Cuba got a pair of base runners with two outs in the top of the first inning on a walk and a hit by pitch but the next batter grounded into a fielder’s choice. The following inning, Cuba got a leadoff single followed by a double just inside the third base line that allowed the runner to score from first, and the batter advanced to third when the left fielder misplayed the ball. The following batter hit a safety squeeze bunt to the pitcher and beat the throw to first to score the runner from third, followed by a double and a wild pitch as Cuba took the 3-0 lead.

Looking to respond in the bottom of the inning, Canada got a one-out single to right by Bryn Redhead (Leduc, Alta.) before Kyle Cowick (Sooke, B.C.) hit a towering homerun over the centerfield fence to bring Canada within one. Both teams drew a walk in the third but were unable to score, while Cuba got a pair of singles and a walk in the fourth but Canada got out of the inning unscathed. The red and white had a glorious chance to tie the game and perhaps take the lead in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases with no outs on a single to center by Bryan Abrey (Richmond, B.C.), an infield single by Redhead and a hit by pitch to Cowick. However, the next batter lined out to shortstop followed by a pair of strikeouts as Cuba escaped the inning with the lead.

After a quick fifth inning, Cuba was looking to add to its lead in the top of the sixth by putting two runners on base with a walk and a single. The next batter hit a single to left, but the runner on second was thrown out at home by Cowick from left field to keep Canada within one run. The following batter cracked a line drive near the first base line that was snagged by Patrick Burns (Saskatoon, Sask.) as Canada avoided the threat.

Canada got a pair of two-out base runners on a walk and a hit by pitch in the bottom half of the sixth but a strikeout ended the inning. In the seventh, Canada tried to make things happen late again as Kyle Ezekiel (Holyrood, N.L.) hit a one-out single in the hole at shortstop, but the next batter lined out hard to the first baseman who dove onto the bag for a game ending double play.

Scott Lieph (Sooke, B.C.) started the game in the pitcher’s circle for Canada and allowed all three runs on four hits and a walk while striking out two in an inning and two thirds. Jason Hill (St. John’s, N.L.) threw two innings and a third of scoreless relief, giving up three hits and three walks and struck out five batters. Devon McCullough (Saskatoon, Sask.) came in for the final three innings, holding Cuba to three hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Cowick’s two-run blast was the only big hit Canada could muster, with Redhead hitting a pair of singles and Ezekiel and Abrey each getting one to round out Canada’s five hits.

In the top of the first inning, Mexico got a leadoff single and the runner was sacrificed to second before scoring on a two-run homerun. A walk put another runner on base and a double brought him in to score, followed by another walk and a sacrifice bunt attempt that was thrown away at first to allow two more runs to score. A run-scoring single pushed Mexico’s sixth run across the plate. In the bottom of the frame, Kyle Ezekiel (Holyrood, N.L.) and Jason Hill (St. John’s, N.L.) hit back-to-back double to bring one run in to score followed by an RBI single by Bryan Abrey (Richmond, B.C.) as Canada chipped away and trailed 6-2 after one inning.

Canada put its first two batters on base in the bottom of the second with a walk and a single, but the next batter grounded into a double play and a runner was caught in a rundown between third and home on a passed ball for the third out. Both teams went down quickly throughout the middle innings, and Mexico added another run in the top half of the seventh to increase its lead to 7-2.

Mexico got a pair of strikeouts to start the bottom of the seventh but Canada would not go down easily. Ty Sebastian (Brussels, Ont.) pulled a double inside the left field line followed by a single to third by Kris Walushka (Victoria, B.C.) to put runners on the corners. Ezekiel singled to left to score one, followed by a double to right-center field by Hill to score two runs and cut the lead to 7-5. A single by Abrey to left scored Hill from second, and a passed ball moved the tying run to third. Bryn Redhead (Leduc, Alta.) then hit a soft liner into shallow centerfield that the second baseman ran back for and made an incredible over the shoulder diving catch to end the game.

Devon McCullough (Saskatoon, Sask.) took the loss for Canada after coming on in relief of Ryan French (Cambridge, Ont.) in the first inning. French allowed four runs on three hits in a third of an inning, while McCullough scattered three runs (two earned) on seven hits and struck out 10 batters in six innings and two thirds. Hill led the way for Canada at the plate with a pair of doubles and three runs batted in, with Abrey knocking in two runs with a pair of singles. Walushka had a double and two singles, Ezekiel a double and a single and Sebastian added a double.

