McKenna, Poirier, Piasentin, Rompré shine for Juniors in loss to Blue Jays

From left to right: Mathis McKenna (Rigaud, Que.), Justin Rompré (Sainte-Anne-De-La-Perade, Que.) and . Max Poirier (Nanaimo, BC) were standouts for the Junior National Team in their 5-3 to a team of Toronto Blue Jays prospects on Monday. Photo: Baseball Canada

April 21, 2025

By Eugenio Matos

Baseball Canada

The Junior National Team came up short after a late rally, eventually falling 5-3 to the Toronto Blue Jays Extended squad.

The Canadians got on the board in the third when Phillip Cheong (Richmond Hill, Ont.) delivered a sacrifice fly that scored Finn Hoeschen (North Vancouver, BC), who led off the frame with a single.

On the mound, Mathis McKenna (Rigaud, Que.) worked three innings and limited damage to one run despite some early traffic. Max Poirier (Nanaimo, BC) punched out two over three solid innings of relief.

Justin Rompré (Sainte-Anne-De-La-Perade, Que.) launched a solo homer to left in the fourth — his first of the trip — in his 1-for-3 performance, to put Canada in front, 2–1.

The Blue Jays would bounce back and manufacture a run to tie the game in the fifth and added three runs in the seventh to take control.

Tim Piasentin (Coquitlam, BC) had a two-hit game and continues to swing a hot bat.

The Juniors battled until the last out, scratching across a final run in the ninth after Taye Thierman (Calgary, BC) walked, moved up on a single by Elliot Lascelles (Toronto, Ont.), and came home on a passed ball.

The Juniors are back in action on Tuesday as they will hit the road to face the New York Yankees Extended squad at the Yankees’ Player Development Complex in Tampa, Fla.