TAIPEI, Taiwan – The rain did not dampen the bats of the Senior National team as they would pound out 18 runs in their second game at the 2007 IBAF World Cup against Thailand to earn the victory by a score of 18-0 in seven innings at Hsinchuang Stadium. All nine offensive starters for the Canadians reached base in this game. The onslaught began in the first inning when Matt Rogelstad (New Westminster, BC) hit a solo home run to open the scoring. A passed ball to score Mike Saunders (Victoria, BC) and an RBI single by Jimmy VanOstrand (Richmond, BC) to score Taylor Green (Courtenay, BC) would make it 3-0 after one inning. The Canadians would then bat around in the third inning, sending 12 men to the plate, to score six runs and increase their lead to 9-0. Saunders began the inning with a solo shot to right, then VanOstrand would hit a two RBI triple and would later score on a sacrifice fly by Emerson Frostad (Calgary, AB). Two more runs would come in on an error, a single and a pair of walks. “It was good to do some damage and get off on the right foot today,” says VanOstrand who was 3-for-5 with a pair of singles, a triple, two runs scored and four RBI. “Everyone got some good swings and no one was trying to do too much.” After scoring a pair of runs in fifth inning and two more in the sixth inning, the Canadians would explode for another five runs in the seventh. Jamie Romak (London, ON) would begin the rally after being hit by a pitch and after a Green single, Romak would score on a single from VanOstrand. After Nick Weglarz (Stevensville, ON) drew a walk to load the bases, Frostad would hit a grand slam down the right field line to complete the scoring. “It was good to get things going today,” says Frostad who was 2-for-5 with two homers and seven RBI. “We didn’t do much offensively last night, so it feels good to get a couple of hits and drive in a few runs. Everyone up and down the lineup did well today and that’s big going forward in the tournament.” Jon Lockwood (Toronto, ON) had a solid outing, allowing only four hits and three walks with six strikeouts in six innings of work. R.J. Swindle would pitch a perfect seventh to close out the game, registering a strikeout. “Lockwood’s performance was absolutely wonderful,” says SNT Field Manager Terry Puhl. “We needed the innings so that we have plenty of pitching going forward. Also, getting four home runs today, we hit some hard yesterday right at guys, but they’re pretty hard to catch when they go over the fence.” Next up for the Senior National Team will be Cuba on Friday, November 9 at 6 pm at the Hsinchuang Stadium.
TAIPEI, Taiwan – The Senior National Team offence was unable to put any points on the board and fell victim to Korea in their 2007 IBAF World Cup opener by a score of 5-0 at Tianmu Stadium. The Canadian offence put up two hits against Korean pitching coming from Kevin Nicholson (Langley, BC) and Jimmy VanOstrand (Richmond, BC). “It’s one game. We got to forget about this one and worry about tomorrow’s game,” says Nicholson who was 1-for-2 with a double and a walk. “We got to play our game and that’s to play hard.” “It’s a tough game, especially in a short tournament like this you hope guys can just relax and have fun and when you have fun generally guys will do well.” The majority of Korea’s runs came in the third inning when they would score three runs on three hits, two walks, a sacrifice fly and a hit batsman. James Avery (Moose Jaw, SK) started on the mound for the Canadians and allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks with one strikeout in six innings of work. “We didn’t swing the bats all that well, even though we hit some balls hard right at them but we couldn’t get any offence going until they’re were two outs (in an inning),” says SNT Field Manager Terry Puhl. “This team has always played well with its back to the wall, so we’ll come back tomorrow, swing the bats and see where it goes.” The Senior National Team will return to action on Thursday, November 8 at 12 pm to take on Thailand at Shinchuan Stadium.
PERTH, Australia – The Senior National Team’s offence came up with another big inning and the pitchers and defence held off the Perth Heat to come out on top and sweep the series with a 10-6 win. With the score 4-3 for the Heat in the sixth inning, the Canadians put across six runs to take the lead and keep it. Jimmy VanOstrand (Richmond, BC), Taylor Green (Courtenay, BC) and Emerson Frostad (Calgary, AB) drew back to back to back walks which brought Jeremy Ware (Guelph, ON) to the plate. Ware hit a single to drive in VanOstrand and tie the game. With the bases loaded and the score 5-4 after Emmanuel Garcia (Montreal, QC) drew a bases loaded walk, Matt Rogelstad (New Westminster, BC) hit a triple to clear the bases and give Canada an 8-4 lead. Rogelstad would later score on a sacrifice fly by Jamie Romak (London, ON). “The pitcher threw me a strike up in the zone and I was able to put some good wood on it,” says Rogelstad of his sixth inning triple. “Today was my best day offensively of the five days we’ve been here, which is a good sign heading into the tournament.” In the seventh inning, Frostad hit his second home run in as many days to complete the scoring for the Canadians. “I’m starting to see the ball a lot better and just trying to be patient and get good pitches to hit,” says Frostad. “I’m really felling confident going in (the tournament).” “We’re about as ready as we can possibly be,” says SNT Field Manager Terry Puhl. “Our pitching is going to determine how well we do in the tournament and our hitting has done a really great job so far.” The Senior National Team has an off day before heading to Taiwan for the 2007 IBAF World Cup. Canada plays its first game on Wednesday, November 7 at 6:30 pm against Korea.
