Diodati homers again, Ontario Black rallies to tie Ontario Green
Ontario Black catcher Owen Diodati, who honed his skills with the Great Lake Canadians, homered for the second consecutive game at T12 on Friday. Photo Credit: Great Lake Canadians/Twitter
By Warren Kosoy
Canadian Baseball Network
TORONTO – Owen Diodati is on fire, and it’s only day two of Tournament 12.
The 17-year-old from Niagara Falls hit his second home run in two games to help his Ontario Black side to a 5-5 tie with Ontario Green at the scouting showcase in the Rogers Centre on Friday.
His solo shot to right field in the bottom of the second inning was not only number two for the weekend, but he is the only person in this year’s Blue Jays’ sponsored event to leave the yard.
The lack of home runs in this tournament is not unusual -- there were only four in 2017, and just one home run in 2016.
An everyday catcher, Diodati played left field in Friday’s game for Ontario Black (1-0-1).
“It feels really good,” he said, after the game. “I’ve got a couple of pitches to hit. I’m just trying to put good swings on the ball and hit line drives and those home runs will come on their own.”
Despite Diodati’s homer, Ontario Black trailed the Green squad 5-3 going into the bottom of the seventh and final inning.
With two outs and the lead trimmed to one, Jaden Brown hit a sharp single up the middle off Owen MacNeil, scoring Dante Wright to tie the game. He was, however, picked off second base by MacNeil to end the game in a tie.
On Ontario Green’s side, Noah Case hit a bases clearing double in the sixth inning to make it 4-3 at the time. He was called upon to pinch hit with two outs, and after forcing a full count, hit a line drive that just eluded a diving Bryce Arnold at second.
Case was all smiles after getting the biggest hit of the game for Ontario Green (0-0-1), and he spoke afterwards about where this one fits in his young career.
“Maybe one of them, but hopefully it’s not going to be the biggest hit of my career,” Case said.
Ontario Green plays B.C. Orange and Alberta Red on Saturday, while Ontario Black has a single night game with B.C.