May 24, 2009

Eliopoulos, Deglan impress as Canuck juniors split


By Bob Elliott

The Team Canada National Junior team is used to getting exposure.
Scouts, radar guns and “excuse me for a second, could you fill out this card.”
When Team Canada was rained out against the Seattle Mariners rookie-class Dominican summer league team, it played a doubleheader against a team of free agents.
While Canadians, Puerto Ricans and Americans high schoolers are subject to the June 9 draft, Dominican Republic residents can sign as free agents after July 1 after they turn 16 years old.
Last year the top two bonuses for hitters went to Dominican outfielder Rafael Rodriguez ($2.55 million US, Giants) and Venezuelan center fielder Yorman Rodriguez ($2.5 million, Reds), both of whom set amateur bonus records for hitters from their countries.
This year’s crop made up the opposition for Team Canada.
So lefty Jake Eliopoulos (Newmarket, Ont.) faced a high-profile lineup in front of Latin American scouting directors who will also put in their “two cents worth” as the draft approaches at the Guisquella stadium in Santo Domingo, where winter league powerhouse Licey plays.
Eliopoulos allowed a solo home run on a low pitch in the second inning but that was all damage the best 16-year-olds from the island could manage.
He pitched three innings, allowing four hits with the one run and registered two strikeouts as the Canucks lost the opener of the doubleheader 6-3.
The lefty was clocked a 91 MPH showed an impressive slider and didn’t walk a man.
The Canadians then took the lead in the bottom of the third. Kellin Deglan (Langley, BC) led off with a single and Jimmy Ralph (Raymond, Alta.), of the speedy Raymond Ralph family followed with a walk. Both scored on errors as Canada took a 2-1 lead.
RHP Paul Barton (Qualicum Beach, BC) pitched next working three innings and striking out seven in his short outing, allowing two hits and a walk.
The academy team scored three times on three hits to recapture the lead and added two in the ninth.
Daniel Altoe (Burnaby, BC) was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the ninth and scored on a Adam Nelubowich (Stoney Plain, Alta.) ground ball.
 
And in Game 2: RHP Steven Inch (Edmonton, Alta.) started, working  two perfect innings, striking out two.
Deglan had a two-out single and for a 2-0 lead as Team Canada won 6-2.
Darren Kolk (Duncan, BC) drew a leadoff walk in the third, advanced to second on an Altoe single, moved up third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch and put the Canada ahead by three.
The Dominicans scored in the fourth when a leadoff double, followed by a single off off RHP Jeff Gibbs (Toronto, Ont.). Gibbs threw two innings, allowing the one run on two hits with a walk and struck out two.
The Canadians were outstanding on the mound in the second game. RHP Jerome Werniuk (Toronto, Ont.) pitched two perfect innings, registering three strikeouts along the way.
Deglan’s collected his third RBI of the game in the sixth, a double to score Larry Balkwill (Chatham, Ont.). Rowan Wick (North Vancouver, BC) chipping in with an RBI single.
Brian Smith (Pickering, Ont.) pitched the seventh allowing an unearned run on one hit with three strikeouts.