PERTH, Australia – Four runs in the fourth inning was the difference for the Senior National Team in the third exhibition game against the Perth Heat as they would take the win by a score of 8-2. The Canadians opened the scoring in the top of the first inning as Matt Rogelstad (New Westminster, BC), after hitting a triple, came in to score on the RBI single from Mike Saunders (Victoria, BC). The Heat would tie the game in the bottom half of the first inning and then take the lead in the third inning after Lachlan Dale hit an RBI single to score Daniel Floyd to make the score 2-1. The Canadians would immediately respond in the fourth inning. After Nick Weglarz (Stevensville, ON) singled and Jimmy VanOstrand (Richmond, BC) reached on an error, Taylor Green (Courtenay, BC) would hit an RBI single to score Weglarz and tie the game. With two runners on and no outs in the fourth, Emerson Frostad (Calgary, AB) hit a three-run home run to put the Canadians ahead for good, and make the score at the time 5-2. “I got a slider and I was just trying to put a good swing on it and luckily it went out and it was a big inning for us,” says Frostad. The Canadians added one run in the eighth inning and two in the ninth inning for insurance and to complete the scoring. Offensively, Frostad was 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI and Rogelstad was 2-for-5 with a double, triple, two RBI and a run scored. On the mound, Jamie Richmond (Mississauga, ON) earned the victory, allowing two runs on seven hits and one walk with four strikeouts in five innings of work. “I went out there and threw some strikes, got some ground balls and the defense played great, so it went pretty good,” says Richmond. In relief, the combination of Mike Kusiewicz (Ottawa, ON), R.J. Swindle (Vancouver, BC) and Mike Johnson (Edmonton, AB) held the Heat to one hit with four strikeouts. “We hit the ball consistently. Got some big hits, which was key because you never know where you’re going to get it. Hits can come from anywhere from our lineup which is the beauty of our lineup,” says SNT Field Manager Terry Puhl on the performance of the team. The Senior National Team will play its final exhibition game on Friday, November 3 at 6:30 pm against the Perth Heat at the Perth Baseball Park.
PERTH, Australia – The Senior National Team’s offence exploded right out of the gate as they would pound the Perth Heat in their second exhibition game by a score of 12-4. Nine of the twelve Canadians who saw action in this game reached base. The Canadians started things off with six runs in the first inning after the Heat scored one in their half of the inning. The first six hitters scored those six runs on two hits, three walks and two errors Leading the way offensively were Jamie Romak (London, ON) who went 4-for-5 with a home run, double, five RBI and three runs scored. Jimmy VanOstrand (Richmond, BC) went 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. “I got a fastball pretty much in the middle of the plate, so it was a good pitch to drive,” says Romak of his seventh inning home run. “Right now I’m still working on my swing and trying to hit some balls well. Today everything went my way.” “It was good today. I feel more comfortable and each day is getting better,” says VanOstrand of his two hit night. “I was looking for pitches out on the plate that I can drive the other way.” “One I hit well, the other I didn’t but both of them work out,” he adds with a laugh. On the mound, Scott Richmond (Langley, BC), making his Team Canada debut, entered the game in the first inning with the Heat threatening with the bases loaded and only one out. He would get the next two hitters to strikeout and pop out to second to end the inning and the threat. “It was a nice feeling to get out of that situation,” says Richmond. “I worked out of the stretch in the bullpen. (I) came in and felt confident and it was a big help.” When all was said and done, Richmond threw five and 2/3 innings, allowing only three hits and two walks with eight strikeouts. “Not bad for the first time out. I still need to fine tune some things and next time hopefully it’ll be even better.” SNT Field Manager, Terry Puhl was once again pleased with the progress of the team and thinks things will only get better. “We had a much better showing offensively. We got to see some pitches, we hit the ball a little more crisp and got a little long ball. We have a really nice offensive group,” says Puhl. “Scotty Richmond did a really good job. He had an incredible first inning to slam the door and held them to only the one run. That situation could’ve been a lot worse.” The Senior National team plays their third exhibition game against the Perth Heat on Friday, November 2 at 6:30 pm at the Stadium in Perth.
