Lagos de Moreno, Mexico-Fresh off a bronze medal performance at last week’s IBAF World Cup in Panama, the Senior National Team will be looking for another medal at the Pan Am Games.
Canada arrived in Mexico late Sunday evening and has held two practices in preparation of tomorrow’s opener against Puerto Rico (10 am CT). This will be Canada’s second match-up with Puerto Rico as the red and white earned a 9-1 victory in the World Cup opener two weeks ago.
The Pan Am Games sees eight teams split into two pools where the top two seeds in each pool will cross-over in semi-final games before bronze and gold medal games are played.
Canada is in a pool with Puerto Rico, Cuba and Venezuela, while the other pool consists of U.S.A, Mexico, Panama and Dominican Republic.
Canada’s schedule is as follows:
October 19 – Canada vs. Puerto Rico (10am CT)
October 20 – Cuba vs. Canada (7pm CT)
October 22 – Canada vs. Venezuela (10am CT)
All games will be played at Armando Reynoso Gutiérrez Stadium in Lagos de Moreno.
It is expected that RHP Shawn Hill (Mississauga, ON) will start against Puerto Rico. Hill carried a 2-1 record at the World Cup with wins over Japan and U.S.A. while taking the loss against Cuba.
In addition to Hill, several Canadian players are coming off stellar performances at the World Cup. Leading the group is SS Jonathan Malo (Joliette, QC) who was voted All-Star shortstop at the World Cup after batting .382 and playing error-free defence. OF Tim Smith had several clutch hits during the World Cup and batted .361 with two homeruns and eleven RBI. LHP Andrew Albers (North Battleford, SK) picked up two wins in two starts at the World Cup while also pitching valuable innings out of the Canadian bullpen. Albers did not allow an earned-run in fifteen innings pitched while only walking three. Dustin Molleken (Regina, SK) and Chris Kissock (Trail, BC) were also effective coming out of the bullpen as neither allowed an earned-run in World Cup play.
Canada last participated in the baseball event at the Pan Am Games in 1999 when the event was held on home soil in Winnipeg. Canadian Manager, Ernie Whitt led that Canadian club to a bronze medal performance in his first stint as Manager with the National Team.
Follow all of Canada’s games LIVE by visiting the Official website of the Pan Am Games… As always, for the latest info on Team Canada, please follow Baseball Canada on Twitter (www.twitter.com/baseballcanada).
