OSAKA, Japan – A one out RBI single in the bottom of the eighth from Team USA’s Blake Rutherford brought in the go-ahead run and they would go on to add three more in the inning en route to a 9-5 win over Canada.
With the United States already assured of a spot in tomorrow’s WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup gold medal game against Japan, a win tonight would have put Canada into the bronze medal game. Instead, Canada will finish sixth, while Australia will battle South Korea for bronze.
Canada, on the strength of a two-run homer off the bat of Josh Naylor (Mississauga, ON) and a two-run single from Demi Orimoloye (Orleans, ON), built a 5-3 lead through six innings, but the US fought back with a pair of runs in the seventh to pull even before adding four more in the eighth.
“We were right there tonight, we just weren’t in a position to be able to finish,” said Canadian Manager Greg Hamilton. “It’s frustrating, but it’s the reality, unfortunately.”
The US wasted little time getting to Canadian starter Matteo Vincelli (Burnaby, BC) as they used three hits in the first inning, including a two-run double, to score three runs. All three runs came with two out in the frame.
Vincelli battled back and provided his team with five and one-third innings on the mound before being lifted from the game in the sixth.
“He had a little bit of jitters early which is understandable, but he did a great job,” said Hamilton. “He settled in nicely and left (the game) with the lead which gave us a chance.”
Canada answered back in the top of the second and it was Cooper Davis (Mississauga, ON) who delivered as he lined a single to centre that brought in Isaac Deveaux (Montréal, QC) from third base. Deveaux had singled through the left side with one down in the inning and moved to second on a wild pitch before taking third on a groundout.
Canada tied the score in the third and it came with one swing of the bat as Josh Naylor drilled a 1-0 offering over the wall in right-centre. The home run was Naylor’s third of the event, which gives him the tournament lead with the medal games to be played tomorrow.
In the fourth, Canada had runners on second and third with two out and needed a clutch hit from Demi Orimoloye (Orleans, ON) and he delivered as he singled through the left side on a 1-2 pitch to score both runners.
The US evened the score with a pair of two-out RBI doubles in the bottom of the sixth. Vincelli was relieved in the inning by Tyler Whitbread (Camlachie, ON) who was on the hill when the tying run scored.
Rutherford’s single gave the US the lead in the eighth and they added three more with two of the runs coming on a double to left that put the game out of reach.
“I’m really proud of this group of players,” added Hamilton. “We lost some guys coming over here (prior to the tournament) and I thought the guys we did have competed well. We had some new guys that jumped in and battled and gave everything they had.
“If you look at the tournament, we played every team tough. One game got away from us but outside of that we played good baseball. We gave ourselves a chance to get to the bronze medal game and we lost to the United States of America. There’s no shame in that.”
The Junior National Team program will now shift their focus to 2017 when Thunder Bay will play host to the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup. Canada will gain an automatic entry into the event meaning that they will not have to qualify at the U-18 Pan American Championship in 2016.
“It’s exciting to play at home so we’re looking forward to 2017 in Thunder Bay,” said Hamilton. “Hopefully we can make some noise on home soil.”
The Junior National Team program will resume in Lake Buena Vista, Florida for the annual Fall Instructional League Camp at ESPN Wide World of Sports from October 1-11.
Baseball Canada would like to wish all graduating Junior National Team players well as they continue their baseball careers at the collegiate or professional levels.
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