As part of Baseball Canada’s year in review, we are counting down the Top 12 Stories of 2012. Many great stories have occurred over the course of the year and today we take a look at #3.
The Junior National Team went on a magical run at the IBAF 18U World Championship in Seoul, Korea last September and in doing so won a silver medal after a tough 6-2 loss to the Unites States in the gold medal game.
The silver medal is Canada’s best result since winning gold in 1991 and also the best result under Coach Greg Hamilton who took over the program in 1999.
“It’s a tremendous accomplishment for twenty players, I’m really proud of them,” said Hamilton after the gold medal game. “We didn’t get the easy route to the final and to get to the final and finish second is a testament to some very talented and committed players.”
The juniors earned a thrilling 6-5 extra innings win over Japan to open the tournament as Jesse Hodges (Victoria, BC) scampered in from third base to score the winning run on a wild pitch.
Hodges had belted a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth with two out to tie the game and send it to extras.
Up next was a pesky Italian club who beat Canada twice in two pre-tournament games and looked poised to upset the Canadians again.
Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth, the juniors scored twice with the winning running coming on a Brett Siddall (Windsor, ON) single to left field.
Defending champion Chinese Taipei handed Canada their first loss of the tournament as they came from behind with a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth to win 6-5.
Canada survived a scare the very next morning as they narrowly defeated the Czech Republic 3-2 and then beat Panama 10-1 to earn first place in the Group B standings.
Round 2 started off with perhaps the game of the tournament as Canada defeated the United States in a 10 inning nail biter.
Nathan DeSouza (Milton, ON) had an RBI single in the top of the tenth and starter Ryan Kellogg (Whitby, ON) was dominant in tossing 7 2/3 scoreless innings on the mound.
Canada now had a chance to advance to the gold medal game for the first time in over two decades with a win over Colombia.
The boys came out firing and led 7-0 after three innings only to see Colombia pull within one run of the lead thru six.
With a chance to put up some much need insurance runs in the top of the seventh, Nathan DeSouza came up clutch with a two-run single, while Jesse Hodges added an RBI single and Canada held on for a 10-6 win.
The gold medal game was an all-North American affair with the US looking to avenge their earlier loss. Canada jumped out in from 1-0 early, but the US proved their worth and defeated Canada 6-2.
The tournament featured many great individual performances as players Kyle Hann (Oakville, ON) and Jesse Hodges were recognized as tournament All-Stars at second base and third base, respectively. Shortstop Mitchell Triolo (Scarborough, ON) captured the tournaments home run crown.
Although the loss stung, the Canadian players and staff have something to be tremendously proud of after winning the silver medal.
“I think it (silver medal) shows that we can play at the highest levels,” added Hamilton. “To take a group of high school players and finish second in the world relative to the best players on the globe is tremendous.”
Top 12 Stories of 2012
12. Les Smeyers becomes 20,000th coach
11. Baseball Canada adopts Challenger Baseball
10. Eight umpires at International Events
9. 23 Canadians in MLB in 2012
8. Ontario repeats as Baseball Canada Cup champs
7. Baseball Canada named COPABE Federation of the Year for 2011
6. Women’s National Team wins World Cup bronze
5. 2011 Senior Team inducted into Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
4. Bob Elliott given Baseball Hall of Fame’s JG Taylor Spink Award
3. Junior National Team wins silver at IBAF 18U World Championship
2. To be revealed Dec. 19
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