Both teams got a single in the first inning but were unable to move the runners forward, and Canada opened the scoring in the bottom half of the second when Bryan Abrey (Richmond, B.C.) led off with a single, later followed by two-out singles by Ben Wideman (Fergus, Ont.) and Patrick Burns (Saskatoon, Sask.) to plate the first run of the game. The United States responded immediately with a leadoff homerun by Yusef Davis to tie the game, followed by a batter reaching on an error and a pair of singles as the Americans took a 2-1 lead. The United States added a run on an RBI groundout in the fourth but Bryn Redhead (Leduc, Alta.) brought Canada back within one in the bottom of the frame with a leadoff homerun to center. Erick Ochoa then hit a two-run homerun in the top of the fifth to give Team USA the 5-2 lead.

Team Canada got back in the game quickly in the bottom of the fifth, as Kyle Ezekiel (Holyrood, N.L.) was hit by a pitch with two outs and scored on Hill’s two-run homerun to cut the lead to one. In the top of the seventh, the United States got a runner on base on an error and was able to bring him in to score later in the inning after loading the bases with a single and a walk and scoring the insurance run on a passed ball.

That insurance run would prove to be important, as Ty Sebastian (Brussels, Ont.) was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the seventh and advanced to third on a single by Ezekiel to put runners on the corners with one out. Hill then stepped up and hit a towering drive deep to right-center field that the centerfielder seemed to catch but bobbled it against the wall, with Sebastian crossing the plate. However, there was confusion on the base paths behind him as Hill passed Ezekiel thinking the ball was caught and was called out, and Ezekiel retreated to first thinking it was a catch but the ball was thrown back to the infield and fired to second base to force Ezekiel out as the hit was ruled a single, ending the game with a 6-5 final score.

Scott Lieph (Sooke, B.C.) got the start in the pitcher’s circle for Canada and allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks over three innings of work. Ryan French (Cambridge, Ont.) allowed three runs (two earned) on only one hit and two walks, striking out seven over three innings and a third. Devon McCullough (Saskatoon, Sask.) pitched two thirds of an inning and allowed the winning run to score. Hill led Canada offensively with a homerun, two singles and three runs batted in, with Redhead adding a homerun. Burns contributed a run-scoring single, while Walushka, Ezekiel, Abrey and Wideman registered Canada’s other hits.

Mexico got on the scoreboard early when the second batter of the game doubled over the left fielder, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single. The next batter singled to right and the ball got by the right fielder to allow the second run to score all the way from first to give Mexico a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Kris Walushka (Victoria, B.C.) led off with a walk and advanced to third on a single to left by Kyle Ezekiel (Holyrood, N.L.) before scoring on a sacrifice fly to left by Jason Hill (St. John’s, N.L.) to cut the lead to 2-1.

In the bottom of the second inning, Patrick Burns (Saskatoon, Sask.) led off with an infield single, later followed by a walk and a hit by pitch to load the bases with one out. Walushka hit a two-run single to left, with two more runs scoring on a pair of wild pitches as Canada took a 5-2 lead. Mexico got one run back on an RBI ground out in the third, and the score remained the same until Mexico pulled within one run by scoring on a double with two outs in the top of the sixth inning to make the score 5-4.

Team Canada added an insurance run in the bottom half of the sixth when Walushka and Ezekiel started the inning with singles, Walushka moved up to third after tagging up on a fly ball to right and scored on a single to left Bryan Abrey (Richmond, B.C.). Scott Lieph (Sooke, B.C.) got a pair of strikeouts to begin the top of the seventh inning, and the next batter lined a hard line drive that was caught with a high leaping grab by centerfielder Ben Wideman (Fergus, Ont.) to seal the win for Canada.

Walushka was Canada’s spark plug at the top of the lineup, singling twice, driving in two runs, scoring three and drawing a walk. Ezekiel connected with a pair of single while Abrey singled in a run. Burns also notched a hit in the win. Devon McCullough (Saskatoon, Sask.) started the game for Canada and allowed three runs – two earned – on six hits and struck out three batters in three innings. Lieph picked up the win with four innings of relief, giving up a run on four hits and striking out eight.

Guatemala was able to open the scoring with two runs in the top of the second inning of the second game, producing a run-scoring triple with the runner later scoring on an illegal pitch to take an early 2-0 lead. Team Canada cut that lead in half in the bottom of the inning when Redhead led off with a double, advanced to third by tagging up on a fly out to right field and scored on a triple to the right-center field gap by Ben Wideman (Fergus, Ont.).

After Canada scored three runs to take a 4-2 lead, Guatemala had its best chance to get back in the game in the top of the sixth, loading the bases on two walks and a hit by pitch but McCullough notched two big strikeouts to end the threat. Canada padded its lead in the bottom of the inning by getting a pair of walks, a run-scoring double to center by Abrey followed by a run on a passed ball to make the score 6-2. McCullough allowed a leadoff single to start the seventh but retired the next three batters to end the game. Ryan French (Cambridge, Ont.) picked up the win in the pitcher’s circle for Canada after pitching the first five innings with McCullough picking up the two inning save.