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Junior National Team 2-6 Toronto Blue Jays EXT

The Junior National Team wrapped up the Extended Spring Training Camp with one final matchup against the Blue Jays’ extended squad.

Sean Duncan (Port Coquitlam, BC) toed the mound for the Junior National Team to start the ballgame, striking out three over two innings of work but falling victim of a two-run homer that gave the Blue Jays the early lead.

Justin Rompré (Sainte-Anne-De-La-Perade) who’s been productive all camp, drove in a run with a double to centrefield in the fourth to get the Canadians on the board.

Finn Hoeschen (North Vancouver, BC) and Philip Cheong (Richmond Hill, ON) added doubles of their own in the fifth and sixth innings, but the Juniors failed to cash them in.

William Labonte (Okotoks, AB) struck out four over two and two-thirds innings of relief, while Noah Powell (North York) picked up a pair of strikeouts over the final three innings.

Elliott Lascelles would spark things off again for the Juniors in the eighth with a leadoff triple, before a Gino De Santis (Chatham, ON) sacrifice fly made it 6-2.

The Junior National Team finishes the Extended Spring Training Camp with a 3-5 record as they will take a short pause, and reconvene for the Dominican Pro Tour from May 13-21.

Junior National Team 11-3 Fort Lauderdale Stars

The Junior National Team sweeps the two-game miniseries against the Fort Lauderdale Stars with a convincing 11-3 victory. 

The Stars got on the board first after Canadian starter Austin Blair (Victoria, BC) walked the bases loaded in the second inning. Blair would bounce back and toss a scoreless frame in the third to close out his last outing at the Extended Spring Training Camp. 

Félix Gosselin (Drummondville, QC) got things started for the Juniors with an RBI double in the third that scored the first run for the Canadians. Later that inning, Quinn Carson (Oakville, ON) drove in the tying run with a sacrifice fly. The inning was capped with a bases clearing triple by Phillip Cheong (Richmond Hill, ON) that gave the Canadians a 4-2 lead. 

Walker Kokotailo (Surrey, BC) and Jake Fehr (Delta, BC) combined for four strikeouts as they each tossed three frames out of the bullpen. Both right-handers took advantage of key defensive plays from the Junior National Team infield to keep the Stars’ momentum in check.

The Canadians kept pushing in the later innings, exploding for five runs in the eighth to pull away from their opponent. Tim Piasentin (Coquitlam, BC), Robert Omidi (Mississauga, ON) and Phillip Cheong (Richmond Hill, ON) all doubled in the inning to cap the victory.

The Junior National Team is back tomorrow for the last game of the Extended Spring Training Camp as they take on the Toronto Blue Jays Extended squad.

Junior National Team 7-3 New Yor Yankees Extended

A late three-run rally in the eighth helped the Junior National Team pull away and secure a 7-3 victory over the New York Yankees extended squad.

Elliott Lascelles (Toronto, ON) came through with a clutch two-run single and later scored on Quinn Carson’s (Oakville, ON) base hit to cap the big offensive inning for the Canadians.

On the mound, the Junior National Team pitching staff was outstanding against the Yanks with Shane Brinham (North Vancouver, BC), Will Hynes (Mississauga, ON) and Julian Sabourin (Ancaster, ON) each tossing three innings of one run ball and combining for seven punchouts in the game.

Easton Kitura (Spruce Grove, AB) had himself a solid day at the plate, finishing his day a perfect 2-for-2.

With the win the Junior National Team secures their first victory against pro competition and improve their record to 2-4 at the Extended Spring Training Camp.

The Canadians will be back in action tomorrow against as they will close out the two game series against the Fort Lauderdale Stars.

Junior National Team 3-5 Toronto Blue Jays EXT

The Junior National Team came up short after rallying late in the game, eventually falling 5-3 to the Blue Jays Extended squad.

The Canadians got on the board in the third when Phillip Cheong (Richmond Hill, ON) delivered a sacrifice fly that scored Finn Hoeschen (North Vancouver, BC), who led off the frame with a single.

On the mound, Mathis McKenna (Rigaud, QC) worked three innings and limited damage to one run despite some early traffic. Max Poirier (Nanaimo, BC) punched out two over three solid innings of relief.

Justin Rompré (Sainte-Anne-De-La-Perade, QC) launched a solo homer to left in the fourth—his first of the trip— over his 1-for-3 performance at the dish, to put Canada in front, 2–1.

The Blue Jays would bounce back and manufacture a run to tie the game back up in the fifth and added three runs in the seventh to take control late.

Tim Piasentin (Coquitlam, BC) had a multi-hit game afternoon as he continues to swing a hot bat at the Extended Spring Training Camp.

The Juniors battled till the last out, scratching across a final run in the ninth after Taye Thierman (Calgary, BC) walked, moved up on a single by Elliot Lascelles (Toronto, ON), and late came home on a passed ball.

The Juniors are back in action tomorrow against as they will hit the road to face the New York Yankees Extended squad at the New York Yankees Player Development Complex in Tampa, FL.

Junior National Team 0-8 Philadelphia Phillies EXT

The Junior National Team continued their tour of the Extended Spring Training Camp, facing off the Phillies Extended squad on Friday morning.

