April 18, 2024

Junior National Team Spring Training opener

By Adam Morissette

Baseball Canada

DUNEDIN, Fla. – The Junior National Team extended spring training camp tour began Thursday in Dunedin, with the Juniors battling the Toronto Blue Jays extended spring training team to a 5-5 tie.

After meeting with rehabbing Blue Jays slugger Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) the previous day, Canada scored five runs on three hits and committed no errors behind a strong effort from their pitching staff.

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Box Score

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Josiah Romeo (Caledon, Ont.) started -- giving another signal as to which arm has the best chance of being drafted. Romeo allowed three runs on two hits, over 2 1/3 innings.

Sean Duncan (Port Coquitlam, BC) was the first pitcher out of the bullpen, working three full frames, allowing a pair of runs on four hits while striking out four.

Eric Hartman (St. Albert, Alta.) delivered the big blow for the Juniors, driving in two with a single late in the game to tie the score 5-5. Hartman finished 1-for-3 with a stolen base, a run, a walk, and a pair of RBIs.

Anthony Clavet (Quebec, Que.) and Brayden Ricketts (Brampton, Ont.) collected the only other two hits for the Juniors as they both finished 1-for-3 with a walk.

Jacob Wallace (Pincourt, Que) held the Jays in check in the last three innings, allowing only a hit while fanning a pair.

The finish turned into an all-Canadian showdown as Junior National Team alum Sam Shaw (Victoria, BC) faced off against Wallace with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth. Wallace came out on top, inducing a hard line out, preserving the tie.

The Junior National Team’s extended spring training camp tour will include an intersquad doubleheader, as well as eight games against extended spring training teams from the Blue Jays, Pittsburgh Pirates, Tampa Bay Rays, and Baltimore Orioles organizations.