SAN JOSE DEL CABO, Mexico – The Junior National Team fell to Cuba 6-2 in their final game at the Americas U18 World Cup Qualifier. The game looked to be a pitcher’s duel early on before Cuba broke the score open in the late innings. The Juniors scored two runs on three hits and committed no errors.
Jack Pineau (Thunder Bay, ON) had an excellent start for Canada, working four plus innings of only one hit while striking out four batters. Elliot Cadieux-Lanoue (St-Pie, QC) came out of the bullpen to stop the big fifth inning for Team Cuba. The lefthander worked out of trouble in the fifth getting the last two outs and came back and stroke out the side in the bottom of the sixth.
Myles Naylor (Mississauga, ON) continued to swing a hot bat at the dish, smashing a solo homerun in three at bats and a free pass. Tyrus Hall (Victoria, BC) scored the only other run for the Juniors after he singled in the top of the third inning and stole a base to get himself into scoring position. Cardel Dick (Abbotsford, BC) collected the other hit for Team Canada as he finished the day with a solid 1-for-3 performance.
Canada finishes the competition with a disappointing 2-4 record missing their shot at qualifying for the 2023 WBSC U18 Baseball World Cup for the first time in nearly 20 years.
