OTTAWA – Today marked the beginning of a busy weekend of baseball ahead in the province of Québec. The Junior tournament kicked off in Trois-Rivières while the Midget tournament began play in Québec City. Here is a recap of the games currently completed on Day 1.
Junior Championship
Manitoba 11 New Brunswick 4
Manitoba started the tournament on a winning note with a decisive 11-4 victory over New Brunswick. Its offense needed no warm-up, pounding out 16 hits contributing to the 11 runs. Shortstop Elliot Desilets (Elie, MB) scored four runs and fell a home run shy of hitting for the cycle to lead the Manitoba attack. Jeff McCarthy (Mirimachi, NB) led New Brunswick with two RBI.
Nova Scotia 3 Ontario (2) 1
Tied 1-1 heading into the last inning, Nova Scotia pulled away with two runs and then held on to defeat Ontario 2 by a 3-1 margin. Leadoff hitter Codey Shrider (Dartmouth, NS) was the difference maker in this game as he delivered two hits and drove in two runs. Pitchers Brandon MacKinnon (Cole Harbour, NS) and Eric Carducci (Tecumseh, ON) were tremendous for their respective teams as they both threw complete games.
Ontario (1) 14 Manitoba 4
Trailing 3-0 before even getting an at-bat, Ontario turned up the heat to smack out 14 runs in a 14-4 triumph over Manitoba. Larry Balkwill (Chatham, ON) had a big game for his team, going a perfect 3/3 at the plate with three RBI and four runs scored. Mark Hildebrand (Winkler, MB) had two hits and two runs scored for Manitoba.
Midget Championship
Ontario 9 Québec City 7
Ontario came out with the victory in what was a back-and-forth game to open the Midget Championship tournament. Extra innings seemed inevitable, but Ontario scored two runs in their last at-bat to emerge as the winners. Nolan Anderson (London, ON) had three hits and two RBI at the plate and then went on to pitch the final two innings to earn the victory for his club.
New Brunswick 7 Manitoba 4
Manitoba dug themselves a hole early and couldn’t climb back en route dropping their opening game 7-4. New Brunswick built a comfortable 6-0 lead heading into the top of the third inning thanks to a five run outburst only an inning earlier. Shortstop Tanner Banks (Fredericton, NB) had two hits and two runs scored in a total team effort.
Alberta 12 PEI 0
Alberta defined the term ‘total team effort’ with today’s mercy victory over PEI. They scored at least one run in each of the six innings and their two pitchers combined to throw a no hitter! Kurtis Taylor (Okotoks, AB) threw the first four innings while Brendan Rose (Calgary, AB) pitched the last two to secure the win. Centre fielder Layne Currie led the way offensively with two hits, two RBI and two runs scored.
Saskatchewan 4 Newfoundland and Labrador 3
A three run third inning helped catapult Saskatchewan to a tight one run victory over Newfoundland and Labrador. Canada’s most eastern province made things interesting in their last at-bat scoring one run until relief pitcher Kolten Olynek (Saskatoon, SK) struck out the final batter to make his team victorius. Brandon Beaudin-Herney (Regina, SK) went a perfect 3/3 for Saskatchewan.
Ontario 1 New Brunswick 0
Chris McQueen’s run in the bottom of the first inning was all Ontario needed as they shut down New Brunswick. Starter Matthew Smith (London, ON) was steady for Ontario, lasting five innings while only giving up two hits. Alex Somers (London, ON) and Andrew Warner pitched an inning each of relief to wrap up the win. Devin Thomas (St. John, NB) had two hits for New Brunswick.
Reminder: The rest of today’s games for both tournaments can be followed LIVE at Poinstreak.
