Juniors down Blue Jays Academy scout team in first game of selection camp

Right-hander Zak Szabo (Whitby, Ont.) struck out seven in three scoreless innings to close out the game for the Junior National Team in their 4-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays Academy Scout Team in Ajax, Ont., on Monday. Photo: Baseball Canada

August 23, 2022

Baseball Canada

AJAX – The Junior National Team selection camp is underway in Ajax, Ont. where the Juniors have started preparations for the (WBSC) U-18 World Baseball Cup set to take place in Sarasota, Fla., from September 9 to September 18.

On Tuesday, the Junior National Team (JNT) won the first of what will be four exhibition games against the Toronto Blue Jays Academy Scout Team 4-1 in 12 innings.

Reece Usselman (Langley, BC) set the tone on the mound for the JNT, working allowing just one hit in three innings, while collecting three strikeouts. The left hander's performance was followed by three perfect innings from Kaleb Thomas (Hagersville, Ont.) who also registered three strikeouts.

Next on the rubber was Matteo Pare (LaSalle, Ont.) who also worked three scoreless frames, permitting four hits while striking out five. Zak Szabo (Whitby, Ont.) closed out the contest for the Juniors. He struck out seven and did not allow a run in three innings.

The JNT combined for five hits during the 12-inning game. Sam Shaw (Victoria, BC) and Max Hartman (St. Albert, Alta.) both collected an RBI, while going 1-for-4 and 1-for-5 respectively. No hit was bigger than Toronto native Hugh Pinkney's two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning, which gave the Juniors a 3-1 lead.

The Juniors would not look back and tack on one more to secure a 4-1 win.