Czech Republic Hands Canada its First Loss of U18 Men’s World Cup
Palmerston North, New Zealand
– The Canadian Junior Men’s National Softball Team suffered its first
loss by dropping a 9-2 decision in six innings to the Czech Republic at
the WBSC U18 Men’s Softball World Cup. The Czechs scored in each of
the game’s six innings, while Canada had several chances to score but
was unable to get the key hits at the right time.
The Czech Republic opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first
inning, getting a two-out walk with the runner advancing to second on a
wild pitch before scoring on a single through the right side of the
infield. In the bottom of the inning,
Joey Rousseau (St-Charles de Bellechasse, Que.) singled
to center with two outs and stole second but the Czech starting pitcher
struck out the side. The Czech Republic added to its lead with a
homerun to lead off the top of the second and scored
another run later in the inning on a two-out RBI single to take a 3-0
lead.
Jackson Pegelo (Cargill, Ont.) led off the bottom of the second
with a deep fly ball off the centerfielder’s glove for a two base error
but Canada was unable to move him any further.
In the top of the third, the Czech Republic got a leadoff double on a
sinking line drive to right and the runner moved up to third on a passed
ball before scoring on a single to left.
Max Major (Delisle, Sask.) led off the bottom of the
frame with an infield single and advanced to third on a single over the
first baseman by Rousseau to put runners on the corners, but Rousseau
was caught stealing at second and the next batter
grounded out as Canada was held off the scoreboard. The Czech Republic
got an inside-the-park homerun with two outs in the top half of the
fourth to extend its lead to 5-0.
Looking to get Canada back in the game, Pegelo lined a single into right field to lead off the bottom of the fourth and
Jack Becker (Drumbo, Ont.) walked to put two runners on base with one out. After a strikeout for the second out, pinch hitter
Brock Fencott (Belleville, Ont.) hit a ground ball that was missed by the second baseman allowing pinch runner
Owen Rahn (Durham, Ont.) to score from second. Major
singled off the pitcher to load the bases, but a strikeout to the next
batter held the score at 5-1. The Czech Republic got a leadoff single in
the fifth and the runner advanced to second
on a wild pitch and to third on a ground out before scoring on a
fielder’s choice to extend their lead to 6-1.
Connor Brooks (Napanee, Ont.) reached on an error with
one out in the bottom of the fifth followed by a walk by Pegelo and a
single off the pitcher by
Mason McKay (Tavistock, Ont.) as Canada loaded the
bases once again. However, a pair of strikeouts left the bases loaded
for the second straight inning. The Czech Republic offence kept
producing in the sixth drawing a pair of walks before a
three-run homerun put them ahead 9-1. Xavier Daneau
(St-Celestin, Que.) led off the bottom of the sixth with a single to
left, moved up to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single past the
second baseman by Major. Pinch hitter
Tyler Branchaud (Metcalfe, Ont.) singled over the first
baseman, but a pair of strikeouts and a fielder’s choice ended the game
on the run-ahead rule.
Box Score:
Czech Republic 9 vs. Canada 2
Reese Yantzi (Shakespeare, Ont.) got the ball in the
pitcher’s circle for Canada, yielding five runs (four earned) on seven
hits and four walks, striking out eight batters in four innings.
Nathan Running (Innerkip, Ont.) relieved Yantzi in the
fifth, allowing four runs (three earned) on two hits and three walks in
an inning and a third, while
Brody Fraser (Upper Nine Mile River, N.S.) pitched two
thirds of an inning issuing one walk. The Canadian offence produced nine
hits in the game but they were all singles, led by Major who
contributed with three. Rousseau had a pair of singles,
while Branchaud, Pegelo, McKay and Daneau each chipped in with one.
The loss dropped Canada to third place in Group A with a 2-1 record,
while the Czech Republic jumped up to second with a 2-1 record as well.
Team Canada will be looking to bounce back with a key game against first
place Australia (3-0) at 5:00pm local time
on Tuesday (11:00pm EST Monday). Other earlier scores on the third day
of the tournament saw Argentina beat South Africa 6-1 and Australia
blanked Singapore 11-0.
For more information including schedules, live scoring and streaming, visit the tournament website at
https://u18mswc.wbsc.org/en/2020.
-SC-
For more information, please contact:
Gilles LeBlanc
Manager – Marketing & Communications
Softball Canada
p: (613) 523-3386 ext. 3105 |
m: (613) 795-1996
w:
www.softball.ca | e: gleblanc@softball.ca