Hann, Houle homer vs. Mariners in Dominican
*Dustin Houle (Penticton, BC), , pictured above, and Kyle Hann (Oakville, Ont.) each homered in a 2-2 tie against the Mariners rookie-class Dominican Summer League team.
May 18 -- Robson (Tom) tosses five, Robson (Jacob) singles, swipes second
May 20 -- Hann, Houle each homer vs. Mariners in the Dominican
By Adam Morissitte
Villa Mella, Doninican Republic -- The Baseball Canada Junior National Team battled the Seattle Mariners Dominican Summer League team to 2-2 draw before rain ended the game after seven innings. The second scheduled game of the day against the Milwaukee Brewers was called before one inning was complete, also due to rain.
Against Seattle, Kyle Hann (Oakville, Ont.) belted a solo homer with one out in the top of the first inning to stake the Canadians to an early 1-0 lead.
The Mariners would erase the deficit in the bottom of the frame off JNT starter Skylar Janisse (Maidstone, Ont.). The lead-off batter singled and stole second before being singled home to tie the score.
Dustin Houle (Penticton, BC) joined the homerun parade by swatting a solo homer of his own, to put the Juniors back on top in the second.
Later in the inning with two out, Cory Scammell (Edmonton, Alta.) doubled but was left stranded on second base.
Janisse got into trouble in the fourth when he allowed a double and two walks with two out to load the bases, before getting the final batter of the inning to ground out.
In total, Janisse went four innings allowing the one run, scattering three hits, walking four and striking out four.
The Mariners would tie the score in the fifth off JNT reliever Matt Trimble (Coquitlam, BC) when a single scored a runner from second, who had previously singled and advanced to second on a fielder’s choice.
In the sixth, the Juniors threatened as Zack Sardellitti (Maple, Ont.) was hit by a pitch to lead-off the frame while Jerod Bartnik (Surrey, BC) singled for his second hit of the game. After a fielder’s choice forced Sardellitti out at third, the Mariners turned a double play to end the inning.
Trimble would work scoreless innings in the sixth and finished and finished his outing by going three innings, giving up one run on four hits while recording five strikeouts.
The top of the eighth saw Scammell hit by a pitch and Damion Smith (Windsor, Ont.) walk before heavy rain cancelled the remainder of the contest.
Notes: The Juniors are scheduled to play the Florida Marlins on Saturday (May 21st) at 11am ET…Ethan Elias (Entwistle, Alta.) is expected to start … The JNT will then face the Dominican Academy at 3pm ET.