Elliott: Ontario Jays go 4-1 in Georgia led by Ellert, Sugimoto, Marzec, Watt, White
By Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network
Leaving Florida, the Ontario Blue Jays wondered what would happen when they reached Marietta, Ga.
After all, they were entering the 368-team 2021 Perfect Game World Wood Bat 2022 Grads 17U National championship at the TOP Chops East Cobb Complex.
Mike Steed’s travelling road show went 4-1 to finish second in pool play.
LHP Liam Watt (Burlington, Ont.) won the opener.
Liam Watt (Burlington, Ont.) was dominant in the opener as he pitched two outs shy of a complete game as the Ontario Blue Jays beat the 5 Star 17U Puerto Rico 11-2, with Myles Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) hitting a two-run homer in the second inning.
SS Manny Alberto (Aurora, Ont.) doubled, singled and knocked in a pair of runs, while RF Cole Patrick (Markham, Ont.) had two hits as did CF Lucas Vincent (Stouffville, Ont.), who also knocked in two runs.
Watt pitched 4 1/3 innings allowing two runs on two hits and a walk. He struck out six in his 57-pitch outing (as he threw 68% strikes), averaging 80-82 MPH.
3B Sam White (Aurora, Ont.) doubled to drive in a pair, while 1B Blake Jolicoeur (Whitby, Ont.) and Corey Morro (Cheltenham, Ont.) each singled.
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The Ontario Blue Jays moved to 2-0 with a 5-3 win against Hit Factory Futures 2022.
Kansai Sugimoto (Mississauga, Ont.) started allowing three hits and two walks, while striking out 10 in 3 2/3 innings. Sugimoto worked consistently in the 89-92 mph range. Sugimoto threw 80 pitches (60% strikes).
Danny Farsalas (Aurora, Ont.) took over and earned the win as he allowed two hits and a walk, striking out four batters in 2 1/3 innings. He sat consistently in the 80-83 mph range. He threw 33 pitches (69% strikes).
Alberto and White led the way for the Ontario Blue Jays offence ... Alberto was 3-for-3 with an RBI, while White was 2-for-3 with two doubles. White is hitting .600 through two games.
Vincent hit a three-run homer, while Morro doubled, as Jordin Limnidis (Milton, Ont.) and Patrick each singled.
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The Ontario Blue Jays rolled on to a 3-0 record by steam rolling the East Coast Royals 17U 12-0 with Matt Marzec (Burlington, Ont.) on the mound. Marzec earned the win, allowing one hit and walking three, while striking out three in four innings. Marzec worked consistently in the 80-83 mph range and threw 62 pitches (58% strikes) in his complete game outing.
Alberto was 3-for-4 with a grand slam in the second inning. Alberto was hitting .800 through the first three games.
White was 3-for-3 with a fourth-inning two-run homer and four runs scored. White was hitting .750 through three games. CF Vincent was 2-for-2, with an RBI and hitting .625 through three games.
INF Alex Ellert (White City, Sask.)
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Jeff Tiw (Burlington, Ont.) worked three innings as the Ontario Blue Jays moved to 4-0 with a 10-2 victory against the Diamond Devils 17U Hummers. Tiw allowed two hits and a walk, while fanning four. Tiw was in the 81-85 mph range throwing 49 pitches (61% strikes).
Ethan Malicki (Oakville, Ont.) pitched two scoreless striking out a pair. Malicki worked consistently in the 77-80 mph range throwing 25 pitches (59%).
Dylan Shepherd (Barrie, Ont.) had a pair of hits, while Jolicoeur and Patrick each doubled. RF Jackson Somerville (Burlington, Ont.), Evan Ashe (Acton, Ont.), Benicio Diaz (Maple, Ont.), Matthew Sargeant (Ancaster, Ont.), White and Morro each had a hit each. Somerville drove in a pair, while White, Vincent, Shepherd, Sargeant, Morro and Diaz also knocked in runs.
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Quinn Tavares (Mississauga, Ont.) worked 5 2/3 innings, departing with a 3-2 lead, but the Dallas Tigers 17U Polk scored three times in the seventh for a 5-3 win handing the Ontario Blue Jays their first loss.
Corey Morro (Cheltenham, Ont.)
Tavares gave up six hits and walked one, while striking out two. Tavares sat at 85-88 mph range. He threw 95 pitches (56% strikes).
Somerville and Ellert each doubled driving in a run. Ellert was hitting .667 through three games. Morro singled in a run. Morro was hitting .444 through four games. White and Naylor had the other hits.
Kael Clarkson (Minesing, Ont.) allowed the tying run and Farsalas gave up a pair in his outing.
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Team Ohio Pro Select 16u was winning 3-0 over the Ontario Blue Jays when play was called in the bottom of the third.
James Wilson gave up three hits and four walks, striking out two in two innings. Wilson hit 83-85 mph with his fastball.
Patrick had the only hit for the Ontario Blue Jays. He was hitting .417 through six games.
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To wrap things up the Ontario Blue Jays edged Northeast Pride National 7-5 in an exhibition game.
Matthew Sargeant (Ancaster, Ont.),
Losing 5-4 heading into the bottom of the sixth, Sargeant singled to centre. An out later Vincent walked and Jorge Valdes (Milton, Ont.) reached on an error, allowing the tying run to score. Then White wrapped things up with a two-run double.
Tiw picked up the win with a scoreless inning. Clarkson allowed an unearned run in his outing, while Watt worked 2 2/3 innings allowing one run and fanning four. Sugimoto started and was touched for three runs in 1 1/3 innings.
Naylor hit a three-run homer in the third and Ellert hit a solo homer in the fifth. Ellert was hitting .714 through four games. White meanwhile was hitting .563 through six games.
Patrick and Valdes each doubled, while Sargeant singled.
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White leads all hitters this summer with a .443 average with 11 doubles, three triples, a homer and 20 RBIs.
Next is Ellert (.438, two doubles, triple, homer, eight RBIs), Sargeant (.414, three doubles, seven RBIs), Scott (.414, three doubles, a homer, 10 RBIs) and Ashe (.412, two RBIs).
Believe it or not, coach Mike Steed’s staff has not allowed an earned run this summer. Wowser. Watt was top dog pitching in 24 innings with four walks and 32 strikeouts.
The next best four were: Marzec (19 1/3 innings, nine walks, 22 strikeouts), Clarkson (13 2/3 innings, seven walks, 13 whiffs), Sugimoto (16 2/3 innings, seven walks, 24 strikeouts) and Tiw (17 innings, 12 walks, 21 strikeouts).
Pool A
PCT W-L-T RA RS
1. Dallas Tigers 17U Polk 1.000 6-0-0 8 47
2. Ontario Blue Jays .800 4-1-0 12 41
3. Team Ohio Pro Select 16u .700 3-1-1 21 18
4. East Coast Royals 17U .583 3-2-1 33 25
5. Steel Scout 2022 .583 3-2-1 8 26
6. Hit Factory Futures 2022 .250 1-4-1 19 13
7. 5 Star 17U Puerto Rico .167 1-5-0 52 22
8. Diamond Devils 17U Hummers .000 0-6-0 47 8