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The Junior National Team split a crucial doubleheader on the final day of Opening Round play at the 2026 WBSC Americas U-18 Pan American Championship, walking off Puerto Rico 3-2 in eight innings before falling 4-2 to Panama.

The results leave Canada with a 1-3 record in Pool C, bringing its bid for a spot in the Super Round to an end.

Canada opened the day with a dramatic extra-inning victory over Puerto Rico.

The Juniors struck first in the bottom of the second. Ramsey Chung (Mississauga, ON) worked a walk before Zach MacDonald (Lacombe, AB) reached on a fielder’s choice and Kadyn Armitage (Surrey, BC) followed with another walk. Cohen Miller (Calgary, AB) then lined an RBI single to right-centre to bring MacDonald home and give Canada a 1-0 lead.

Puerto Rico tied the game in the fifth, and again on the eight via a pair of wild pitches to go-ahead before Canada’s final opportunity trailing 2-1.

With Elliot Lascelles (Toronto, ON) starting the inning at second and Dayne Liske (Drayton Valley, AB) at first, Maxime Blain (Repentigny, QC) moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt. Puerto Rico intentionally walked Chung to load the bases before MacDonald lifted a sacrifice fly to left to score Lascelles and tie the game.

Moments later, Armitage reached on a throwing error, allowing Liske to race home with the winning run and complete the 3-2 walk-off victory.

Max Nantais-Vlahovich (Mississauga, ON) provided the Canadians with a dominant start, striking out nine over his complete-game effort.

The victory kept Canada’s Super Round hopes alive heading into its second game of the day against Panama.

Panama spoiled the Canadian party early, opening the scoring in the second inning before extending its lead to 3-0 in the third.

Canada’s bullpen kept them within reach. Johann Sternberg (Toronto, ON), Caleb Dupuis (Georgetown, ON) and Deven Simonovic (Victoria, BC) combined to hold Panama scoreless from the fourth through the sixth as Canada looked for a way back into the game.

Panama added an insurance run in the seventh to stretch the lead to 4-0, but Canada mounted one final rally in the bottom half.

Jalen Jacob (Maple, ON) opened the inning with a walk and moved to second on a passed ball before Blain singled to centre. An error in the outfield allowed Jacob to score and Blain to advance all the way to third. After MacDonald drew a walk, Armitage lifted a sacrifice fly to right to bring Blain home and cut the deficit to 4-2.

Panama retired the next batter to close out the 4-2 victory and secure Canada’s elimination from Super Round contention.

The Juniors will now turn their attention to the Placement Round as the U-18 Pan American Championship continues.

BOXSCORES: Puerto Rico - Canada | Panama - Canada