ORLANDO-The Houston Astros prospects pounded out seventeen hits including two homeruns as they hammered the Junior National Team 15-1 in a seven inning, rain shortened affair at ESPN Wide World of Sports.
The juniors did not help themselves as eleven walks were issued to Astros batters, while the offence only managed one hit.
It didn’t take the Astros long to get rolling as they scored twice in the top of the first off JNT starter Jake Marks (Brights Grove, ON). A lead-off single and walk gave the Astros two runners on base, before a one out double scored both runners.
Marks tossed a scoreless second inning, but gave up a triple and double in the third inning to give the Astros a 3-0 lead.
Steven Dressler (Burlington, ON) took the mound for the fourth inning and the Astros got to him quick with a single, triple and double to score two more runs. Before the dust settled, the Astros added another run to increase their lead to 6-0. Dressler finished his two inning outing with a scoreless fifth inning.
Jacob Robson (Windsor, ON) scored the juniors only run in the game in the bottom of the fourth when he led-off with a walk, advanced to second on a wild-pitch and scored on a Nathan DeSouza (Milton, ON) single.
The Astros blew the game wide-open in the sixth with a four-run inning with all runs scoring on two, two-run homers.
They would add five runs in the seventh before rain came that forced the game to be called.
Notes: The juniors will be back in action tomorrow at ESPN Wide World of Sports when they take on the Washington Nationals at 1pm ET…It is expected that Dayton Dawe (London, ON) will start on the mound…Former National Team standout Stubby Clapp (Windsor, ON) managed the Astros extended spring training prospects today…Clapp managed at Short-Season Tri-City in the Astros system last year…The Spring Training Camp is an important step in the selection process as 20 players will be chosen in August to represent Canada at the IBAF 18U World Baseball Championship in Seoul, South Korea August 30th- September 8th.
For schedule, roster and pitching rotation, please click HERE.
