Abbott makes strong impression in start, helps Team Maroon to win

Vauxhall Baseball Academy right-hander Levi Abbott (Lethbridge, Alta.) took advantage of his first and only start at Tournament 12 with a strong performance for Team Maroon. Photo: Joshua Howe/Toronto Observer

September 20, 2019

By Caio Miari

Canadian Baseball Network

Levi Abbott needed only one shot to make a good impression.

Making his only start of the Tournament 12 event on Friday, Abbott struck out four batters in three scoreless innings to lead Team Maroon to a 5-1 victory over Team Black.

It was the second-to-last official game of the 2019 event, and the 18-year-old made it count.

“It’s hard to expect what you think is going to happen,” he said. “You’re facing a lot of good hitters, so I just try to keep my head down and go to work, and things turned out well. I’m happy with the game.”

Being a starting pitcher at T12 can be tricky for the prospects given the limited exposure and time to impress collegiate and professional scouts in a premier showcase event for young Canadian baseball players.

But the Lethbridge, Alta., native didn’t let that unnerve him.

“Honestly I don’t think that affects me at all (scouts being in the stands),” he said, in an interview after the game. “I think the best part of my game is the pressure standpoint. I love to pitch in pressure situations, so it was a good day, I loved it.”

While Abbott was chosen Player Of The Game, the honour wasn’t the most important thing he took from this experience.

“Whatever happens during the game doesn’t matter. I just look to the outcome,” said Abbott. “And I’m happy with the outcome, I’m happy with how I performed, and I’m happy with myself.”

Team Maroon took control of the action early in the game, and never let Team Black come close.

Myles Pallister, of Lacombe, Alta., replaced Abbott and was nearly as effective, throwing two shutout innings.

“I think it’s good for those kids to have the opportunity to showcase their skills in front of a lot of scouts and schools,” said Team Maroon’s coach Shane Dawson. “I think this is a really good opportunity for them to not only showcase their skills but learn from guys like myself and the other coaches who have been in professional baseball.

“This is, honestly, a once-in-a-lifetime event for a lot of these kids.”

Former 17th-round selection by the Blue Jays in 2018, Dawson gave Abbott a tip before the game of that helped him.

“We talked a little bit before he gets into the game about throwing strike one and working ahead slowing down the running game,” said the Drayton Valley, Alta., native. “Because this weekend everybody was running all over the places, stealing bases everywhere.

“If you can show that, you have a sense of poise on the mound. It causes the scouts and pro scouts to look at that, if you’re the only guy people are holding on.”

Shortstop Yosuke Fujie led Team Maroon offensively, scoring two runs and added an RBI single.

Treyson Smith was the only batter to have a multiple-hit performance for Team Black, while Louka Daoust scored the team’s only run.