LA PAZ, Mexico- For the third time in three games, Canada outscored their opposition by twelve or more runs after earning a 14-0 win over Guatemala that ended after only seven innings due to the mercy-rule.
Canada received a fine pitching performance from Nolan Bumstead (Calgary, AB) who went all seven innings scattering four hits, while he struck out five.
Bumstead had little difficulty against the Guatemalans getting out of jams with two runners on in the fifth and leaving a runner on third in the sixth.
“Not to be disrespectful, but you’re not going to lose to a team like we played today if your pitcher throw strikes,” said Head Coach Greg Hamilton. “We’d have to give them a lot to get beat and usually that starts on the mound.
“If you challenge hitters and throw strikes then usually you’re going to win.”
Four consecutive walks and hit batter led to a six-run outburst in the bottom of the second inning that also saw Demi Orimoloye (Orleans, ON) double off the left field wall to score two and Gareth Morgan (Toronto, ON) single to right field that brought in two more.
Morgan drew a walk in the third with the bases loaded to put Canada up by seven.
Offensively, Canada used twelve hits and took advantage of 11 walks and three Guatemala errors to score fourteen runs.
After adding a run in the fifth, Canada scored six times in the sixth highlighted by a Mitch Bigras (Sarnia, ON) two-run homer that sailed over the fence in right-centre.
Through three games in which Canada has outscored their opposition 43-4, the games at the 18U Pan American Championship will start to take on more meaning starting tomorrow with a match-up against Panama.
“The last three games are games that we just had to go out and take care of business,” explained Hamilton. “The downside of these types of games are that they can lull you into mediocrity, a low energy level and some bad habits.
“We’re going to have to be ready tomorrow, right out the gate.”
With two losses already, Panama faces a must-win situation tonight against unbeaten Mexico before taking on Canada tomorrow in another must-win game.
“They’ll (Panama) be coming off a game tonight that will be played in front of a full house with lots of energy. They’re a high tempo team as it is, so the thing that is important for our guys is we can’t afford to come in (tomorrow) and not be ready.”
Canada has little knowledge of the Panamanian team they’ll face tomorrow, however, with Hamilton’s international experience, he has a pretty good feel for the style they will play.
“They’re (going to be) real aggressive, they’ll swing the bats like they always do,” he said. “You’ve got to make sure you can locate a fastball and command a secondary pitch or it’s going to be tough against them.
UP NEXT: Tomorrow’s game against Panama is set for 4pm MDT/6pm EDT at Arturo C. Nahl Stadium in La Paz…RHP Mike Soroka (Calgary, AB) is expected to start on the mound.
TUNE IN: All games played at Arturo C. Nahl Stadium in La Paz will be shown live on National TV in Mexico courtesy of Cable Sports TVC Deportes. People in Canada can access a live stream of the televised games by visiting: http://internetv.tv/browse.php?dia=2014-09-04&next=1
WHERE THINGS STAND: Tournament standings as of September 10th at 4pm EDT
*Top four teams qualify for 2015 IBAF 18U World Cup
USA 5-0
Mexico 4-0
Canada 4-1
Cuba 3-1
Panama 2-2
Brazil 1-4
Guatemala 1-4
Argentina 1-4
Ecuador 0-4
Live tweets for all of Team Canada’s games will be available by following @Team_C_Updates.
Useful links:
Tournament Website (Spanish)
Twitter: twitter.com/baseballcanada
Facebook: facebook.com/baseballcanada
Instagram: instagram.com/baseballcanada
