ORLANDO-After two lopsided losses, the Junior National Team turned in a solid performance in their final game of Spring Training even they dropped a 7-2 contest to the Detroit Tigers.
Seven JNT pitchers combined to strikeout eleven Tiger batters, while only allowing four walks.
Logan Seifrit (Spruce Grove, AB) got the start on the mound and sat the Tigers down in order in the top of the first. Seifrit’s only flaw in two innings of work was giving up a double and running scoring single to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. Seifrit didn’t allow a walk and struck out three batters.
Ryan Kellogg (Whitby, ON) was masterful in his only inning of work as he struck out the side in the top of the third.
Fernando Fernandez (Montréal, QC) took the mound in the top of the fourth and gave-up two walks and a double which led to two runs being scored.
The Tigers would add three more runs, courtesy of two singles and two doubles, in the top of the fifth to jump in front 6-0. Fernandez managed a strikeout in two innings of work.
Daniel Pinero (Toronto, ON) drew a walk to lead-off the bottom of the sixth and when Sean Ratcliffe (Ajax, ON) singled, Pinero advanced to third base.
With runners on the corners Mitchell Triolo (Scarborough, ON) drove in Pinero from third base with an RBI single.
Travis Seabrooke (Peterborough, ON) turned in a solid performance on the mound by pitching scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh. Seabrooke allowed only one hit, a two-out double in the seventh, and struck out one batter.
The Tigers scored one run in the eighth after a double and single, while the juniors countered with a run in the bottom of the ninth as Jamar Burnette (Toronto, ON) walked with the bases loaded.
Dylan Brooks (Dorchester, ON) and Michael Clouthier (Guelph, ON) each threw a scoreless inning as teams played an extra frame. Clouthier struck out two batters.
The juniors had five hits on the day as Brett Siddall (Windsor, ON), Daniel Pinero, Sean Ratcliffe, Jesse Hodges (Victoria, BC) and Mitchell Triolo all singled.
Notes: The juniors will next assemble May 23rd when they travel to the Dominican Republic for their annual tour of the Dominican Summer League…The Dominican Summer League 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.
