Baker, Wallace propel Team Royal Blue past Team Black

ABC right-hander Jacob Wallace (Pincourt, Que.) went two scoreless innings to help Team Royal defeat Team Black in the second game at the Canadian Futures Showcase at Rogers Centre on Wednesday. Photo: Carter Smith

September 20, 2023

By Jake Schulz

Centennial Sports Journalism

TORONTO, Ont. -- If the first game of Team Royal Blue’s Canadian Futures Tournament is anything to go by, expect dynamic chemistry from the young squad.

They came out swinging in the opening moments against Team Black, eventually taking a 6-3 victory.

Simon Baker (Cochrane, Alta.) hit a single in the top of the first and stole second while Brendan Lawson (Toronto, Ont.) was at bat. Lawson was walked along with teammate Benito Bonilla (Halifax, N.S.) by Team Black starting pitcher Sam Maclaughlin (Toronto, Ont.) early in the first to load the bases.

West Toronto U18 left-hander Sam Maclaughlin (Toronto, Ont.) pitched three innings for Team Black in the second game of the Canadian Futures Showcase at Rogers Centre on Wednesday. Photo: Carter Smith

This set up Oliver Clements (Vancouver, B.C.) as he hit a two-run double off Maclaughlin, allowing Baker and Lawson to score to give Royal Blue a 2-0 lead early in the first.


Lawson, who is currently ranked No. 1 on the Canadian Baseball Network’s 2024 Draft List, spoke highly of his teammates after the game.

“We have a really good team here,” said Lawson, who finished the game with one RBI, a hit, and a strikeout. “This is a fun group to play with. It’s amazing being around so many great players.”

The bats did not stop in the first, as the team chemistry carried on into the second with two plays that looked virtually identical.

Royal Blue’s Riley Kwak (Abbotsford, B.C.) hit a long double to left-centre field as Keegan Drinkle (Maple Ridge, B.C.) did the same to bring Kwak home to make the score 3-0.

With Drinkle on second, and Baker walked by Maclaughlin, Lawson doubled on a fly ball to centre field to bring the catcher home and add onto their lead with their fourth run in just two innings.

Bonilla grounded out next, which allowed Baker to score as Team Royal Blue added their fifth tally.

Baker had three hits, two runs and stole two bases on the afternoon.

RHP Jacob Wallace (Pincourt, Que.), who is currently ranked No. 4 on the CBN 2025 Draft List, had an effective outing for Team Royal Blue in his two innings of action, striking out four members of Team Black, with just one hit on 21 pitches.

He was awarded ‘Player of the Game’ for his performance.

Lawson believes that his team can go unbeaten.

“I think we’re going to win every game this week,” he said.

For Team Black, Tim Piasentin (Coquitlam, B.C.) hit a double to right field to bring Cantwell home to give his team their first run of the game.

Lucas Alberti (Toronto) had a productive afternoon, after he stole two bases, one of which was home plate in the bottom of the fifth inning to give Team Black two runs on the afternoon.

He also scored on a hit from Cantwell in the last inning to make the score 6-3.

Maclaughlin, who saw three innings of action on Wednesday, threw 65 pitches while striking out six and allowing five hits.