News

TAIPEI, Taiwan – Four runs in the seventh inning was the difference in the end as the Senior National Team would fall to Cuba, 6-3 in the 2007 IBAF World Cup at Hsinchuang Stadium.

The Canadians left 11 runners on base and were 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position in the game.

Phillippe Aumont (Gatineau, QC) started on the mound for the Canadians and was solid, allowing only two hits with a strikeout in two innings of work.

“I felt great out there.  I was able to make adjustments and everything was working in the bullpen (before the game) and results were there,” says the 18-year-old Aumont of his Senior team debut.  “It was a big thing for me to get the start against Cuba, knowing how good these guys are it give a big boost in confidence.”

Scott Richmond (Langley, BC) entered in relief and had a solid outing despite taking the loss.  He allowed four runs on nine hits with a strikeout in four innings pitched.  He gave up the final two runs in the seventh before being relieved by Mike Kusiewicz (Ottawa, ON).

Two more runs would come to score for the Cubans in the seventh, one on a close play to the plate which appeared to beat Frederich Cepeda, but was called safe by the home plate umpire.

Canada would put two runs on the board in the top of the ninth inning to close the gap.  After a pair of singles by Sebastien Boucher (Ottawa, ON) and Matt Rogelstad (New Westminster, BC), Kevin Nicholson (Langley, BC) drove them both in with a two RBI single, but that is as close as they would get.

“We showed today that we weren’t going to give up and that we weren’t going to back down,” says Nicholson, who was 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles, two RBI and a walk.  “I know it’s a tough loss, but we have four more games left and I look at us coming back tomorrow with a strong game.”

Earlier in the game with the score 1-1 in the fourth inning after Chris Robinson (Dorchester, ON) drove in Jeremy Ware (Guelph, ON) to tie the game with a double, Robinson was coming in to home on a Boucher single, but was called out on another close play at the plate.

Yulieski Gourriel would hit a solo home run in the fifth to make it 2-1 before the Cubans would have their four run seventh inning.

“We couldn’t get key hits with runners in scoring position, which was disappointing,” says SNT Field Manager Terry Puhl.  “We got to let the bats go, be more aggressive like we were at the end.  We took too many pitches today.”

The Senior National Team will now take on Germany on Saturday, November 10 at Hsinchuang Stadium.  The probable starter for the Canadians is Jamie Richmond (Mississauga, ON).  Game time is 12 pm.