ORLANDO, Florida – The Atlanta Braves took care of business against the Junior National Team with an 11-3 victory, but the Canadians would bounce back in the second half of a doubleheader by two-hitting Seminole Community College on route to a 4-0 win at the Fall Instructional League Camp.
In game one against the Braves, Atlanta set the tone early with a two-run home run off of the scoreboard at Champion Stadium off of Canadian starter Jonathan Paquet (Ancienne Lorette, QC). An RBI ground out made it 3-0 for Atlanta after one.
A two base error on a pickoff attempt led to the fourth Atlanta run in the second inning when the runner scored on a sacrifice fly.
The Canadians cut the lead to one in the third inning. Simon Brisebois (Mascouche, QC) hit an RBI single to bring in Jalen Harris (Toronto, ON) to make it 4-1. After a throwing error put runners on second and third, Ryan Johnson (Winnipeg, MB) drove in a run on a ground out to make it 4-2. Cameron Mattice (Mississauga, ON) reached on an error to allow Brisebois to score and make it 4-3.
But then it was all Atlanta. A pair of errors in the fourth inning brought in an unearned run to increase the lead to 5-3. Three hits and an error allowed the Braves to plate two runs in the fifth inning to take a four-run lead.
The Braves made it 8-3 on a double steal in the sixth inning; an RBI single in the seventh inning made it 9-3 and back-to-back doubles followed by a two out single scored the final two runs of the game in the eighth inning for an 11-3 lead.
In game two of the doubleheader, Nick Pivetta (Victoria, BC), Vaughn Mabone (Vancouver, BC) and Tom Robson (Ladner, BC) combined to throw a two-hitter against Seminole.
Pivetta got the start on the mound for Canada and threw three innings, allowing only one walk while striking out six Seminole hitters.
Mabone threw three perfect innings in relief, collecting three strikeouts during his outing, while Robson pitched the final three innings, allowing two hits and three walks with a pair of strikeouts.
The Canadians broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fifth by scoring three runs to take a 3-0 lead. Brandon Dailey (Brantford, ON), Chayse Marion (Red Deer, AB) and Jonathan Jones (Lorraine, QC) all singled to load the bases. Dailey scored on a wild pitch with Marion and Jones moving up a base. Then Rowan Wick (North Vancouver, BC) hit a two-run single to make it a three-run lead.
Seminole broke a no-hitter in the bottom of the seventh and eventually loaded the bases with two-outs, but Robson got out of the jam by getting Kyle Perez to ground out to end the inning.
Canada added a fourth run in the top of the eighth when Kellin Deglan (Langley, BC) doubled and came in to score on a Marion RBI single to make it 4-0 for the JNT.
The Junior National Team will play a second doubleheader on Sunday, October 11th against Lake Sumter Community College at Champion Stadium at Disney’s Wide World of Sports. The first game is scheduled for 11 AM.
with files from Bob Elliott
