The Men’s National Softball Team will kick-off its 2019 season by competing in the Kelowna May Days Fastpitch Tournament at Kings Stadium from May 17-20
Softball Canada is pleased to announce the list of thirty-seven (37) athletes who will be attending the Men’s National Team Development Camp this weekend (June 8-10) in Innerkip, Ontario.
Kelowna, B.C. - Team Canada began its journey towards the WBSC Men's Softball World Championship with an 11-1 exhibition game win over Andre's Merchants from Kelowna. The Canadian pitching tandem of Devon McCullough (Saskatoon, Sask.) and Patrick Burns (Saskatoon, Sask.) was dominant in the circle, with McCullough earning the win with three hitless innings and striking out eight while Burns allowed a run on two hits and 10 strikeouts in four innings of relief.
Canada opened the scoring with a run in the second when Kyle Ezekiel (Holyrood, N.L.) drew a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on a single by Ryan Boland (St. John's, N.L.). Ezekiel and Boland were at it again two innings later as they started the fourth with back-to-back doubles to push Canada's second run in to score, with Bradley Ezekiel (Harbour Main, N.L.) smashing a two-run homerun to give the red and white a 4-0 lead. Canada loaded the bases with one out in the fifth before Bradley Ezekiel singled in a run and a second runner crossed the plate on a ground out by Mathieu Roy (St-Gervais, Que.). Canada put the game away by scoring five runs in the top of the seventh, highlighted by a two-run double by Roy, an RBI single by Jeff Ellsworth (St. Lawrence, P.E.I.) and two more runs scored on errors.
Bradley Ezekiel led Canada offensively by going 2-for-4 with a homerun and three runs batted in, while Ryan Boland had a double and three singles and drove in two. Blake Hunter (Nanaimo, B.C.) had two hits including a double and Ellsworth had a pair of singles and an RBI. Roy chipped in with a double and three runs batted in.
Kelowna, B.C. - Team Canada defeated the Grande Prairie Pirates - the host of the 2019 Men's Canadian Championship - by a score of 18-1 in exhibition action ahead of the Kelowna May Days Tournament.
Canada jumped out to an early lead when Tyler Pauli (Mitchell, Ont.) connected with a three-run homerun in the second inning. In the third, Jason Hill (St. John's, N.L.), Patrick Burns (Saskatoon, Sask.), Shane Boland (St. John's, N.L.) and Bryan Abrey (Richmond, B.C.) started the inning with four consecutive singles to bring in a run, and after another run crossed the plate on a fielder's choice, Kyle Ezekiel (Holyrood, N.L.) hit a two-run double to give Canada a 7-0 lead. Steve Mullaley (Freshwater, N.L.) delivered a three-run shot later in the inning.
In the fourth, Kyle Ezekiel hit a three-run blast with Mullaley, Hill and and Burns later connecting for three consecutive homeruns. Kris Walushka (Victoria, B.C.) singled and scored on a double by Abrey to round out the scoring.
Sean Cleary (Harbour Main, N.L.) picked up the win in the pitcher's circle for Canada.
Kelowna, B.C. - Canada's bats kept rolling in exhibition action in the nightcap of a doubleheader, defeating the Vernon Installers 10-0.
Kris Walushka (Victoria, B.C.) got the red and white on the board quickly by leading off the bottom of the first with a solo homerun. The following inning, Jeff Ellsworth (St. Lawrence, P.E.I.) walked and scored on a triple by Patrick Burns (Saskatoon, Sask.) before Ryan Boland (St. John's, N.L.) hit a two-run homerun. Later in the inning, Walushka hit an RBI double and scored on a single Blake Hunter (Nanaimo, B.C.), who went on to score on a wild pitch. Ellsworth led off the bottom of the third with a homerun to give Canada an 8-0 lead, with Hunter adding a two-run blast in the fourth to complete the scoring.
Scott Lieph (Sooke, B.C.) was the winning pitcher for Canada.
Kelowna, B.C. - Team Canada opened the Kelowna May Days Tournament with a 13-0 win over Andre's Athletics.
