MORGANTOWN, WV. — The Canadian Junior National Team put together a strong performance through eight innings, but a six-run ninth from the West Virginia Black Bears proved decisive in a 7–5 loss on Friday afternoon at Wagener Field at Kendrick Family Ballpark.
The Juniors jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first when Elliot Lascelles (Toronto, ON) singled, stole second, and scored on an RBI single from Justin Rompré (Sainte-Anne-De-La-Pérade, QC). It was the first of three stolen bases on the day for Team Canada, who once again applied pressure on the basepaths throughout the game.
Mathis McKenna (Rigaud, QC) got the start for Canada and was solid through four innings, allowing just one run while pitching to contact and letting his defense work behind him. Noah Powell (North York, ON) followed in relief and kept the Black Bears' bats quiet with three scoreless frames.
The game turned in the seventh when Canada broke a 1–1 tie with a clutch rally. Easton Kitura (Spruce Grove, AB) reached on a strikeout-wild pitch and advanced to third on a fielding error. Esteban Dessureault (Trois-Rivières, QC) came through with an RBI single, followed by another from Robert Omidi (Mississauga, ON). Lascelles capped the inning with an RBI fielder’s choice to make it 4–1.
After holding the lead into the ninth, the Black Bears mounted a late surge. A pair of walks, a double, and a triple pushed them into the lead before a throwing error allowed one more to score.
The Canadians fought back in the bottom of the ninth, with a leadoff double from Evan York (Waterloo, ON) that later came around to score on an Omidi RBI groundout to reach our final score.
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(Noah Powell, Robert Omidi, Mathis McKenna)
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