Adams, Sanchez, Iantomasi propel Futures to rout over Prairies

Left-hander Ben Adams, who is honing his skills with the Vauxhall Jets, struck out six in his three scoreless innings for the Futures squad at T12 on Saturday. Photo Credit: Ben Adams/Twitter

By Karan Gill

Canadian Baseball Network

TORONTO – Ricardo Sanchez and Cole Iantomasi each drove in two runs as the Futures Navy beat the Prairies Purple 9-2 Saturday morning in Tournament 12 action at the Rogers Centre.

Zachary Laurie had one RBI and scored two runs as the Futures team (1-1) poured it on scoring four runs in the third inning.

Ben Adams opened the game for the Futures pitching three scoreless innings and striking out six.

“Coming into the game I was just looking for that first strike and after that see what I can do, see what pitches are working today,” Adams said, after the game. “At the beginning my curveball wasn’t working too well. But after that I got the hang of it and started going with it.”

For the Prairies (0-2-1), Brody Alexandre smoked a ball down the third base line that just curled inside the foul pole for the tournament’s third home run in the fourth inning, putting the sole runs on the board for the Purple.

Futures Navy was outhit 5-4 but allowed 16 total walks. With batters starting with a 1-1 count, Prairies pitcher Maddux Mateychuk struggled out the gate walking the first three batters to open the game.

Adams felt the 1-1 count worked in his favor.

“It allows me to be more aggressive in painting the corners and using my off-speed more often,” he said.

Laurie singled driving in David Calabrese for the first run of the game. Iantomasi then singled on a ground ball to left field, driving in Hammill and Laurie to give the Futures team a 3-0 lead after the first inning.

Mateychuk walked eight batters in his first two innings pitched. He gave up six runs before being pulled to open the third.

In the third, Prairies pitcher J.D. Storozynsky walked Niles with the bases loaded allowing Iantomasi to score. Sanchez then doubled on a liner to centre field driving in Niles and Young and giving the Futures a 7-0 lead.

In the fifth, the Futures team scored their final runs bringing the score to 9-2 after Owen Caissie singled on a line drive to centre field driving in Sanchez and Calabrese.

Both teams will play again Sunday, with the Futures facing off against the Quebec Blue at 10:00 a.m. E.T. and the Prairies playing the Atlantic Maroon at 8:00 p.m. E.T.