Devon McCullough (Saskatoon, Sask.) fired a no-hitter, while Mathieu Roy (St-Gervais, Que.), Bradley Ezekiel (Harbour Main, N.L.) and Shane Boland (St. John's, N.L.) each connected with homeruns.
Kelowna, B.C. - Canada earned its second win of the Kelowna May Days Tournament with a 9-0 win over the PG Big Guy Lake Kings.
Team Canada's pitching was at its very best once again as Scott Lieph (Sooke, B.C.) fired Canada's second no-hitter in as many games, striking out 11 of the 15 batters he faced in the five-inning win. The only blemish was a leadoff walk in the third with the next batter grounding into a double play.
Offensively, Canada jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Tyler Pauli (Mitchell, Ont.) led off with a walk and scored on an error. After an RBI double by Jeff Ellsworth (St. Lawrence, P.E.I.), Patrick Burns (Saskatoon, Sask.) hit a two-run homerun followed by a solo blast by Blake Hunter (Nnaimo, B.C.).
Canada added to its lead in the fourth when Kyle Ezekiel (Holyrood, N.L.) drew a leadoff walk, moved up to third on a double by Pauli and scored on a groundout. Ellsworth then hit a two-run shot to right to give Canada an 8-0 lead. The following inning, Hunter led off with a single and moved to third on a pair of wild pitches before scoring on a ground out to complete the scoring.
Kelowna, B.C. - Team Canada improved to 3-0 with another shut out win, defeating the Sooke Loggers 6-0.
Sean Cleary (Harbour Main, N.L) got the start in the pitcher's circle and limited Sooke to only one hit - a two-out single in the second inning. Canada opened the scoring in the second when Jeff Ellsworth (St. Lawrence, P.E.I.) led off with a single, moved up to second on a single by Shane Boland (St. John's, N.L.) and later scored on a ground ball. The following inning, Bradley Ezekiel (Harbour Main, N.L.), Derek Mayson (North Vancouver, B.C.) and Steve Mullaley (Freshwater, N.L.) hit three consecutive singles to plate a run, with Shane Boland later hitting a two-run single to increase the lead to 4-0. Mullaley added a two-run double in the fifth.
Kelowna, B.C. - Team Canada opened the playoff round with a 14-0 win over the Vernon Installers.
Canada opened the scoring in the top of the first as leadoff hitter Mathieu Roy (St-Gervais, Que.) walked and later scored on a single by Steve Mullaley (Freshwater, N.L.), who stole second and scored on a single by Jason Hill (St. John's, N.L.). Kyle Ezekiel (Holyrood, N.L.) led off the following inning with a homerun to increase the lead to 3-0. In the third, Blake Hunter (Nanaimo, B.C.) led off with a double and scored on a single by Hill, who came around to score on a double by Patrick Burns (Saskatoon, Sask.). Tyler Pauli (Mitchell, Ont.) brought Burns home with a single and scored on a double by Kris Walushka (Victoria, B.C.) as Canada took a commanding 7-0 lead.
The red and white doubled the score by scoring seven runs in the fourth. Hunter doubled and scored on a two-run homerun by Mullaley, followed by a walk and a pair of singles to score another run before Walushka hit a three-run blast. Roy doubled and scored on a single by Bryan Abrey (Richmond, B.C.) to round out the scoring.
Scott Lieph (Sooke, B.C.) got the pitching start for Canada and allowed no runs on a hit and two walks, striking out seven in four innings.
Kelowna, B.C. - Canada moved on to the Kelowna May Days Tournament final with a 13-2 win in a semi-final matchup against the Grande Prairie Pirates. Canada led 4-2 after five innings of play but exploded for nine runs in the sixth.
Both teams were held off the scoresheet over the first two innings before Canada got on the board with four runs in the top of the third. Ryan Boland (St. John's, N.L.) led off with a walk later followed by a single by Mathieu Roy (St-Gervais, Que.) before Bradley Ezekiel (Harbour Main, N.-L.) hit a three-run homerun. Derek Mayson (North Vancouver, B.C.) followed with a walk and scored on a double by Jason Hill (St. John's, N.L.).
