JUAN DOLIO, Dominican Republic - From October 24 to November 1, the Junior National Team program will play eight games against seven different MLB Professional Academies in the Dominican Republic.
The exhibition contests are in preparation for the WBSC Americas U18 Baseball World Cup Qualifier That will take place in La Paz and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico from November 4-14.
The top four countries in the 12-team tournament will earn a spot in the 2023 WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup in Tainan, Taiwan.
Follow the action live via GameChanger or via the Junior National Team official Twitter
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Junior National Team 0-7 Milwaukee Brewers DIL
The Junior National Team watched the game slip away early and couldn’t recover in a 7-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers DIL squad, as the game had to be called off after only six and a half innings of play due to bad weather.
Benjamin Soke (New Maryland, NB) was the starter for the Juniors working three solid innings of only one earned run on three hits and no walks, while striking out three. Matt Sargeant (Ancaster, ON) came out of the bullpen and worked an inning and two thirds, allowing four earned runs on five hits while collecting a pair of strikeouts.
The Juniors struggled offensively on this one as they collected only three hits and failed to put any runs on the scoreboard. One bright spot for the was Keegan O’Hearn (Oshawa, ON) who collected a double in a pair of at bats alongside Brendan Lawson (North York, ON), who finished the day with a 1-for-2 with a hard single and a walk hitting in the middle of the lineup. Noah Konings (Brampton, ON) collected the only other hit for the Juniors with a hard single down the third base line to start the action in the top of the third inning.
Junior National Team 6-2 Pittsburgh Pirates DIL
The Junior National Team defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates DIL 6-2 to make it three victories in a row during their WBSC Americas U18 Baseball World Cup Qualifier Selection Camp.
Everything was working on this one for the Junior National Team as they outhit their opponents, 7-2.
Elliot Cadieux-Lanoue (St-Pie, QC) was the starting pitcher on the mound for the Junior National Team putting up three big zeros to open the game. The lefthander would give up no hits and two walks while striking out three. Matt Sargeant (Ancaster, ON) was next out of the bullpen working two and a thirds innings giving up a pair of runs on four walks and only one hit, while fanning a pair. Matthew Donnison (Niagara Falls, ON) came into the game in the seventh for the final three-innings and would give up only one hit and nothing else while striking out four Pirate batters.
The Juniors pulled away for good after a four run sixth inning gave them the lead in the middle frames. Sam Shaw (Victoria, BC) delivered the big blow as the second basemen smashed a 2-RBI double to give the Juniors a 3-2 lead at the time. Shaw would finish the day with a 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and a stolen base. Myles Naylor (Mississauga, ON) kept his hot bat going at the plate, collecting a pair of hits in four at bats with a pair of RBIs. Brendan Lawson (North York, ON), Ty Hamilton (Orleans, ON) and Ty Doucette (Dartmouth, NS) had the three other hits in the game.
Los Angeles Angels DIL 3-9 Junior National Team
The Junior National Team bested the Los Angeles Angels DIL 9-3, with an explosive offensive effort where they outhit their opponents eight to seven. The Juniors committed no errors in the game as they continue to make big plays defensively behind their pitching staff.
The Angels got on the board first in the top of the second inning despite a strong three-inning performance by the Junior National Team starter Matthew Brown (Carlisle, ON) who permitted one earned run on four hits and no walks, while striking out a pair. Lachlan Harrison (Mississauga, ON) was the first out of the bullpen allowing only one hit, a two-run homer, and three walks while fanning a pair of batters over his two-inning performance. Benjamin Soke (New Maryland, NB) came into the game for the three-inning save and allowed only a pair of hits and a pair of walks while collecting a pair of strikeouts, putting up three big zeros for the Juniors to lock in the victory.
The offensive onslaught was sparked by the shortstop Tyrus Hall (Victoria, BC) who finished the day 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Cam Macleod (North Vancouver, BC) also had himself a day at the dish collecting a pair of hits, including a double, and three RBIs. Myles Naylor (Mississauga, ON) provided a big blow in the bottom of the sixth, smashing a solo home run to extend the Junior National Team lead to 6-3. Ty Hamilton (Orleans, ON) also collected an extra base hit in two at bats with an RBI and a pair of runs scored.
Junior National Team 3-2 Diamondbacks DIL
The Junior National Team defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks DIL squad 3-2 in a game dominated by good pitching from both clubs. Three Junior National Team pitchers combined to allow just two hits, backed up by a strong defensive performance from the Canadian squad.
Ty Doucette (Dartmouth, NS) and Cardel Dick (Abbotsford, BC) came off hot out of the gates, smashing back-to-back doubles in the first inning to give the Juniors an early 3-0 lead. Doucette would finish the day with a 1-for-3 with an RBI, while Dick finished the day 1-for-1 and a pair of RBIs.
The Diamondbacks responded back in the bottom half of the first, manufacturing a pair of runs against starter Parker Burgess (Douro-Dummer, ON). The righthander would bounce back, putting up two big zeros in the second and the third, finishing the day with four strikeouts and permitting only one hit and the two earned runs over his three-inning performance. Makaio Cisneros (Whitby, ON) was the first out of the bullpen for the JNT working three strong innings of no hits, no runs, with a pair of strikeouts. Jack Pineau (Thunder Bay, ON) came in for the three-inning save and made quick work of the Dbacks offence, allowing only one hit and a walk while striking out a pair.
Junior National Team 1-1 Boston Red Sox DIL
GUERRA, Dominican Republic - The Junior National Team opened selection camp with a 1-1 tie against the Boston Red Sox Dominican Instructional League squad in preparation for the WBSC Americas U-18 Baseball World Cup Qualifier.
Veteran pitcher Reece Usselman (Langley, BC) started the game on the mound for the JNT working two complete frames of no runs, allowing only two hits and a walk while striking out two. The left-hander’s performance was followed by two, strong three inning outings by Michael Yusypchuk (Edmonton, AB) and Tate Carey (Windsor, ON). Both right-handers allowed only two hits over their three-inning performances.
Carey had everything working for him collecting seven strikeouts despite allowing a run to cross the plate on a dropped third strike play to tie the action at one.
Ty Hamilton (Orleans, ON) toed the mound on the ninth, allowing no hits and two walks while striking out one to close out the game.
The Juniors had a hot start offensively scoring their only run in the first inning thanks to a Ty Doucette (Dartmouth, NS) RBI single that scored Jorge Valdes (Milton, ON) who had walked earlier in the inning. Brendan Lawson (North York, ON) had a notable performance collecting a double in three at bats as well as Keegan O’Hearn (Oshawa, ON) who finished the day 2-for-3 with a pair of hard singles.
