Elliott: Kirkpatrick, Ochoa face 2021 first-rounder and win battle

Okotoks Dawgs’ RHP Boston Warkentin (Ladner, BC) started for the Langley Blaze against the class-A Los Angeles Dodgers at Glendale, Ariz.

March 21, 2022

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

Nate Ochoa and Nate Kirkpatrick faced a first-rounder at Camelback ranch in Glendale, Ariz.

And they both hit well. Ochoa (Burlington, Ont.) crushed a double and Kirkpatrick (Surrey, BC) of the Blaze hit a line drive single. Both were facing Dodgers’ first-round pick Maddux Bruns, who went 29th overall in the 2021 MLB draft.

FieldHouse Pirates INF Nate Ochoa (Burlington, Ont.) doubled off a Dodgers’ 2021 first rounder.

Lefty Bruns showed why he was a first-round pick from UMS-Wright high school in Mobile, Ala. as he struck out seven in three innings touching 96 mph. The Blaze played the Dodgers’ class-A team at the Camelback complex.

Canuck arms lit up the radar guns as ...

_ RHP Boston Warkentin (Ladner, BC) of the Okotoks Dawgs started and was clocked at 92-93 mph.

_ Anson McGorman (Parksville, BC) of the Vauxhall Academy Jets was 92-94 mph.

_ LHP Caleb Clark (Orillia, Ont.) of the Great Lake Canadians was next and hit 92 mph.

_ UBC Thunder product LHP Callum Young (Vancouver, BC) and Blaze LHP Cas Bartholomew (Delta, BC) also worked in relief.

Brock Blatter, a 6-foot-6 RHP from Billings, Mont. pitched second and was at 94-95 mph.

Ontario Blue Jays grad and Dodgers minor leaguer Max Hewitt (Midhurst, Ont.) was gracious enough to address the Langley team with an inspiring speech after the game.