U-18 World Cup: Canada suffers heartbreaking loss to Netherlands

Left-hander Reece Usselman (Langley, BC) started and tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings for the Junior National Team against the Netherlands on Sunday. Photo: Baseball Canada/Twitter

September 11, 2022

Baseball Canada

BRADENTON, Florida – The Netherlands (1-1) scored three runs, all coming with two outs, in the bottom of the seventh as they stunned Canada (0-2) with a 3-2, walk-off victory at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup.

BOX SCORE - Canada 2, Netherlands 3

Canada took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh at LECOM Park after Dylan O’Rae (Sarnia, Ont.) doubled in Tyrus Hall (Victoria, BC) with a much needed run.

Reliever Félix Morin (Québec City, Que.) recorded the first two outs in the bottom of the inning before a base hit and hit batter set the stage for Jakey Josepha whose triple brought in both runners to tie the game.

The winning run scored when a grounder to Ty Hall at shortstop saw a high throw force first baseman Sam White (Aurora, Ont.) off the bag with an ensuing safe call by the first base umpire.

The loss overshadowed a tremendous start on the mound by Canada’s Reece Usselman (Langley, BC) who worked 5 1/3 scoreless innings where he allowed just two hits and struck out five batters.

Canada had opened the scoring in the top half of the fourth inning when White doubled home Hugh Pinkney (Toronto, Ont.) on a ball hit to left centre field.

Canada will play host to the U.S. on Monday at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota with the first pitch set for 7 p.m. E.T.