Nashua NH- Underneath the bright lights of historic Holman Stadium the JNT took to the field for the second game of the pre-worlds tour against the Lowell All- Americans of the New England Collegiate Baseball League. After falling behind mid-way through, the JNT was able to claw their way back into the game to earn a 4-4 tie after 9 innings.
“I thought the game was a little bit better than yesterday,” said JNT Head Coach Greg Hamilton. “It’s still a ways off but overall not too bad.”
The start of the game was delayed because there was a mix-up with the umpiring crew. In fact, the game started with a Lowell coach umpiring from behind the pitcher’s mound until the real men in blue arrived for the second inning. That didn’t seem to faze JNT starter Jesen Dygestile- Therrien (Montreal, QC) as he held Lowell scoreless through 4 innings.
The JNT opened the scoring in the top half of the 3rd inning when Jimmy Ralph (Raymond, AB) who had singled earlier came around to score on a Keenan Chanin (Surrey, BC) double. In the bottom half of the frame with Lowell threatening, Therrien was able to work out of a one out, bases loaded jam to hold onto the lead.
Thanks to three JNT errors and some timely hitting, Lowell scored 4 runs in the 5th which would end Therrien’s night. Therrien would finish with a line of 4 and 2/3 innings pitched, allowing 4 runs none of which were earned, 4 walks and 1 strikeout. Therrien was relieved by Tom Robson (Ladner, BC) who was very effective in shutting down Lowell through 2 and 1/3 innings.
Both teams couldn’t generate any offence until the 7th when the JNT scored three times to tie the game. With the bases loaded and one out Justin Atkinson (Surrey, BC) brought home a run with an RBI groundout, scoring Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, ON) from third.
Then Philip Diedrick (Ajax, ON) picked up right where he left off the night before by blasting a double off the base of the fence in left centerfield, this brought home two more runs, the latter of which was the game tying run. The double by Diedrick was one of 12 JNT hits on the night.
Neither team could muster any offence for the rest of the night. Tanner Spencer (Craik, SK) pitched a scoreless 8th and Brian Smith (Pickering, ON) who had allowed the game winning run the previous night, was able to keep the pesky Lowell side from scoring the winning run.
“I was real happy for Brian,” explained Hamilton. “It was important for him to go and throw well tonight.”
With runners on first and third, one out and the JNT infield playing in, Smith forced a groundball to Atkinson at short who alertly threw the ball to Rowan Wick (North Vancouver, BC) tagging the runner out at home. Smith was then able to strikeout the next batter with a nasty curveball on the inside corner ending the game.
“It was a great play by Atkinson,” said Hamilton. “It’s one thing to make that play early on in the game, but to make it with the game on the line was a great job.”
Notes: Next up the JNT will travel to North Adams, MA to face the North Adams Steeple Cats of the NECBL on Saturday July 10th. Former JNT members Leslie Williams RHP (Toronto, ON) and Maxx Tissenbaum SS (Toronto, ON) were on the Lowell roster. Postgame festivities in Nashua included a fireworks display. The 2010 IBAF World Junior (18U) Baseball Championship will host national teams from Australia, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Cuba, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Korea, Netherlands, Panama, Venezuela and the United States. Teams will begin qualifying games on July 23rd and the tournament will culminate in the Gold Medal game on August 1st at the Port Arthur Stadium in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. Visit the website at www.worldbaseball2010.com. For tickets, please call Toll Free 1-877-422-3201.
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