Futures Navy's arms shut down Atlantic Maroon in Game 3 win

Futures Navy right-hander Ben Abram (Georgetown, Ont.) of the Ontario Terriers delivers a pitch. Photo Credit: Mitch Sanderson

By: Leah Smith

Canadian Baseball Network

Micheal Stovman went 2-for-3 with two RBI as Futures Navy defeated Atlantic Maroon 7-1 in Game 3 of Tournament 12.

The Futures (1-0-0) team, comprised of players one to two years younger than the rest of the tournament, showed no sign of any age difference in the game getting out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first.

“It feels really nice,” said Stovman. “It gives you a lot of confidence moving forward in the tournament being able to get those types of wins against older players.”

The Futures never trailed during the game adding five more runs in the victory including a three-run second where all the runs were scored off of errors by the Atlantic team.

The Atlantic team (0-2-0) could not solve the Futures’ pitching. The young squad sent four pitchers to the mound and kept the opposing team to just one run on three hits. Ben Abram got the win with two scoreless innings, striking out four.

“It’s amazing, a dream come true,” said the Georgetown, On. native. “I have always dreamed about pitching a World Series here, but maybe that won’t happen so it is good to be here.”

At just 15 years old, Abram is 6’6, 200lbs with a fastball that reaches 83 mph. He is one of only two players on the Futures team that is part of the 2018 draft class.

The other 2018 draft class member has a familiar name, Noah Naylor, the brother of Josh Naylor who went 12th overall in last year’s draft. Noah had an RBI double in the sixth, but also hit into a rare triple play in the fourth.

After catching Naylor’s line drive to second, the Atlantic team was able to catch the base runners flat footed at first and second to record the additional outs.

The triple play did not prove costly in this game, but the team must be more focused tonight as they face the defending champions from Quebec.

“We are going have to come out strong and not let off,” said Stovman. “Just try to start early, get some runs and just keep going.”