Juniors beat Blue Jays Academy scout team 14-9 in second game of Selection camp

Sam Shaw (Victoria, BC) had two walks a a run for the Junior National Team in their 14-9 win over the Toronto Blue Jays Academy Scout Team on Wednesday in Ajax, Ont. 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 Wednesday, the JNT overcame a late deficit to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays Academy Scout Team 14-9 in a 12-inning exhibition game.

Hugh Pinkney (Toronto, Ont.) got the juniors on the board with a clutch three-run double in the top of the fourth inning. They added one more run in the inning when Keegan O'Hearn (Oshawa, Ont.) drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 4-2.

The TBJ Academy battled back to take a 7-5 lead through seven innings, but the juniors would rally again. An RBI single from Tyrus Hall (Victoria, BC) tied the game 7-7 in the top of the ninth. Two innings later, Max Hartman (St. Albert, Alta.) would give the JNT a 10-7 lead with a two-run double to dead centre field. The JNT finished with a bang when Myles Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) and O’Hearn smashed home runs to make the final 14-9.

Felix Morin (Quebec City, Que.) was the starting pitcher for the juniors and he struck out five and allowed two unearned runs in three innings. Jack Pineau (Thunder Bay, Ont.) was the first out of the bullpen. He, too, worked three full frames. He allowed one earned run on four hits, while striking out two. Parker Burgess (Douro-Dummer, Ont.) closed out the contest for the juniors, working the last three innings, permitting one earned run on one hit, while fanning three.