Niagara Sports Briefs
BASEBALL
Rain reigns, again
Thursday night was a washout in the Intercounty Baseball League. All three games on the schedule, including the Welland Jackfish at the Barrie Baycats, were rained out. The transplanted Burlington Herd, 8-7, were hoping to win their fourth game in a row and beat the five-time defending playoff champions, 12-2, for the first time after opening their first season in Niagara with 18-5 and 7-1 losses. The rainout was the fifth of the year for the Jackfish who, weather permitting, host the Kitchener Panthers in a 1:05 p.m. first pitch Saturday at Welland Stadium and visit the London Majors at Labatt Park Sunday, also beginning at 1:05 p.m. Welland is 0-2 against Kitchener, and 2-0 versus London in league play so far this season.
BASKETBALL
Final-four format
Dribble west, young man. Saskatoon is hosting a knockout-style tournament Aug. 22-25 that will crown the Canadian Elite Basketball League's first-ever playoff champion. Competing will be the host Saskatchewan Rattlers competing along with the three teams that compiled the best won-loss records during the 20-game regular season. The Niagara River Lions, who host 6-3 Saskatchewan tonight at Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, currently top the standings in the six-team spring-summer professional league with a 7-2 record. The River Lions opened the season series with the Rattlers with 99-97 and 108-91 victories.