OSAKA, Japan-In what was nothing short of a complete team effort, Canada earned a 6-2 win over Chinese Taipei to open the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup with a victory over one of the favourites in Group B.
Box Score – Canada 6 Chinese Taipei 2
Highlights
“I’m real pleased, we were able to put a game together for the first time in awhile,” said Canadian Manager Greg Hamilton. “Josh Burgmann was outstanding (on the mound), we played defense behind him and got key hits when we needed them.”
Canada received contributions all over the field and through the line-up, but none were bigger than Burgmann’s who tossed seven solid innings on the mound and also came up with an RBI single in third inning. Burgmann was forced into the batting order when starting third baseman Adam Hall (London, ON) left the game after colliding with first baseman Josh Naylor (Mississauga, ON) on a pop-up in front of the mound in the first inning.
“It was fun,” said Burgmann of being inserted into the batting order. “I actually enjoy hitting.
“The pitcher for Taipei was pretty good, I thought it would be a challenge so I came out first and pitch and took a swing, and it worked out well.”
On the mound he was tremendous allowing only one run, that came on a wild pitch in the sixth, three hits and two walks, while striking out six batters over seven innings of work.
“I felt great (on the mound),” he said. “I tried to throw my fastball inside on their hitters because I know they don’t like it in there, and I was able to get my curve ball over (the plate) as well.”
Burgmann’s single in the third got the Canadian offence going as Josh Naylor followed with a single and Tristan Pompey (Mississauga, ON) drew a walk to load the bases for Andrew Yerzy (Toronto, ON) who lined a base-hit to left that saw two runs score including Naylor whose slide averted a tag by the Taipei catcher.
Naylor would later add a triple and come around to score Canada’s fourth run of the game before coming up with a two-run single to right in the ninth to increase the Canadian lead to four.
“Josh means a lot to this lineup, obviously,” added Hamilton. “He likes (being in) the moment, he can deliver and he doesn’t get exposed, right or left.
“But the key (today) was who’s in front and behind him in our lineup. Tristan (Pompey) had a great day as well.”
It was Pompey who singled home Naylor with a base hit to left in the in the eighth as he went 2-for-4, with an RBI and made a nice running grab in left field to steal extra bases in the eighth.
Mathieu Deneault-Gauthier (Candiac, QC) took over for Burgmann in the eighth and allowed one run before Matteo Vincelli (Burnaby, BC) tossed a scoreless ninth.
Canada’s draw doesn’t get any easier as they will face an always-strong South Korean squad tomorrow.
“They’re good and I assume we’ll see their ace as they were kind of able to ease into the tournament today,” explained Hamilton. “They’re always a good baseball playing nation, but we’re not a bad club either and hopefully we’re starting to play well at the right time.”
UP NEXT
The game against South Korea tomorrow is scheduled for Noon JST/11pm EDT (08/28) at Maishima Stadium…RHP Will McAffer (North Vancouver, BC) is expected to start on the mound.
Live Stream: http://www.ustream.tv/wbsc
Tournament website: http://www.ibaf.org/en/competition/59b573b0-fcf1-4da6-8c26-99a69c27e34e/results
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