Juniors close out group phase at U18 Pan Am Championship with win over El Salvador
The Junior National Team closed out the group phase of the U18 Pan American Championship with a 13-0 win over El Salvador. Photo: Baseball Canada
August 8, 2024
Baseball Canada
The Junior National Team overpowered El Salvador 13-0 in their last game of the group stage at the U18 Pan American Championship.
The lopsided victory secured second place in Group A for Canada. They finished with a 5-1 record.
The Juniors erupted for six runs in the bottom of the second inning. Their rally was capped by a Leo Cote (Ayer’s Cliff, Que.) bases-clearing double.
The Canadians added seven more runs in the third and fourth innings.
Dante Smith (Ajax, Ont.) went 1-for-2 and picked up four RBIs and scored two runs for Canada, while Simon Baker (Cochrane, Alta.) also had a hit and knocked in three.
On the mound, Canadian starter Adyn Schell (Toronto, Ont.) flirted with perfection, shutting down El Salvador’s lineup over five innings. He allowed just one hit and a walk, while striking out nine.
In total, the Canadians amassed 13 runs on 10 hits, with six different players recording RBIs.
The victory marked the third time in four games Canada has scored 10 or more runs.
Looking Ahead
The stage is set for Canada to take on Puerto Rico at the Estadio Nacional Rod Carew on Friday in a quarter-final match that can punch Canada’s ticket to the U18 Pan American Championship medal games, and in the bigger picture, a spot in the 2025 WBSC U18 Baseball World Cup.