Grande Prairie cut the lead in half on a two-run homerun by Keegan Arcand in the bottom of the fifth, but Canada's bats woke up in the sixth. After three consecutive walks to load the bases, Bradley Ezekiel hit a grand slam to put Canada up 8-2. Canada loaded the bases again on a double by Steve Mullaley (Freshwater, N.L.), a walk and a hit by pitch before Shane Boland (St. John's, N.L.) hit a two-run single. Bryan Abrey (Richmond, B.C.) followed with a big three-run blast, with Kris Walushka (Victoria, B.C.) reaching on a single and scoring on a single by Bradley Ezekiel to complete the scoring.
Devon McCullough (Saskatoon, Sask.) picked up the win in the pitcher's circle, allowing two hits and three walks to go along with seven strikeouts in four innings of work. Scott Lieph (Sooke, B.C.) came on in relief in the bottom of the fifth and allowed two runs on two hits, striking out five in two innings.
Team Canada fell behind 7-0 in the first inning before storming back to defeat the Toronto Batmen 10-7 in a five-inning game. Sean Cleary (Hrbour Main, N.L.) had a rough start giving up seven runs on seven hits including a pair of home runs as Canada fell behind early, but he settled in and allowed only one hit over the next four innings to earn the win.
Patrick Burns (Saskatoon, Sask.) led off the bottom of the second with a single and scored on a single by Jeff Ellsworth (St. Lawrence, P.E.I.) to get Canada on the board. The following inning, Derek Mayson (North Vancouver, B.C.) drew a leadoff walk and scored on a double by Steve Mullaley (Freshwater, N.L.) who later crossed the plate to cut the lead to 7-3. In the fourth, Mathieu Roy (St-Gervais, Que.) and Bradley Ezekiel (Harbour Main, N.L.) both singled and scored on a three-run home run by Mayson to pull Canada within one. Mullaley singled before Burns hit a two-run blast to put Canada ahead 8-7, with Bryan Abrey (Richmond, B.C.) later adding a two-run shot of his own to complete the scoring.
Canada jumped out to an early lead in the first inning as Mathieu Roy (St-Gervais, Que.) led off with a walk and moved up to third on a single by Bradley Ezekiel (Harbour Main, N.L.) before scoring on a ground out by Blake Hunter (Nanaimo, B.C.). Patrick Burns (Saskatoon, Sask.) later singled to bring Ezekiel in to score and give Canada a 2-0 lead. The following inning, Canada added six runs to its lead highlighted by a three-run home run by Burns and an RBI single by Jason Hill (St. John's, N.L.).
The Batmen scored a run in the bottom of the second, but Canada got it back in the third when Roy hit a run-scoring single to plate Kris Walushka (Victoria, B.C.). After the Batmen scored another run in the third, Hunter crossed the plate on a fielder's choice and Shane Boland (St. John's, N.L.) hit a solo home run to give Canada an 11-2 lead. The Batmen scored one more in the bottom half of the fourth but that was as close as they would get.
Scott Lieph (Sooke, B.C.) got the start for Canada and allowed two runs on four hits with seven strikeouts in three innings of work. Sean Cleary (Harbour Main, N.L.) pitched two innings of relief, allowing a run on two hits and striking out three.
June 13–23, 2019
Prague / Havlickuv Brod, Czech Republic
Denmark put two runners on base with a pair walks in the top of the first inning as Sean Cleary (Harbour Main, N.L.) worked to find the strike zone, leaving both runners stranded with two strikeouts. In the bottom of the inning, Canada opened the scoring as Mathieu Roy (St-Gervais, Que.) led off with a single followed by a walk by Bradley Ezekiel (Harbour Main, N.L.) before Derek Mayson (North Vancouver, B.C.) singled to center to score Roy. Ezekiel moved up to third on the play, and crossed the plate when Steve Mullaley (Freshwater, N.L.) grounded into a fielder’s choice.
Canada took a commanding lead by scoring four runs in the bottom of the third. Roy got things going by leading off with a homerun to right, with Mayson later drawing a walk before Mullaley hit a deep drive to left for a two-run homerun. With two outs, Jeff Ellsworth (St. Lawrence, P.E.I.) worked a walk, stole second and scored on a single through the left side of the infield by Shane Boland (St. John’s, N.L.) to give Canada a 6-0 lead.
