Perkins earns MVP honors, makes T12 all-star team
2015 Tournament 12 All Stars
By T.J. Burton
Toronto Blue Jays
After the third annual Tournament 12, presented by New Era, ended with Prairies Purple coming out on top, the Blue Jays Baseball Academy named an All Star team.
The most notable name on the roster is Carson Perkins from Prairies Purple, who was also named Tournament MVP. Perkins went 2 0 leading a very good pitching staff to the T12 championship. Tournament commissioner Roberto Alomar was extremely impressed with Perkins composure and command on the mound.
“He attacked the strike zone consistently and kept his composure in some tight spots against some great hitters.” Alomar said. “He was fun to watch and I look forward to following him in the future.”
Joining Perkins on the All Star team from Prairies Purple is utility man Dylan Flasch. Flash batted .303 for the tournament and played great on defense.
“Dylan is a very solid all around baseball player and he showed that this week,” said Prairie Purple’s coach Jim Baba.
Tournament 12 runner ups Quebec Blue had two pitchers named to the squad, Jr National team members Mathieu Denault Gauthier and Vincent Beauregard. They combined to go 3 0 in the tournament. In Denault Gauthier’s only start he tossed the tournament’s second ever no hitter.
“Both guys threw a lot of strikes and really competed out on the mound,” said Quebec Blue coach Denis Boucher.
One the most entertaining teams to watch Futures Navy will be represented by four players, infielders Michael Stovman and Noah Naylor, outfielder Jameson Hart as well as pitcher Ben Abram. Naylor and Stovman were both very consistent throughout the tournament, combined they batted .385 with six runs scored and five runs batted in.
Hart was squaring up the ball all week batting .462 with a tournament leading six hits. Abram started two games pitching very well allowing only one run on four hits.
“The Futures team this year was the talk of the tournament amongst the scouts and these four young men were a big reason why” said Futures Navy coach Adam Stern.
The rest of the infield will be made up by Declan Buckle of Atlantic Maroon, who batted .444 and played very solid defensively. Joining Buckle is Kobe Hyland from Alberta Red, he batted .313 and made two highlight reel plays at shortstop.
Joining Hart in the outfield will be Justin King from Alberta Red who batted .300 in eighteen plate appearances and Atlantic Maroon’s centre fielder Domenic Tardiff, who batted .286 and also pitched a complete game in Atlantic Maroon’s win over Quebec.
Behind the plate will be Lenn Nakatsuka from BC Orange. He was very solid behind the plate and batted .364 with four runs scored for the tournament.
“Lenn was great offensively and defensively all week” said BC Orange coach Paul Spoljaric.
In the DH spot will be Ryan Rijo with Ontario Green, who batted .500 with one homerun and five runs batted in.
The Coach of the Tournament honours goes to Baba of Prairies Purple. Baba led the underdog Prairies team to a first place finish in Pool B and helped them become the 2015 T12 Champions.
“I am happy to give recognition the 14 players who were selected as Tournament 12 All Stars” Alomar said. “I’m looking forward to next year.”
T12 All Stars
Catcher: Lenn Nakatsuka, BC Orange
Infielder: Michael Stovman Futures Navy
Infielder: Declan Buckle Atlantic Maroon
Infielder: Kobe Hyland Alberta Red
Infielder: Noah Naylor Future Navy
Outfielder: Jameson Hart Futures Navy
Outfielder: Justin King Alberta Red
Outfielder: Domenic Tardiff Atlantic Maroon
Utility: Dylan Flasch Praries Purple
DH: Ryan Rijo Ontario Green
Pitcher: Carson Perkins Prairies Purple
Pitcher: Mathieu Denault Gauthier Quebec Blue
Pitcher: Vincent Beauregard Quebec Blue
Pitcher: Ben Abram Future Navy
Coach: Jim Baba Prairies Purple
MVP: Carson Perkins Prairies Purple