LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida- Lake Sumter Junior College erased an early deficit and scored eight unanswered runs as they defeated the Junior National Team 8-4 in Spring Training action at ESPN Wide World of Sports.
JNT starter Kurtis Horne (Sooke, BC) was exceptional on the mound tossing four scoreless innings allowing only one hit and striking out two, but once he exited the game, Lake Sumter took advantage scoring two runs in the fifth and adding three runs in both the sixth and seventh frames.
The juniors had taken a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third as Tristan Clarke (Brampton, ON) singled with two out and came around to score when Matt Lloyd (Okotoks, AB) doubled.
Horne was in control early not allowing a base runner until he gave-up a single with two out in the third, which was quickly erased when the runner was thrown out trying to steal second base.
In the fourth, Horne got two quick groundouts before freezing a Lake Sumter batter on a called third strike to finish his outing facing only 13 batters.
Things did not start well for Kristjan Storrie (Langley, BC) who replaced Horne to start the fifth as he allowed a leadoff double that came around to score on a RBI single before a hit batter and pair of walks led to another run coming into score after a wild-pitch.
Things did not get much better for Storrie in the sixth as three Lake Sumter runs crossed the plate with two scoring on wild pitches, while another came in on a groundout. Storrie walked two and gave-up a single before recording an out in the inning.
In the bottom of the inning, the juniors squandered a chance to get back into the game as Darren Shred (Brampton, ON) led off with a triple, but was left stranded after two pop-outs and a strikeout kept him on third.
With Mitch Bigras (Sarnia, ON) on the mound in the top of the seventh, a one-out single and walk both came into score after a triple. The runner from third would later score on a RBI groundout to give Lake Sumter a commanding 8-1 lead.
The juniors were able to mount somewhat of a comeback late in the game scoring two runs in the eight before adding a run in the bottom of the ninth.
Gareth Morgan (Toronto, ON) led-off the home half of the eighth with a double and scored when Josh Naylor (Mississauga, ON) followed with a single. Naylor would later score on an error after he moved to second on a groundout and advanced to third on a passed ball.
In the ninth, Tristan Clarke hit a two-out single, moved to third base on an error and scored when Matt Lloyd cashed him in with a RBI single.
The juniors managed seven hits on offence with Clarke and Lloyd leading the way with two apiece.
Up Next: The juniors will be back at it tomorrow when they take-on the extended spring training club of the Washington Nationals at 1pm ET. LHP Ben Onyshko (Winnipeg, MB) is expected to start.
