-4 performance and an RBI, and Jakob Haynes tripled, drove in a run, and scored. Nathan Borchardt contributed with a double and an RBI.
Starter Jake Russo struck out six over five solid innings, allowing just two runs. Easton Barnett followed with three scoreless innings of relief to earn the win, and Cole Schwochow recorded the final out to notch the save.
Niagara (0-1) put together a late push, scoring a run in the fifth and three more in the ninth. Connor Gaitens finished 2-for-2 with a run scored to lead the Ironbacks’ offense, which showed flashes of promise in its league debut.
What’s Next:
Jamestown travels to Geneva on Friday for a 6:30 p.m. game and visits Niagara Falls on Sunday to face the Americans. The Tarp Skunks return home Tuesday for an 11 a.m. matchup against Niagara Falls.
CCS-TV is the official broadcast partner of the Jamestown Tarp Skunks. Watch every home game live on Roku, our mobile apps on the Apple App Store & Google Play Store, YouTube, and at CCS-TV.com. Games are also available on demand.
