Team Orange settles for tie with Team Green after injury to Archambault

Player of the game for Team Orange and Academie Baseball Canada right-hander Gabriel Archambault (Laval, Que.) struck out five batters over two innings before he was injured in the final T12 game on Thursday. Photo: Marcus Rebelo

September 19, 2019

By Andy Clark

Canadian Baseball Network

Team Orange continued on its run of pitching dominance in Thursday's 2-2 tie against Team Green at the Blue Jays Tournament 12 event.

Gabriel Archambault of Laval, Que., had five strikeouts in two innings before leaving the game after he was hit in the back of the head off a throwing error by catcher Nicholas Thibodeau, who was attempting to throw out a runner at second.

Archambault was able to walk off under his own power and stayed on the bench after the incident.

“I had a good reaction when I saw it was coming at me,” said Archambault on the errant throw, “I just relaxed -- I told myself relax, ‘just breathe.'”

Through two innings, Archambault pitched with control, throwing 18 of his 25 pitches for strikes.

While the Quebec native looked in command on the mound, he did admit the skill level at Tournament 12 is higher than he's used to seeing.

“Here the batters can hit your fastball a lot easier. On a travel team, or in a regular tournament the guys are not there on my fastball,” said Archambault, “but here everyone is on top of my stuff.”

Team Orange has played three games in the tournament, only allowing six runs including a shutout against Team Black Wednesday.

Archambault, who was starting his first game of the tournament on Thursday, was pleased with how he was able to adjust to the higher level talent.

“You have to go to your breaking stuff a little bit earlier in the game,” said Archambault, “so curves and changeups will come up in the second inning. In a tournament outside of this, I usually won’t go to my curveball until the fifth.”

Through three games, Team Orange has relied heavily on the talent of its pitchers, with three of the four players of the game coming from the pitching staff.

Archambault didn’t have the same velocity as some of the other pitchers on his team, but he was still confident in his approach,

“The first game we came out with four big pitchers, 90 to 92 MPH fastballs,” said Archambault, “Today [the velocity] was a lot less, like 86-88, but the guys were more calm, attacking the batter with a fastball, and coming back with a curveball.”

Archambault added that if needed, anyone on the mound could go the distance.

“I think anyone on Team Orange could throw a complete game. We are some of the best pitchers in this tournament.”