GAME INFORMATION
Score: Atlanta Braves 6 Canada (18U) 1
Location: Walter Fuller Complex, St. Petersburg, Florida
Weather: 27 degrees Celsius, Clear
Canada 18U Starting Lineup:
1. Miles Gordon - RF
2. Kobe Hyland - SS
3. Demi Orimoloye - CF
4. Tristan Pompey - LF
5. Andrew Yerzy - DH
6. JF Garon - DH
7. Peter Hutzal – 3B
8. Royce Ando – 2B
9. Darren Shred – C
10. Isaac Deveaux – DH
11. Cooper Lamb – 1B
Starting Pitcher: RHP Mike Soroka
HOW IT HAPPENED
-After a ball mishandled at third base by Peter Hutzal (Calgary, AB), JNT starter Mike Soroka (Calgary, AB) gave up a triple to the gap in right field that brought in the game’s first run.
-The Braves added to their lead in the fourth as a lead-off single followed by a stolen base off of reliever Jackson Wark (St. Albert, AB) came around to score on a single to left that got by left fielder Tristan Pompey (Milton, ON) for an error that allowed the batter to reach second. With two out, a single to left scored the second run of the frame.
-In the fifth, Wark looked to work his way out of a two-out jam with runners on second and third, but a double to left plated both runners. A leadoff single followed by an error charged to shortstop Kobe Hyland (Spruce Grove, AB) was followed by a wild pitch that put both runners in scoring position. Later in the frame with runners on the corners, a stolen base attempt by the runner at first saw Darren Shred’s (Brampton, ON) throw from behind the plate sail into centerfield that allowed the runner from third to score.
-In the seventh, with the juniors still looking for their first hit, Darren Shred led-off with a double to centerfield and came around to score on a one-out single up the middle by Cooper Lamb.
JNT HIGHLIGHTS
-After a pair of two-out singles in the top of the first, the Braves looked to open the scoring on a single to right field, but Miles Gordon (Oakville, ON) fired to first baseman Cooper Lamb (Burlington, ON) who applied the tag on the runner rounding first before the run crossed home plate.
-Soroka worked three innings and gave up a run that was unearned. He allowed four hits and struck out three batters.
-With one out in the sixth and a runner on first, centerfielder Demi Orimoloye (Orleans, ON) made a diving catch in in shallow centre to save a base hit.
-Orimoloye made another highlight reel grab in centre in the seventh ranging to his right before diving to grab a line drive that surely would have gone for extra bases and scored a run as a runner was on second base.
-Josh Burgamnn (Nanaimo, BC) had a nice outing tossing three scoreless innings of relief. Burgmann allowed a hit in each of his frames but held the Braves off the scoreboard. He recorded one strikeout.
FAMILIAR FACES
The Braves did not have any Canadians on their travel roster and there are no Canadian players currently in the Braves organization. JNT Pitching Coach Chris Reitsma spent four seasons with the Braves (2004-2006), while coaches Shawn Bowman and Adam Stern played in the Braves organization.
THEY SAID IT
Soroka on his outing:
“I felt really good out there,” he said. “I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel after my last outing but I felt great and was able to throw all my pitches for strikes.
Soroka’s first outing of the season came just three days ago when he started and threw two innings against the Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin.
Soroka on throwing in front of an estimate 50+ scouts in attendance:
“It was a lot of fun. Obviously it feels good to know that (the scouts) are here to see me. It went by fast. I just try to throw one pitch at a time.”
TEAM LEADERS
Hits: 1, Shred (1/1), Lamb (1/2)
Runs: 1, Shred
Doubles: 1, Shred
RBIs: 1, Lamb
Strikeouts: 3, Soroka, Wark
UP NEXT
The Juniors will be back at the Walter Fuller Complex tomorrow to face Clearwater College at 3pm ET…RHP Kristjan Storrie (Langley, BC) is scheduled to start on the mound…The game can be heard live online by visiting radiostpete.com and you can also get live updates by following @Team_C_Updates on Twitter.
