September 18, 2019

By Andy Clark

Canadian Baseball Network

Pitching was the difference as Team Orange ran away from Team Black on Wednesday afternoon in game three of Tournament 12, playing this week in front of pro and college scouts from across North America.

The four Team Orange pitchers combined to toss a seven-inning, 9-0 shutout, something Theo Millas, RHP from Burnaby, B.C., focused on post-game.

“It was a great start, first game coming out here, everyone’s putting up zeros,” said Millas, who went two innings with four strikeouts. “It was a good mark that we hopefully can obtain throughout this whole tournament.”

Lefty Connor O’Halloran, of Mississauga, started the game off strong, with seven strikeouts in just three innings. He allowed only a single hit and was followed by Millas, Noah Takacs, from Victoria, B.C., and Cedric De Grandpre, of St-Simon, Que.

O’Halloran, son of a former Major Leaguer and currently ranked as the best Ontario prospect of the 2020 class, was humble after his strong start.

“It’s just cool to play in a place where you came to watch games as a kid, and now you're playing here in front of all these people watching you, evaluating you every time you throw a ball,” said O'Halloran.

The left-hander was calm and efficient with 35 of his 53 pitches being strikes. While he doesn't throw as hard as Millas, he was painting the outside of the zone throughout the game making most batters swing and miss.

“I'm always trying to throw strikes,” he said. “I’m always trying to get people out quick. That's what I tried to do today, get two strikes and put him away.”

Millas also had a comfortable outing, pitching two innings striking out all three of the first batters he faced. His fastball was clocked as high as 89. The Louisiana State University commit made one of the furthest trips for Tournament 12, coming all the way from Burnaby.

“It means a lot, to recognize talent from B.C. It’s my third year here and every year I'm grateful,” said Millas,

Prior to this year's Tournament 12, both players would have never played on the same squad. This is the first time athletes from different provinces have been on the same team together.

“I like it -- a lot of different players bonding. Last year it was really just your province so I like the idea of it (now),” Millas said, post game.