On the mound, Sean Duncan (Port Coquitlam, BC) tossed a clean first inning, picking up a strikeout and retiring the side on just 13 pitches

Phillip Cheong (Richmond Hill, ON), Tim Piasentin (Coquitlam, BC) and Jordan Jacob (Maple, ON) led the way offensively, recording the only three hits for the Juniors in the ballgame as the Phillies deliver the Canadians their first shutout loss of the Extended Spring Training Camp.

William Labonte (Montréal, QC) worked three scoreless frames, racking up a pair of strikeouts and pitching around traffic in the second and third innings. Jake Fehr (Delta, BC) made his Junior National Team debut, tossing the last two frames of the game for the Canadians.

The Junior National Team will be off on Sunday but will resume camp activities on Monday April 21 as they will try to even up the series against the Toronto Blue Jays extended squad.

Junior National Team 6-1 Fort Lauderdale Stars

The Junior National Team used a big sixth inning to power past the Fort Lauderdale Stars in the third game of the Extended Spring Training Camp.

The Canadians bounced back from an early 1-0 deficit, scoring six runs on ten hits and three walks late in the ballgame.

Starter Julian Sabourin (Ancaster, ON) showed composure after finding himself behind early, with the Stars taking advantage of a defensive miscue that brought home the game’s first run. The right-hander finished his outing with three walks and three strikeouts over three innings of work.

The Junior National Team offence broke through in the sixth when Justin Rompré (Sainte-Anne-De-La-Pérade, QC) delivered a clutch two-run double to give the Canadians the lead. Tim Piasentin (Coquitlam, BC) and Félix Gosselin (Drummondville, QC) added RBI singles before Easton Kitura (Spruce Grove, AB) capped the inning with a two-run double of his own.

Noah Powell (North York, ON) made his Junior National Team debut and provided the Canadians with three shutout innings, permitting only a pair of walks while striking out six. Walker Kokotailo (Surrey, BC) followed Powell’s performance with three shutout innings of his own to shut the door on the Stars offence.

All ten Canadians in the lineup reached base safely at least once in the ballgame, while the defence turned two key double plays to keep the Stars off the board.

The Juniors will try to continue their winning ways tomorrow as they hit the road to take on the Philadelphia Phillies extended squad at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater, FL.

Junior National team 4-5 Toronto Blue Jays EXT

The Junior National Team jumped out to a fast start Thursday morning but couldn’t hold off a late push from the Blue Jays’ extended spring squad, falling 5–4 in a tight matchup.

Phillip Cheong (Richmond Hill, ON) set the tone right away with a leadoff single and a stolen base before coming around to score later in the inning on a balk to give the Juniors the early edge. Justin Rompré (Sainte-Anne-De-La-Perade, QC) and Félix Gosselin (Drummondville, QC) each chipped in with productive outs to cash in a pair of RBIs and extend the lead to 2-0 in the first.

On the mound, Keegan Russell (Whitby, ON) made quick work of the Blue Jays in the first, striking out the side. The right-hander exited the game early in the second with some discomfort in his throwing arm.

Speed and aggressive baserunning paid off again in the second, as Elliott Lascelles (Toronto, ON) and Easton Kitura (Spruce Grove, AB) sparked a rally that saw both come around to score on a ground ball that forced an error. The Juniors led 4–0 early.

Southpaw Shane Brinham (North Vancouver, BC) took over tossing two and two thirds’ innings of three hits and two walks, while punching out four. Will Hynes (Mississauga, ON) took over the mound in the sixth and worked the final three innings. The Blue Jays were able to flip the scoreboard in the seventh, despite a strong performance by the Canadian right-hander who picked up five strikeouts over his three innings of work.

The Juniors would threaten again late in the game after a pair of singles by Nolan Weinmeyer (Sidney, BC) and Robert Omidi (Mississauga, ON) had the tying and go-ahead runs on base.

The Juniors are back at it tomorrow against the Fort Lauderdale Stars at the Toronto Blue Jays Player Development Complex in Dunedin.

Junior National Team 1-3 Pittsburgh Pirates EXT

The Junior National Team opened the Extended Spring Training Camp in Florida with a road trip to Pirate City in Bradenton for a nine-inning affair against the Pirates extended spring training squad. 

Mathis McKenna (Rigaud, QC) struck out four across three innings of work, getting in and out of trouble to start the game before giving way to the Canadian bullpen. Max Poirier (Nanaimo, BC) followed up with a strong performance of his own permitting only a hit and a walk and striking out five over his three innings of work. 

Offensively, the Juniors were held hitless through the first three innings but continued to grind out quality plate appearances. Tim Piasentin (Coquitlam, BC) broke the ice with single in the fourth, but the inning ended before the Juniors could come around to score. Robert Omidi (Mississauga, ON) had an outstanding first day at the dish, reaching base three times with two walks and a single. 

Félix Gosselin (Drummondville, QC) drove in the lone Canadian run in the ninth with a base hit to right field. The last frame looked very promising for the Juniors after Easton Kitura (Spruce Grove, AB) added a bunt single and a stolen base sparking a final push that led to the inning being “rolled” due to pitch count with no outs.

Adyn Schell (Toronto, ON), toed the mound in the final two frames of the ballgame. The right-hander cruised through the late innings, finishing strong with a pair of strikeouts to close out his outing.

The Junior National Team is back in action on Thursday in Dunedin as they take on the Toronto Blue Jays extended spring training squad.