Kooy's clutch single leads Team Black to win, Laird stars in loss for Team New Blue
Luke Laird (Langley, B.C.), shown here on Scout Day on Tuesday, had two hits, two stolen bases and two RBIs for Team New Blue in their 6-5 loss to Team Black at the Canadian Futures Showcase on Friday. Photo: Toronto Blue Jays Academy
September 20, 2024
By Isaac Hung
Centennial Sports Journalism
TORONTO -- Trentin Kooy’s two-RBI performance led Team Black to a 6-5 victory over Team New Blue at Rogers Centre on Friday, as they finished undefeated in the 2024 Canadian Futures Showcase.
With the game tied 3-3, Kooy (Saskatoon, Sask.) delivered a game-changing two-run single in the fifth inning which scored Dryden Fuoco (Vancouver, B.C.) and Adyn Schell (Toronto), followed by an RBI ground out that gave Team Black a commanding 6-3 lead heading into the final two.
Ian Roberts (Burlington, Ont.) pitched the first three innings for Team Black, giving up a run and a hit and striking out four with four walks over 74 pitches.
Reuben Malamed (Toronto) struggled in his four innings of relief, despite striking out four. The six-foot-eight righty gave up four runs on three hits, while allowing four walks.
Landon Kauffman (Vancouver, B.C.) struck out one in the final inning to secure the win for Team Black, after playing right field in the first six.
Roen Douglas (Petrolia, Ont.) and Owen Ralph (Toronto) were also key contributors, adding one RBI respectively for Team Black.
After a three-run fifth inning by Team Black, player of the game Luke Laird (Langley, B.C.) then responded with a two-run single to right field for Team New Blue in the top of the sixth. That brought Thomas Hanger (Toronto) and Matthew Vrlak (Vancouver, B.C.) home.
“Really happy,” said Laird, who had two hits, two RBIs and two stolen bases, to earn Player of the Game. “I was struggling a little before this game so it’s good to finally get some knocks and drive some runners in.”
Tim Piasentin (Coquitlam, B.C.) also added an RBI double for Team New Blue on a line drive to right, scoring Langdyn Cummins (Vauxhall, Alta.) to tie the game 3-3 in the top of the fifth.
Cedric LeBlanc (Dieppe, N.B.) had a tough pitching performance for Team New Blue. The right-hander allowed seven walks and three runs, despite recording two strikeouts in his three innings.
Tyler Ray (Welland, Ont.) took the mound in the following four innings before Daniel Dykema (North Vancouver, B.C.) pitched for the final one, he struck out two while allowing three runs along with six walks.
Laird opened the scoring for Team Navy Blue in the second inning when he scored on a wild pitch before a single and a stolen base to put his team in front 1-0.
Team Black’s Adyn Schell (Toronto) tagged out Team New Blue’s Esteban Dessureault (Trois Rivières, Que.) as he attempted to steal third base in the top of the sixth inning. Photo: Howard Bailey
Schell responded and tied the game for Team Black on a balk after stealing a base in the bottom of the second.
Kauffman and Xavier-Raphaël Brault (Blainville, Que.) then came home after a throwing error and a wild pitch to put Team Black in front 3-1 in the same inning.
Moments later, Hanger managed to score from third on a wild pitch after stealing two bases, making it a one run game for Team Navy Blue heading into the fifth inning.