Guatemala City, Guatemala – The Canadian U17 Junior Men’s National Team improved its record to 3-1 by defeating Panama 7-0 in five innings at the Pan American Softball Championship. Connor Brooks (Napanee, Ont.) fired a one-hitter to earn the win in the pitcher’s circle, while Owen Rahn (Durham, Ont.) and Matthew Weiler (Hepworth, Ont.) each drove in two runs to pace the offence.
Team Canada opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when Rahn hit a one-out single to left followed by a walk by Brooks before Weiler drilled a two-run double to left. The following inning, Jack Becker (Drumbo, Ont.) walked, stole second, and scored after two passed balls as Canada took a 3-0 lead. After retiring Panama in order in the first two innings, Brooks issued a leadoff walk in the third but got the next batter to pop out on a bunt attempt and struck out the following two batters.
In the bottom of the fourth, Canada loaded the bases on two walks by Becker and Mason McKay (Tavistock, Ont.) and a hit by pitch to Brock Fencott (Belleville, Ont.) before Rahn hit a two-run single to right, increasing the lead to 5-0. Panama broke up the no-hitter with a two-out single in the top of the fifth, but the runner was thrown out trying to steal second, and Canada put the game away in the bottom of the inning. Brody Fraser (Upper Nine Mile River, N.S.) was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and scored on a single up the middle by Xavier Daneau (St-Celestin, Que.) after he had moved up to second on a passed ball. Joey Rousseau (St-Charles-de-Bellechasse, Que.) then lined a triple over the centerfielder’s head to score Daneau and end the game on the run rule.
Box Score: Canada 7 vs. Panama 0
Brooks only allowed a hit and a walk and struck out six batters in the five inning win. Rahn had two hits and drove in two runs to lead Canada offensively, with Weiler adding a two-run double. Rousseau hit an RBI triple and Daneau produced a run-scoring single.
With the win, Canada is currently tied with Argentina and Mexico atop the round robin standings with 3-1 records. Mexico will play Panama later today, followed by a key matchup for medal round positioning and World Cup qualifying between the United States (1-2) and Guatemala (2-1). Canada will face Argentina in an important game at 5:00pm CST on Thursday (6:00pm EST). Live streaming is available on the Pan American Softball Facebook page, with Softball Canada providing live GameChanger scoring for all of its games. The event can also be followed through the WBSC Americas social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the #U17SoftballPanam hashtag, as well as the Softbol Guatemala Facebook page.
Team Canada opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when Rahn hit a one-out single to left followed by a walk by Brooks before Weiler drilled a two-run double to left. The following inning, Jack Becker (Drumbo, Ont.) walked, stole second, and scored after two passed balls as Canada took a 3-0 lead. After retiring Panama in order in the first two innings, Brooks issued a leadoff walk in the third but got the next batter to pop out on a bunt attempt and struck out the following two batters.
In the bottom of the fourth, Canada loaded the bases on two walks by Becker and Mason McKay (Tavistock, Ont.) and a hit by pitch to Brock Fencott (Belleville, Ont.) before Rahn hit a two-run single to right, increasing the lead to 5-0. Panama broke up the no-hitter with a two-out single in the top of the fifth, but the runner was thrown out trying to steal second, and Canada put the game away in the bottom of the inning. Brody Fraser (Upper Nine Mile River, N.S.) was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and scored on a single up the middle by Xavier Daneau (St-Celestin, Que.) after he had moved up to second on a passed ball. Joey Rousseau (St-Charles-de-Bellechasse, Que.) then lined a triple over the centerfielder’s head to score Daneau and end the game on the run rule.
Box Score: Canada 7 vs. Panama 0
Brooks only allowed a hit and a walk and struck out six batters in the five inning win. Rahn had two hits and drove in two runs to lead Canada offensively, with Weiler adding a two-run double. Rousseau hit an RBI triple and Daneau produced a run-scoring single.
With the win, Canada is currently tied with Argentina and Mexico atop the round robin standings with 3-1 records. Mexico will play Panama later today, followed by a key matchup for medal round positioning and World Cup qualifying between the United States (1-2) and Guatemala (2-1). Canada will face Argentina in an important game at 5:00pm CST on Thursday (6:00pm EST). Live streaming is available on the Pan American Softball Facebook page, with Softball Canada providing live GameChanger scoring for all of its games. The event can also be followed through the WBSC Americas social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the #U17SoftballPanam hashtag, as well as the Softbol Guatemala Facebook page.
