Power goes out but Shin, Team Black shine in 13-5 win
Great Lake Canadians and Team Black shortstop Carter Shin (Burlington, Ont.) talks with Team Light Blue shortstop William Moore (Paris, Ont.) during a 13-5 Black win at the Canadian Futures Showcase at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Park in Ottawa on Friday. Photo: Mark Colley.
September 23, 2022
By Mark Colley
Carleton University
When the Canadian Futures Showcase is held at the Rogers Centre, players and scouts enjoy a number of benefits. Beyond the major league facilities, the temperature is perfectly climate-controlled and there is no threat of rain.
Another perk of playing where the Toronto Blue Jays play is that the stadium almost always has power.
On Friday at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Park in Ottawa, nearly all of those perks were absent.
The power was out at the ballpark and the surrounding area. Even when power was restored to the Marriott hotel next door, where players were staying, the problem persisted at the stadium. Players had no access to the clubhouse and the 7 p.m. game was postponed.
A Hydro Ottawa utility truck is seen in the outfield during a 13-5 Team Black win at the Canadian Futures Showcase at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Park in Ottawa on Sept. 23. The power was out for most of the day and the 7 p.m. game was postponed. Photo: Mark Colley.
Despite the challenging atmosphere — including frigid weather — shortstop Carter Shin (Burlington, Ont.) shined through. He had a 2-for-2 night and walked twice in a 13-5 win for Team Black over Team Light Blue.
“I was just trying to put some good swings on the ball, just finish the week on a good note,” said Shin, who plays for the Great Lake Canadians.
Shin led the game off with a single in the top of the first, coming around to score the first run of the game after a pair of errors and a walk. Team Black went on to score three runs in the frame, but Light Blue answered with four runs in the bottom half of the inning thanks to a two-run triple from Anthony Clavet (Quebec City, Que.).
Team Light Blue second baseman Anthony Clavet (Quebec City, Que.) slides into third base during a 13-5 loss to Team Black at the Canadian Futures Showcase at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Park in Ottawa on Sept. 23. Photo: Mark Colley.
While Black went on to score two runs in the second, five in the third and three in the fifth, Light Blue only scored one more run.
That was thanks to Black’s bullpen. Lucas Laukkanen (Nanaimo, B.C.) was the first reliever to come in, pitching a perfect inning, then Sam MacLaughlin (Toronto, Ont.) tossed two innings of one-run ball. Ethan Wolf (Duart, Ont.) and Jack Ferguson (Otonabee, Ont.) combined to pitch three innings of one-hit ball to finish the game.
Extra hitter Iyah Ansari (Stoney Creek, Ont.) went 2-for-2 with a walk and an RBI in the win. Light Blue’s Elijah Olaybal (Langley, B.C.) walked all four times he came to the plate.
Team Light Blue centre fielder Elijah Olaybal (Langley, B.C.) fouls off a ball in a 13-5 loss to Team Black at the Canadian Futures Showcase at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Park in Ottawa on Sept. 23. Photo: Mark Colley.
Shin, who went 3-for-6 in two previous games, said he entered the showcase feeling “a little nervous” because of all the scouts.
“But after you’ve had a couple ABs, you get into it. It’s just baseball,” Shin said. “I think I figured that out and the good swings started to come.”
Shin was selected for the Prospects Game on Saturday.
“It’s just an incredible privilege with all these great players from across all of Canada, all the different provinces,” he said. “I’ve met a lot of great people here and it’s just a phenomenal experience.”