Hughes' triple sparks Team Grey to win over Team Navy
A triple by Ontario Blue Jays outfielder John Hughes (Mississauga, Ont.) in the first inning helped Team Grey defeat Team Navy 7-1 on Thursday morning at the Canadian Futures Showcase at Rogers Centre. Photo: Toronto Blue Jays Academy/Twitter
September 21, 2023
By Shaelyn Winters
Centennial Sports Journalism
TORONTO – Centre fielder John Hughes’ triple in the first inning boosted Team Grey’s confidence as they defeated Team Navy 7-1 on Thursday morning at the Canadian Futures Showcase at Rogers Centre.
With runs scored by Antonino Spencer-Thompson (Bradford, Ont.) and Andrew Bishop (Kitchener, Ont.) to open the game and build an early 2-0 lead, Hughes (Mississauga, Ont.) followed with the three-bagger to right-field.
“It feels great just to be here,” Hughes said after the game. “You know, right away just looking to do damage.”
While two additional runs and a stolen base earned the outfielder a Player of the Game nod in his first showing of the tournament, the 17-year-old hitter already had a plan for the rest of the week.
“Yesterday (watching the game), or two days ago [at] the showcase, [it was] a little more nerve-racking. But today it’s pretty good, settled down,” Hughes said. “Play hard, keep attacking. Stay confident.”
Outfielder Spencer-Thompson, contributed two runs of his own, while second baseman Will Moore (Paris, Ont.) had an RBI and two stolen bases.
Pitcher Luke Foulds (Thunder Bay, Ont.), who replaced Owen Slater (Brooklin, Ont.), in the top of the fourth earned the win for Team Grey with two hits, no earned runs and one strikeout in three innings pitched.
Ontario Blue Jays right-hander Owen Slater (Brooklin, Ont.) tossed two scoreless innings without allowing a hit for Team Grey in the first game played at the Canadian Futures Showcase on Thursday. Photo: Carter Smith Photo
Slater threw two scoreless and hitless frames, with a walk and two strikeouts.
On the Team Navy side, starting pitcher Will Hynes (Mississauga, Ont.) sought a strong opening to his week but it went a bit awry as he gave up four runs in the first inning before settling down.
The right-handed pitcher completed three innings on 53 pitches with five hits, four runs, and two strikeouts, before being replaced by Max Poirier (Nanaimo, B.C.) at the bottom of the fourth.
“It usually doesn’t happen, but I think it’s important to be able to make adjustments,” Hynes said, on his rough start. “I made a big adjustment after the first inning that really helped me for the next two innings.”
Team Navy’s only run of the game came from singles by Quinn Carson (Oakville, Ont.) and Keegan Russell (Whitby, Ont.) that allowed Robert Omidi (Mississauga, Ont.) to score in the top of the seventh inning.