Elliott WWBA Day II: Clark, Marzec, Shapiro, Shoemaker, Spoljaric, Ziegler

Great Lake Canadians and Junior National Team member RHP Calvin Ziegler (Heidelberg, Ont.) sat at 95 MPH pitching the Ohio Warhawks to victory at Perfect Game’s World Wood Bat championship in Fort Myers.

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

It’s one thing going into an event ranked the top high school arm in Canada.

It’s another living up to the billing.

Great Lake Canadians Calvin Ziegler did that and then some.

RHP Ziegler (Heidelberg, Ont.) pitched three scoreless innings as the Ohio Warhawks registered a 12-1 win over the San Diego Padres Scout Team on Day II of Perfect Game World Wood Bat tournament in Fort Myers, Fla.

Ziegler allowed one hit and walked one, as he struck out four, with his fastball clocked at 95 MPH. He threw 48 pitches (64% for strikes). It was 1-0 when Ziegler left before the Warhawks broke it open with an 11-run sixth.

Of his 48 pitches 34 were 90 MPH or better. Ziegler had four at 90 and 91 MPH, three at 92, nine at 93, seven at 94 and nine at 95. He retired three hitters on fly balls and two on ground balls, in addition to the four strikeouts.

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RHP Matt Marzec (Burlington, Ont.) pitched five scoreless as the Ontario Blue Jays helped shut out the Team Louisiana 1-0.

Marzec gave up two hits and a walk as he struck out five for the win. He was consistently in the 82-85 MPH range. He threw 57 pitches (64% strikes) in his outing.

RHP Ryan Wells (Caledon, Ont.) earned the save with two scoreless for coach Mike Steed (Burlington, Ont.), allowing a walk and striking out one. He pitched in the 81-83 MPH range in his 25-pitch session (64% strikes).

RF Cole Patrick (Markham, Ont.) and 3B Nelson Mercado (Brampton, Ont.) had the only two hits for the winners, with Aiden McAskie (Toronto, Ont.) knocked in the game’s only run.

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Two Great Lake Canadians arms combined to put up four zeros as the Brewers Langley Blaze beat the St. Louis Pirates 2021 5-1.

LHP Caleb Clark (Orillia, Ont.) took over in the fourth with the game tied 1-1, working two hitless, scoreless frames. He fanned one and walked one in his 40 pitch games (57% strikes). He topped out at 89 MPH.

LHP Adam Shoemaker (Cambridge, Ont.) took over with a 5-1 lead allowing one hit, striking out a pair. Shoemaker threw 28 pitches (60% strikes) and hit 88 MPH.

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RHP Turner Spoljaric (Lisle, Ont.), of the Toronto Mets, pitched three innings for Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team in a 3-3 tie with the Premier Baseball Scout Team

Spoljaric allowed three hits and two walks, while fanning three. He worked consistently in the 88-90 MPH range. His outing consisted of 64 pitches (50% strikes).

LHP Mitchell Bratt (Newmarket, Ont.), of the Mets, got the start and gave up two runs on three hits and two walks, while whiffing three. He threw 45 pitches (64% strikes) as his fastball was in the 87-90 MPH range.

Hitting clean-up 1B Caden Shapiro (Toronto, Ont.) of the Mets had a run-scoring single.

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RHP Dominic Teoli (Montreal, Que.) of the TNXL Academy, recorded the save as the Canes American/Dodgers Scout Team edged Power Baseball 2021 5-4.

Teoli retired two hitters and allowed a run. He was clocked at 86 MPH in his 16 pitches (62% strikes.)