Sky is the limit for Janisse

*RHP Skylar Janisse (Maidstone, Ont.) owns a a 1.13 ERA for the San Jacinto Gators/Photos: Baseball Canada, San Jacinto .... 2012 Canadians in College 2012 Canadians draft list Letters of Intent 2011 Canadians in the Minors

By Bob Elliott

MARIANNA, Fla. -- The University of Miami Hurricanes have seem plenty of impressive arms on their way to No. 8 ranking in the NCAA polls.

One they won’t forget is RHP Skyler Janisse (Maidstone, Ont.).

Pitching for the Canadian Junior National Team on its way to the World Qualification Tournament in Cartagena, Colombia, Janisse pitched five innings leaving with a 3-1 lead over the Hurricanes in November.

The right-hander, who is pitching for the San Jacinto Gators, allowed one run on four hits and three walks while striking out seven. Miami resumed control to score a 9-3 win before 404 fans at Alex Rodriguez Park in Coral Gables, Fla.

“They had a few of their regular guys in there, I don't really know their lineup,” said Janisse, who along with the rest of the San Jacinto team in Marianna for a college tourney.

The Walters State Senators, the Chipola College Indians and San Jacinto played as part of homecoming weekend which included Chipola grad Jose Bautista of the Blue Jays beating Jeff Mathis, a Marianna native, to win the home run derby.

Janisse faced the likes of Julian Santos, Rony Rodriguez, Chantz Mack, Dale Carey; Corey Janson, Michael Broad, Tyler Palmer, Jarred Mederos and Peter O’Brien. All were all in the lineup when the Hurricanes opened the season in February against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

“It went a lot better than I planned,” Janisse said, who besides the seven strike outs (Stephen Perez and Janson twice each, while fanning Cade Kreuter, Rodriguez and Palmer once each) retired two Canes on ground balls, two on fly balls, two on pop ups and Canuck catcher Justin Marra threw out two runners attempting to steal. 

“We scored once in the fifth and two more in the sixth,” Janisse said

Justin Atkinson led off the fifth with a single down the left field line, Gareth Morgan, followed with an infield single and Daniel Pinero singled to right to knock in Canada’s first run.

Kyle Hann and Brendan Hendriks singled to open the sixth side. After a ground ball, Marra hit a two-run single to right.

“Our coaches (San Jacinto) were happy when I returned back to Texas,” Janisse said. “It gave me a bit of an edge.”

Janisse played a big role in Canada winning a silver in Columbia and qualifying for the World Juniors in Korea. He took over for starter Ryan Kellogg in the seventh inning.

“The bases were loaded, I came on and got the third out (a foul pop to Marra),” said Janisse. “I wasn’t supposed to pitch until the gold-medal game, but considering the situation, pitching to assure us of qualifying was more important.

“(Coach) Greg Hamilton and (pitching coach) Chris Reitsma asked me before the game if I could go if needed.”

Canada added a run and with two out in the eighth, Janisse hit a batter and allowed a single which brought on Jake Hansen, who gave up an RBI single before earning a strike out to end the inning.

Hansen then picked up the save for a 4-3 win.

Janisse, a former Tecumseh Green Giant, has a picture of the team after the win, along with his goal medal.

The travelling man, also accompanied the Doug Mathieson's Langley Blaze to Arizona.

“I’m getting to the right place with the mental aspects,” said Janisse before boarding the bus for the 14-hour ride to Texas. “I’m watching other team’s hitters in BP, seeing who is a front foot hitter, who has a long swing.”

In nine games, Janisse owns a 1.08 ERA, walking 12 and striking out 22 in 25 innings. He’s allowed 20 hits and 12 runs -- three earned -- in nine outings, making two starts.

He’s 1-1 scoring his victory against Wharton County, Janisse going seven innings, allowing three runs -- one earned -- on five hits in a 5-3 win. He threw 94 pitches -- 66 for strikes.

Janisse earned TSRN Player of the Game honours in a 4-3 loss to McClennan Hylanders, pitching 4 and 1/3 innings with two strikeouts in his 42- pitch outing. He also worked 2 2/3 scoreless with zero walks and four strikeouts against Howard.

He pitched the bottom of the 10th as San Jac beat Bossier Parish 7-3 on Friday. Janisse had a 1-2-3 inning with a pop up sandwiched between two strikeouts.