August 13, 2022

Ontario captures gold at the 2022 Canada Summer Games

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

WELLAND _ Ontario scored two runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back on the way to winning the gold medal at the 2022 Canada Summer Games.

Right-hander Carson Tehan (LaSalle, Ont.) of the Windsor Selects escaped a first-and-third, none-out jam in the top of the first and settled in to go 4 1/3 innings.

The Ontario offence would add nine more to secure the 11-1 win.

The biggest blow came off the bat of Toronto Mets OF Calvin Warrillow (Toronto, Ont.). With one already home in the third and up 3-0, Warrillow swatted a two-run home run off the left field foul pole.

“I was just trying to go the other way,” Warrillow said. “But I was early and I got a hold of it and did enough for it to stay fair.”

Lucas Alberti (Toronto, Ont.), Preston Barr (St. Joachim, Ont.), David Stanley (Lindsay, Ont.), BJ Peart (LaSalle, Ont.) and Warrillow, all drove in runs.

Alberta would load the bases in the top of the fourth but Tehan stayed cool under pressure, surrendering one in Alberta’s best chance to get back in the game.

Working out of the two jams were huge moments in the game for Tehan and Team Ontario.

“Our coach always talks about how when we put up runs, we can’t let runs up,” Tehan said. “And that’s what we did. I knew they were a strong hitting team and I knew we were good defensively so I let them hit.”

Vauxhall Academy Jets southpaw Brett Getz got the start for Alberta and lasted 3 1/3 innings, giving up eight runs.

Alberta takes home silver for the third time in 14 years at a 17U national championship. They previously took silver at the 2014 Canada Cup after losing 5-1 to British Columbia in Saskatoon and 8-1 to Quebec in the 2009 Canada Summer Games in Prince Edward Island.

Despite the lopsided final, it was an impressive showing for Alberta overall. They collected wins over Quebec in round-robin play and BC in the semi-final game. The performance of the tournament also came from the prairie province when RHP Michael Yusypchuk (Edmonton, Alta.) threw a no-hitter against BC to get Alberta into the gold medal game.

It’s Ontario’s first gold medal at a 17U national championship since they defeated BC 9-5 in the final of the 2018 Canada Cup in Moncton and Dieppe, New Brunswick.

Coach David Quattrociocchi is thrilled for his team, and for someone who has coached at events like this before, this one ranks at the top.

“Before the game they could smell it, they could taste it, it was right around the corner,” Quattrociocchi said. “This is the best one by far. You can’t beat the atmosphere of the Canada Games. There’s nothing better.”

With Ontario winning gold, Alberta taking silver, Saskatchewan beating British Columbia for bronze, and RHP Jaida Lee (St. John’s, Nfld.) becoming the first female to compete in men’s competition at the Canada Summer Games, the game of is alive and well across the country.

Final standings:

Gold: Ontario

Silver: Alberta

Bronze: Saskatchewan

4th: British Columbia

5th: Quebec

6th: Nova Scotia

7th: Manitoba

8th: New Brunswick

9th: Prince Edward Island

10th: Newfoundland and Labrador