Yusypchuk tosses shutout to lead Juniors past Nicaragua at U18 Pan Am Championship

Okotoks Dawgs right-hander Michael Yusypchuk (Edmonton, Alta.) tossed a complete-game shutout to lead the Junior National Team to a 1-0 win over Nicaragua at the U18 Pan American Championship in Panama City, Panama on Saturday.

August 3, 2024

Baseball Canada

PANAMA CITY, Panama — In a tense and tightly contested match, the Canadian Junior National Team emerged victorious with a 1-0 win over Nicaragua at the U18 Pan American Championship at the Estadio Nacional Rod Carew, thanks to a complete-game shutout tossed by right-hander Michael Yusypchuk.

Yusypchuk (Edmonton, Alta.) was dominant, permitting only four hits, while striking out eight, in the contest.

The Canadians scored the game’s only run in the bottom of the second inning when Leo Cote (Ayer’s Cliff, Que.) singled to lead off the inning. After Tommy Hanger (Toronto, Ont.) walked, putting runners on first and second, a fielder's choice by Mason Ault (Hamilton, Ont.) allowed Cote to advance to third. An error on the throw from second base then resulted in Cote scoring the game’s lone run.

Yusypchuk came out in the seventh inning with the game on the line and faced the heart of Nicaragua's order but maintained his composure. He struck out Ernesto Tercero looking, got Ernesto Arostegui to fly out, and induced a ground out from Angelo Sobalvarro to secure the final out and clinch a 2-0 start for Canada in the tournament.

Looking Ahead

With this win, Canada preserved its spot at the top of Group A at the U18 Pan American Championship. Team Canada will look to continue its winning ways as they take on undefeated Mexico at 3:30 p.m. E.T. at the Estadio Nacional Rod Carew on Sunday.