(Photo: Alexis Brudnicki)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida- The Junior National Team picked up their first win of the Fall Instructional League today and did so in dramatic fashion scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth to earn a 3-2 come-from-behind, walk-off win over a group of professional players from the Atlanta Braves organization.
After a leadoff single from Peter Hutzal (Calgary, AB) and a one out double from Royce Ando (Mississauga, ON) to open the ninth, Tanner Rempel (Abbotsford, BC) came through with a two –run double that tied the score and later moved to third on a wild pitch. Adam Hall (London, ON) then drew setting the stage for Kobe Hyland (Spruce Grove, AB) who singled to left to score the winning run.
The win saw the juniors enjoy their finest offensive outburst of the week as they pounded-out 11 hits including two apiece from Hall, Ando and Cooper Lamb (Burlington, ON), while Hyland, Hutzal, Rempel, Josh Naylor (Mississauga, ON) and Miles Gordon (Oakville, ON) contributed one hit each.
BJ Moen (Swift Current, SK) was credited with the win as he tossed three innings allowing two hits and a walk. He was one out away from tossing his third consecutive scoreless inning, but a walk, stolen base and double with two out in the ninth scored a run for the Braves putting them up by two before the dramatics of the bottom of the inning.
The juniors turned in two other quality performances on the mound with RJ Freure (Burlington, ON) firing three shutout innings, scattering three hits and striking out one batter.
Starter Tyler Whitbread (Camlachie, ON) worked two scoreless frames before the Braves opened the scoring in the top of the third taking advantage of throwing error on a leadoff triple.
The triple was one of only two hits that Whitbread allowed in addition to one base on balls.
UP NEXT: The juniors will travel to the Spring Training home of the Toronto Blue Jays tomorrow for a 1pm EDT game at the Bobby Mattick Complex where RHP Mike Soroka (Calgary, AB) is expected to start.
