September 21, 2022

By Nick St-Denis

Carleton University

OTTAWA - Myles Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) went 2-for-3 with two RBIs to help lead Team Light Blue to a 10-5 win over Team Grey in game two of the Canadian Futures Showcase at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Park in Ottawa on Wednesday.

The Light Blue offence took a while to get going, but with nine total runs between the fifth and sixth innings they were able to pull away for the win.

Light Blue starting pitcher Nick Frers (Vancouver, B.C.) was dealing in the first two innings, going six up, six down with four strikeouts.

The third inning, however, was more of a struggle. Frers allowed two singles before a pair of throwing errors by shortstop Tyrus Hall (Victoria, BC) led to two runs scoring. The third run of the inning came home on an erratic pickoff attempt by Frers throwing to first base. Frers left the game with his team down 3-1.

For Team Grey, their starter was Matthew Donnison (Niagara Falls, Ont.). In his first inning, he allowed two baserunners, before he lost his command with four walks in the second leading while resulted in Hall scoring. Donnison responded with a three up, three down third inning, leaving the game with a piching line that read 3 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 5 BB and 5 K.

Dylan Myttenar (Vancouver, B.C.) came on in relief and pitched the fourth and fourth innings for Light Blue, allowing no hits and only one walk, with two strikeouts. He entered the game with his team trailing 3-1, and by the time he left his squad had taken a 5-3 lead, a lead they never relinquished. He was credited with the win.

When asked about his mindset coming into the game trailing, Myttenar said, “I’m just trying to do my best to get ahead in counts early, give myself the best chance to get the guy out and just get my team back in the dugout quickly”.

Myttenar tries to emulate Josh Hader of the San Diego Padres when he comes in to games as a reliever, simply trying to “throw hard and get people out”.

Speaking about the experience playing with and against other top prospects, Myttenar said: “It’s been a cool experience so far. I’m just trying to stay calm there you know, not changing my approach to get guys out.”

Owen Slater (Whitby, Ont.) came on in the fourth to pitch for Grey, and despite a few baserunners got out of the inning with his team’s lead intact. In the fifth, Slater walked the bases loaded for Naylor, whose sacrifice fly scored second baseman William Moore (Paris, Ont.) A pair of RBI singles by Cameron Macleod (North Vancouver, B.C.) and Anthony Clavet (Quebec City, Que.) followed, giving Light Blue a 5-3 lead.

Anthony Deblois (Saint-Isidore, Que.) entered the game to replace Slater, and in the sixth inning gave up a two-RBI double to Moore, and a pair of RBI singles to Matt Evans (Tillsonburg, Ont.) and Naylor to make the score 10-3. In total, Deblois allowed five earned runs on three hits and three walks.

The third pitcher for Light Blue was Cornelius Wouters (Saskatoon, Sask.), who stepped on the mound with a seven-run lead. He allowed two hits and two runs between the sixth and seventh innings, with the runs coming home on a wild pitch, and a throwing error by Wouters. He walked five batters and had two strikeouts in his two innings.

Notable statlines included William Moore with two walks to go along with his two RBI double, and Elijah Olaybal (Langley, B.C) with three walks and one RBI.

Team Light Blue takes on Team Royal Wednesday night, while Team Grey’s next game is against Team Royal tomorrow evening.