In the fifth, Denmark loaded the bases with thee consecutive one-out walks but Scott Lieph (Sooke, B.C.) struck out the next two batters, while Mullaley hit a solo shot in the bottom of the inning to end the game on the run rule.
Cleary started for Canada in the pitcher’s circle and allowed three hits and two walks, striking out seven batters in four innings to earn the win. Lieph relieved Cleary to start the fifth, walking three batters and striking out two in a scoreless inning. Mullaley led Canada offensively with a pair of homeruns four runs batted in, while Roy went 3-for-3 with a homerun, a double and two runs scored. Ellsworth tripled and scored a run, with Mayson and Shane Boland each adding RBI singles.
Canada wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as Mathieu Roy (St-Gervais, Que.) lined a single into left to lead off the game and later scored on a two-run homerun to center by Steve Mullaley (Freshwater, N.L.). Patrick Burns (Saskatoon, Sask.) followed with a double down the third base line, moved up to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single to third by Shane Boland (St. John’s, N.L.). A single by Kyle Ezekiel (Holyrood, N.L.) and a walk by Bryan Abrey (Richmond, B.C.) loaded the bases, with rookie Tyler Pauli (Mitchell, Ont.) stepping up and smashing a grand slam over the right field fence to give Canada a 7-0 lead.
The Netherlands put two runners on base with a single and a hit by pitch, but Devon McCullough (Saskatoon, Sask.) settled in and struck out the side. In the second, Blake Hunter (Nanaimo, B.C.) drew a one-out walk, moved up to third after a pair of wild pitches and scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Mullaley. After McCullough struck out the side in the bottom of the second, Kris Walushka (Victoria, B.C.) used his speed to pick up a double off the shortstop, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Kyle Ezekiel. Abrey followed that up with a solo shot to left as Canada increased its lead to 10-0.
In the top of the fourth, Bradley Ezekiel (Harbour Main, N.L.) singled up the middle and scored on a two-run blast by Hunter. Burns came in to pitch the bottom of the inning and retired the Netherlands in order to end the game.
McCullough registered the win by allowing only one hit and striking out eight in three innings, with Burns striking out two in an inning of relief. Pauli’s grand slam was the biggest of Canada’s for home runs, with Mullaley and Hunter each hitting two-run shots and Abrey adding a solo one. Burns and Walushka each had a pair of hits including a double, while Roy, Bradley Ezekiel, Shane Boland and Kyle Ezekiel each contributed a single.
Both teams were retired in order in the first, and Sean Cleary (Harbour Main, N.L.) issued a leadoff walk in the second but got a lineout, a strikeout and the runner on first was called out for leaving the base early on a steal attempt for the third out. Team Canada went down on a pair of pop outs on the infield and a strikeout to keep the game scoreless through two innings of play.
Cleary and Folkard kept the opposing batters off-balanced once again in the third. After striking out the first two batters in the fourth, Cleary allowed a single up the middle by Nick Shailes for the game’s first hit, but he struck out the next batter to end the inning. In the bottom of the frame, Mathieu Roy (St-Gervais, Que.) and Bradley Ezekiel (Harbour Main, N.L.) hit back-to-back singles before Derek Mayson (North Vancouver, B.C.) smacked a three-run blast over the centerfield fence to open the scoring and give Canada a 3-0 lead.
Australia got another leadoff walk in the top of the fifth, but Cleary retired the next three batters to leave the runner stranded. In the bottom of the inning, Kris Walushka (Victoria, B.C.) laced a one-out single to right field and later scored on a double over the left fielder by Bradley Ezekiel to increase the lead to 4-0.
The Aussie got a solo homerun in the top of the sixth to break the shutout, but Cleary retired the next two batters and sat Australia down in order in the seventh to secure the complete game win.
Cleary fired a two-hitter, allowing only one run and walking two batters while striking out 10 to earn his second win of the tournament. Mayson’s three-run homerun was the key hit Canada needed offensively, with Ezekiel’s RBI double serving as insurance. Ezekiel, Roy and Walushka all added singles and each scored a run.
