August 8, 2023

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

Brendan Lawson put on a display in Hoover, Ala. under the Wednesday night lights.

SS Lawson (North York, Ont.) of the Ontario Blue Jays led off the game with a triple to right and later drove in a run as the ECP Dodgers battled the ECP Pirates to a 6-6 tie at the annual East Coast Pro Showcase.

CF Daniel Nori (Toronto, Ont.) of Northville, Mich., led off for the Pirates going 1-for-3 with a single.

In Game 2, Lawson again led off in a 7-2 Dodgers’ win over the ECP Braves. He singled in the third and was hit by a pitch in the seventh.

Next, Lawson didn’t start Game 3, but he pinch hit and knocked in the game winner with a run-scoring fly ball as the Dodgers edged the ECP Mariners 5-4. Great Lake Canadian RHP Tate Carey (Windsor, Ont.) pitched two scoreless.

Carey allowed one hit. His outing went like this as he recorded the first out on a grounder, the next man reached on an error and then a single before a 6-4-3 double play got him out of the jam.

In the sixth, he hit the lead-off man, struck out the next hitter and then turned a comebacker into a 1-6-3 double play.

Lawson went 2-for-3 as the Dodgers thumped the ECP A’s 14-3 with a run-scoring single in the third and another in the fifth.

In the four games -- the first look scouts have to bear down on 2024 draft choices -- Lawson was 6-for-11 (.545) with five RBIs in the four games.

Nori was 1-for-4 with a double, a run batted in and two stolen bases in an 8-8 tie against the Athletics.

He doubled, singled and stole a base in a 4-3 loss to the ECP Padres.

Nori didn’t play in a 4-2 win over the Braves, yet in the other three games was 4-for-10 (.400) with two RBIs and three steals.

Next for draft hopeful -- Lawson and Carey -- is a trip to the Area Code Games in San Diego. Also joining them will be Ontario Blue Jays RHP Matt Brown (Carlisle, Ont.).

Lawson has committed to the Florida Gators and Brown is headed to Oklahoma State, while Carey is uncommitted.