Young delivers key hit to lead Team Roberto Alomar to win in Prospects Game

Langley Blaze C/OF Russell Young (Surrey, B.C.) scores the sixth and final run for Team Roberto Alomar to seal a 6-1 victory over Team Sandy Alomar Sr. in the T12 Prospects Game at Rogers Centre on Saturday. Photo: Marcus Rebelo

Sept. 21, 2019

By James Sutherland

Canadian Baseball Network

Russell Young stuck to his game when the pressure was on and it paid off.

Young, of Surrey, B.C., made the key play in what ended up being a decisive 6-1 win for Team Roberto (Alomar) in Saturday’s Prospects Game at Tournament 12, lining a single that brought in three runners to score in the fifth inning.

"I was just trying to stick to my approach,” he said in a post-game interview. “It's worked for me in the past, and I knew it would work for me under the spotlight here. It worked out in my favour."

Young, 17, was making his second appearance at T12, and really enjoyed the changes made this year. Rather than teams made up by province, they were randomly assembled.

"Obviously the new format is different. I like it as it's more of a showcase style instead of coaches managing to win,” he said. “We have more of an opportunity to show our own game. It was a great experience.”

A member of Team B.C. at the Canada Cup this past summer, the catcher used that experience to his benefit as he was prepared to face some familiar foes at the plate.

“Canada Cup was awesome. I got to see a lot of arms that I saw here, so I had more of an approach on the pitchers."

Fieldhouse Pirates Bryce Arnold (Grimsby, Ont.) provided the only offence for Team Sandy (Alomar Sr.) in Saturday’s T12 Prospects Game, hitting a triple in the first inning before coming in to score on a single by fellow Fieldhouse Pirate Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.). Photo: Tyler King

Bryce Arnold, of Grimsby, Ont., provided the only offence for Team Sandy (Alomar Sr.), hitting a triple in the first before coming in to score on a single from Owen Caissie, of Burlington, Ont.

"I was looking fastball,” he said. “He made a few fastballs I missed early in the count, dropped some breaking balls that were in the zone, and I knew a fastball was coming. So I jumped all over it when I could."

Arnold is a player who enjoys playing under the lights, and feels the experience of playing here will benefit him moving forward as he’ll begin college ball next fall at Campbell University.

"(These experiences) help me a lot, actually. Playing in front of all the pro scouts is very nerve-wracking, but I'm able to deal with it,” he said. “So once I go to Campbell, I'm going to be able to play in front of the pro scouts when they come to our games too."

Ontario Terriers INF Elijha Hammill (Oakville, Ont.) continued to showcase his speed in Saturday’s T12 Prospects Game, swiping two more bases to bring his tournament total to nine. Photo: Tyler King.

In the third inning, Elijha Hammill, of Oakville, Ont., continued to show off his running ability, stealing second and third to ultimately tie the game up 1-1 for Team Roberto. He finished the tournament with nine stolen bases.

Shortly afterward, a wild pitch from Team Sandy pitcher Maddux Mateychuk, of Dominion City, Man., allowed Tyson Gomm to come in and score what was ultimately the winning run.

Gomm, of Mississauga, Ont., was named the Tournament’s Most Valuable Player, finishing with a batting average of .500.

"It's pretty awesome. I came here to play hard,” said the 16-year-old. "I was just trying to go out and play my game, show the scouts what I can do."