Cheong, Clements star in Team New Blue, Team Royal Blue tie

Ontario Blue Jays infielder Philip Cheong (Richmond Hill, Ont.) safely slides into third base for his third stolen base of the game for Team New Blue on Wednesday at the Canadian Futures Showcase. The second basemen finished with a game-high three stolen bases against Team Royal Blue. Photo: Zulfi Sheikh Photo

September 20, 2023

By Andrew Stuetz

Centennial Sports Journalism

TORONTO – Philip Cheong had three stolen bases and scored two runs for Team New Blue, while Oliver Clements had two hits with a run scored for Team Royal Blue in a 2-2 tie on Wednesday night at the Rogers Centre.

Both teams entered the game with a win after playing earlier in the day.

New Blue leadoff hitter Cheong (Richmond Hill, Ont.) walked and stole second base to begin the game.

Royal Blue starter Tate Carey (Windsor, Ont.) answered Cheong’s aggressive base-running with a strikeout of right-fielder William Polanco (Laval, Que.), but the New Blue second baseman was allowed to score on a sacrifice fly for an early 1-0 lead.

Starter Matthew Brown (Carlisle, Ont.) worked a scoreless frame in his first half-inning for New Blue, getting a ground out and two strikeouts.

Cheong continued to impress after drawing a walk in his second at-bat, successfully stealing second and third, and eventually scoring on a single by Jorge Valdes (Milton, Ont.) to give New Blue a 2-0 lead.

Cheong credits his speed for his successes.

“I run everywhere – I never walk,” Cheong said post-game, outside the New Blue dugout. “If I get on base, I try to turn a single into a triple, right?

“That’s my motto, and I just [try to do] the small things.”

Royal Blue threatened in the bottom of the third inning after Quincy Jenkins (St. Albert, Alta.) reached on a throwing error by third baseman Eric Machej (Okotoks, Alta.) and stole second base.

Royal Blue shortstop Brendan Lawson (Toronto) drew a walk to put runners on the corners, but they’d travel no further as Benito Bonilla (Halifax, N.S.) grounded out to end the inning.

The fourth inning saw pitching changes for both teams as Royal Blue’s Reid Clague (Victoria, B.C.) entered to replace Carey, who went three innings, allowing one hit, two earned runs, while walking four and striking out three.

New Blue’s Josiah Romeo (Caledon, Ont.) came in to relieve Brown who pitched three innings, allowing no runs, one hit, while striking out four.

Clements (Vancouver, B.C.) entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the fifth and roped a double. The shortstop, who was named Player of the Game, wasn’t happy with his at-bats earlier in the day but was grateful to bounce back in Game 2.

“The first game I just wasn’t seeing the ball deep and wasn’t comfortable,” Clements admitted on the field, postgame. “Once I got comfortable and going, though, it was good.”

Aidan George (Woodstock, Ont.) singled, and centre fielder Simon Baker (Cochrane, Alta.) drew a walk to load the bases in the bottom of the inning.

After a ground out by Jenkins scored Clements to cut the New Blue lead in half, Royal Blue took advantage of a throwing error by catcher Matt MacDonald, scoring George to tie the game at two.