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Junior National Team 6-1 Fort Lauderdale Stars

The Junior National Team used a big sixth inning to power past the Fort Lauderdale Stars in the third game of the Extended Spring Training Camp.

The Canadians bounced back from an early 1-0 deficit, scoring six runs on ten hits and three walks late in the ballgame.

Starter Julian Sabourin (Ancaster, ON) showed composure after finding himself behind early, with the Stars taking advantage of a defensive miscue that brought home the game’s first run. The right-hander finished his outing with three walks and three strikeouts over three innings of work.

The Junior National Team offence broke through in the sixth when Justin Rompré (Sainte-Anne-De-La-Pérade, QC) delivered a clutch two-run double to give the Canadians the lead. Tim Piasentin (Coquitlam, BC) and Félix Gosselin (Drummondville, QC) added RBI singles before Easton Kitura (Spruce Grove, AB) capped the inning with a two-run double of his own.

Noah Powell (North York, ON) made his Junior National Team debut and provided the Canadians with three shutout innings, permitting only a pair of walks while striking out six. Walker Kokotailo (Surrey, BC) followed Powell’s performance with three shutout innings of his own to shut the door on the Stars offence.

All ten Canadians in the lineup reached base safely at least once in the ballgame, while the defence turned two key double plays to keep the Stars off the board.

The Juniors will try to continue their winning ways tomorrow as they hit the road to take on the Philadelphia Phillies extended squad at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, FL.

Junior National team 4-5 Toronto Blue Jays EXT

The Junior National Team jumped out to a fast start Thursday morning but couldn’t hold off a late push from the Blue Jays’ extended spring squad, falling 5–4 in a tight matchup.

Phillip Cheong (Richmond Hill, ON) set the tone right away with a leadoff single and a stolen base before coming around to score later in the inning on a balk to give the Juniors the early edge. Justin Rompré (Sainte-Anne-De-La-Perade, QC) and Félix Gosselin (Drummondville, QC) each chipped in with productive outs to cash in a pair of RBIs and extend the lead to 2-0 in the first.

On the mound, Keegan Russell (Whitby, ON) made quick work of the Blue Jays in the first, striking out the side. The right-hander exited the game early in the second with some discomfort in his throwing arm.

Speed and aggressive baserunning paid off again in the second, as Elliott Lascelles (Toronto, ON) and Easton Kitura (Spruce Grove, AB) sparked a rally that saw both come around to score on a ground ball that forced an error. The Juniors led 4–0 early.

Southpaw Shane Brinham (North Vancouver, BC) took over tossing two and two thirds’ innings of three hits and two walks, while punching out four. Will Hynes (Mississauga, ON) took over the mound in the sixth and worked the final three innings. The Blue Jays were able to flip the scoreboard in the seventh, despite a strong performance by the Canadian right-hander who picked up five strikeouts over his three innings of work.

The Juniors would threaten again late in the game after a pair of singles by Nolan Weinmeyer (Sidney, BC) and Robert Omidi (Mississauga, ON) had the tying and go-ahead runs on base.

The Juniors are back at it tomorrow against the Fort Lauderdale Stars at the Toronto Blue Jays Player Development Complex in Dunedin.

Junior National Team 1-3 Pittsburgh Pirates EXT

The Junior National Team opened the Extended Spring Training Camp in Florida with a road trip to Pirate City in Bradenton for a nine-inning affair against the Pirates extended spring training squad. 

Mathis McKenna (Rigaud, QC) struck out four across three innings of work, getting in and out of trouble to start the game before giving way to the Canadian bullpen. Max Poirier (Nanaimo, BC) followed up with a strong performance of his own permitting only a hit and a walk and striking out five over his three innings of work. 

Offensively, the Juniors were held hitless through the first three innings but continued to grind out quality plate appearances. Tim Piasentin (Coquitlam, BC) broke the ice with single in the fourth, but the inning ended before the Juniors could come around to score. Robert Omidi (Mississauga, ON) had an outstanding first day at the dish, reaching base three times with two walks and a single. 

Félix Gosselin (Drummondville, QC) drove in the lone Canadian run in the ninth with a base hit to right field. The last frame looked very promising for the Juniors after Easton Kitura (Spruce Grove, AB) added a bunt single and a stolen base sparking a final push that led to the inning being “rolled” due to pitch count with no outs.

Adyn Schell (Toronto, ON), toed the mound in the final two frames of the ballgame. The right-hander cruised through the late innings, finishing strong with a pair of strikeouts to close out his outing.

The Junior National Team is back in action on Thursday in Dunedin as they take on the Toronto Blue Jays extended spring training squad.