Elliott WWBA Day V: Davidson, Dawe, Devapalan, Noronha

Ontario Blue Jays’ Mateo Zeppieri (Newmarket, Ont.) had a run-scoring double in a 6-4 playoff win. Zeppieri is hitting .538 through the first five games,

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

It was playoff time at the 22nd annual Perfect Game World Wood Bat championships.

The Ontario Blue Jays led 1-0 in the top of the second and then biff, boom, bam. Suddenly they had a 6-0 lead on their way to a 6-4 win against ECB/Padres Scout Team in the first playoff game.

In round two, the Ontario Blue Jays lost 6-4 to Power Baseball 2021, despite Glenn Noronha (Mississauga, Ont.) going 3-for-4.

But to get to the second playoff game, they had to win the first. And they did it in the second as 1B Josiah Devapalan (Brampton, Ont.) led off with a single to left and C Lucas Johnson (Burlington, Ont.) walked. One out later, Noronha reached on an error with Devapalan scoring. Mackenzie Mitchell (Toronto, Ont.) greeted a reliever with a two-run single to centre and Mateo Zeppieri (Newmarket, Ont.) followed with a run-scoring double. 3B Aiden McAskie (Toronto, Ont.) singled in a run and then Zeppieri scored on an error.

Zeppieri is hitting .538 through the first five games, while Mitchell is batting .333.

Maxx Davidson (Mississauga Ont.) pitched three innings allowing one run on two hits and three walks as his fastball sat in the 80-83 MPH. He threw 64 pitches (54% strikes).

Nate Rosser (Delta, BC) threw 2/3 of an inning but allowed three runs on two hits. He struck out two in his 15-pitch outing (66% strikes).

Skipper Mike Steed (Burlington, Ont.) turned to RHP Nelson Mercado (Brampton, Ont.) to settle things down. Mercado pitched a scoreless 1 1/3 innings, walking a pair. He sat in the 85-87 MPH range.

Mitchell knocked in a pair, while Zeppieri and Nporonha each drove in one. The other hit was by 3B McAskie.

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Leading off, CF Noronha had three singles and is hitting .353 through six games. Johnson doubled and is hitting .375 through six games.

Jacob Corby (Thornhill, Ont.) pitched 2 2/3 innings allowing two runs on two hits and two walks, striking out one. He threw 50 pitches (48% strikes) and his fastball was clocked at 86 MPH.

Jeff Tiw (Burlington, Ont.) was tagged for four runs on three hits and two walks in 1 1/3 innings. In his 30-pitch game (63% strikes) his fastball was clocked at 83 MPH.

Devapalan and Johnson each doubled while Devapalan is hitting .444. Alex Ellert (White City, Sask.), Zeppieri and Mitchell drove in runs.

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Florida Burn 2021 National scored three runs in the last two at-bats for a 4-2 playoff victory against the Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team.

Toronto Mets’ RHP Turner Spoljaric (Lisle, Ont.) worked the fifth giving up one run on two hits and a walk, as he struck out one. Spoljaric was clocked at 89 MPH and threw 22 pitches (54% for strikes).

FieldHouse Pirates Nathaniel Ochoa (Burlington, Ont.) singled for the Blue Jays Scout Team.

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Great Lake Canadians RHP Tanner Dawe (London, Ont.) started for the Brewers Langley Blaze in a 10-2 loss to Baseball U. Dawe allowed only one run in two innings on two hits and three walks. He struck out a pair hitting 90 MPH in his 54-pitch outing (50% strikes).

Next was RHP Ben Roberts (Burlington, Ont.), who gave up two runs on one hit and a walk in his one inning of work. He struck out a pair, hitting 91 MPH. He threw 21 pitches (57% for strikes.

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Dallas Tigers 2021 edged Trosky National 4-3 in the consolation playoff game.

In the opener, Ontario Terriers 2B Elijha Hammill (Oakville, Ont.) was 0-for-1 and was on deck when time ran out in a 9-1 to the Canes 17U Prospects.

Hammill stole a base and scored twice in an 8-0 win against 0KBC Upperclass Prime, playing shortstop the second half of the game.

He was 0-for-2 in an 8-2 win over the East Cobb Yankees.

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The Ohio Warhawks lost their playoff game 11-2 to the St. Louis Pirates.

Great Lakes Canadians RHP Calvin Ziegler (Heidelberg, Ont.) and INF Core Jackson (Wyoming, Ont.) were with the Warhawks.

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The Canes American/Dodgers Scout Team win its first playoff game with a 6-2 victory over Team Elite/Atlanta Braves Scout Team.

South Charlotte Panthers navigated past the Canes/Dodgers 4-1 in the second round.