BOCA CHICA, DR – The Junior National Team put runs across in every inning except the eighth inning on route to a 21-5 drubbing of the Toronto Blue Jays in the Dominican Republic.
Carter Morrison (Langley, BC) led the way going 3-for-5 with a home run, a double and five RBI. Brett Lawrie (Langley, BC), James Kottaras (Markham, ON) and Jeff Hunt (Cambridge, ON) all contributed with three RBI apiece.
For the seventh time in eight games, the Juniors took the lead early in the first inning. Brett Lawrie came in to score the game’s first run on a Luke Willson (LaSalle, ON) single.
The Canadians doubled their lead in the second inning when Jeff Hunt stroked a double to bring in Carter Morrison for his first RBI of the game.
With the score 3-2 for Canada after three innings, the Canadians put up a six spot in the fourth inning. Lionel Morrill (Edmonton, AB) scored the inning’s first run on an RBI single from Carter Morrison. Morrison came in to score on a Jeff Hunt single, followed by Ivan Hartle (North Vancouver, BC) who drove in Jonathan Gilbert (St-Georges, QC). After Hunt came in to score on James Kottaras’s single, Hartle and Kottaras crossed the plate on Brett Lawrie’s single to complete the inning’s scoring.
Canada added three runs in the fifth thanks to the patience of the hitters. A fielder’s choice, a walk and an error loaded the bases for Jonathan Gilbert who then drove in a run on a single. Jeff Hunt and James Kottaras would then draw walks to bring in the two other runs.
With already a seven run lead, the Juniors added another three runs in the sixth inning. With the bases loaded, Carter Morrison hit a bases clearing double to put Canada ahead 15-5.
Two doubles in the seventh, one by James Kottaras and one by Marcus Knecht (Toronto, ON), drove in two more runs and increased the Canadian lead to twelve.
The Juniors concluded their onslaught in the ninth inning with four more runs, highlighted by Carter Morrison’s solo home run.
Hidden in all this offence was another solid pitching performance from the Canadian hurlers. Nick Bucci (Sarnia, ON) got the start on the mound and went three innings, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk, while striking out a pair.
Andrew Ledger (Toronto, ON) came in relief of Bucci and threw two innings, giving up three runs on four hits and a walk, and two strikeouts.
Then Brad Furdal (Ancaster, ON) and Brandon Petite (Glace Bay, NS) combined to shutout the Blue Jays for the final four innings. Furdal only allowed one hit over three innings of work, striking out four. Petite threw a scoreless ninth inning, giving up only a walk.
The Junior National Team will play its final contest of the Dominican Summer League camp on Thurdsay, May 29 against the Philadelphia Phillies. Game time is at 11 am in Guanuma.
