Buckle propels Ontario Green to 8-0 win over Ontario Black

Noel Doyle (16) and Lukas Barry, of Ontario Green, set up for a low five celebration as their club cruised to an 8-0 victory over Ontario Black on Sunday afternoon at the Rogers Centre. Photo Credit: Jennifer Redenbach

By Fares Kaff

Canadian Baseball Network

TORONTO -- Blake Buckle led the way as team Ontario Green (2-1-1) breezed past their provincial rivals 8-0 in Tournament 12 matinee action at the Rogers Centre on Sunday.

Buckle was dominant at the plate, going 3-for-4 with five runs batted in, including an early ground-rule double to get the ball rolling for Team Green.

“I was feeling really comfortable out there, just looking for a good pitch to hit which I was able to do in most of my at bats,” he said, on the field after the game.

Tournament 12 rules dictate each at bat starts with a 1-1 count, and while this rule usually benefits the pitchers, Buckle had no problem adjusting.

“You just have to be aggressive, you can’t really take a pitch because if you do you’re behind in the count so you just have to be ready for that first one.”

While Buckle’s early ground-rule double opened the scoring for Ontario Green, it wasn’t before the top of the sixth inning that they were able to run away with the win.

The explosive sixth saw TJ Schofield-Sam drive in a pair of runs on a double, resulting in a botched rundown and allowing an extra run to score.

Schofield-Sam’s two-RBI double wasn’t the only damage inflicted in the inning, as the very next at bat saw Blake Buckle hit his own two-RBI single.

Ontario Black (1-2-1) was unable to solve any of their Green counterpart’s pitchers, including Nicholas Fraser, who threw 3 2/3 innings of shutout baseball, retiring six batters in the process.

In relief, Zachary Cameron carried on with a three-inning save that saw him strike out five and only allow one hit.

As for Ontario Black, starting pitcher Michael Stremlaw pitched four innings, allowing three hits and two earned runs.

Nelson Mercado entered in relief, but struggled in the top of the sixth inning.

Ontario Black reliever Noah Lalonde unloads against Ontario Green on Sunday afternoon at the Rogers Centre. Lalonde went 1 2/3, giving up no hits and walking a single batter. Photo Credit: Jennifer Redenbach

Ontario Green has joined Quebec in Monday’s semi-finals, while Ontario Black has been eliminated.