Palmerston North, New Zealand – The Canadian U18 Men’s National Softball Team secured seventh place at the WBSC U18 Men’s World Cup with a 6-1 win over Mexico. Mason McKay (Tavistock, Ont.) hit a two-run homerun in the third inning and added some insurance with a two-run single in the seventh to pace the offence, while Reese Yantzi (Shakespeare, Ont.) pitched the complete game win.
In the top of the first, McKay hit a one-out single but was caught stealing and Canada was retired in order, while Mexico got a leadoff single and a two-out walk but both runners were left stranded. Team Canada opened the scoring in the top of the third inning, as Ryan Bicknell (Prince Albert, Sask.) earned a one-out walk and came in to score on McKay’s two-run homerun over the centerfield fence, giving Canada a 2-0 lead. Mexico seemed poised to get on the board after starting the bottom of the fourth with a pair of walks, but Yantzi got two strikeouts and a fly out to center to end the threat.
After a quick fifth inning, Joey Rousseau (St-Charles de Bellechasse, Que.) drew a walk and Connor Brooks (Napanee, Ont.) hit a single through the right side of the infield, but Mexico notched a pair of strikeouts to stay within striking distance. The following inning was a big one for Mexico, as they managed a one-out triple to the right field corner and the runner crossed the plate on a single up the middle to cut the lead to 2-1. Mexico proceeded to load the bases with another single and a walk, but the next batter lined out hard to center as Yantzi escaped the inning with a one run lead.
Canada put the tight game out of reach by scoring four insurance runs in the top of the seventh. The red and white loaded the bases with no outs when Jack Becker (Drumbo, Ont.) walked, Andrew Van Boekel (Bright, Ont.) singled and Bicknell reached on a fielder’s choice. McKay lined a single up the middle to plate two runs, while Rousseau tripled to the right-center field gap to score two more as Canada took a commanding 6-1 lead. Yantzi retired Mexico in order in the bottom of the inning to notch the complete game win.
Box Score: Canada 6 vs. Mexico 1
Yantzi was great in the pitcher’s circle for Canada, allowing only one run while scattering four hits and five walks, striking out 10 batters in his seven inning complete game. McKay was the offensive star for Canada, driving in four runs with a homerun and two singles. Rousseau contributed a two-run triple, with Brooks, Van Boekel and Jackson Pegelo (Cargill, Ont.) each adding a single.
The win improved Canada’s Placement Round record to 4-0, with head-to-head wins over Mexico and Singapore meaning they have secured seventh place in the tournament. They will wrap up the World Cup with a game against Denmark (0-3) at 1:00pm local time on Saturday (7:00pm EST on Friday). For more information including schedules, live scoring and streaming, visit the tournament website at https://u18mswc.wbsc.org/en/2020.
In the top of the first, McKay hit a one-out single but was caught stealing and Canada was retired in order, while Mexico got a leadoff single and a two-out walk but both runners were left stranded. Team Canada opened the scoring in the top of the third inning, as Ryan Bicknell (Prince Albert, Sask.) earned a one-out walk and came in to score on McKay’s two-run homerun over the centerfield fence, giving Canada a 2-0 lead. Mexico seemed poised to get on the board after starting the bottom of the fourth with a pair of walks, but Yantzi got two strikeouts and a fly out to center to end the threat.
After a quick fifth inning, Joey Rousseau (St-Charles de Bellechasse, Que.) drew a walk and Connor Brooks (Napanee, Ont.) hit a single through the right side of the infield, but Mexico notched a pair of strikeouts to stay within striking distance. The following inning was a big one for Mexico, as they managed a one-out triple to the right field corner and the runner crossed the plate on a single up the middle to cut the lead to 2-1. Mexico proceeded to load the bases with another single and a walk, but the next batter lined out hard to center as Yantzi escaped the inning with a one run lead.
Canada put the tight game out of reach by scoring four insurance runs in the top of the seventh. The red and white loaded the bases with no outs when Jack Becker (Drumbo, Ont.) walked, Andrew Van Boekel (Bright, Ont.) singled and Bicknell reached on a fielder’s choice. McKay lined a single up the middle to plate two runs, while Rousseau tripled to the right-center field gap to score two more as Canada took a commanding 6-1 lead. Yantzi retired Mexico in order in the bottom of the inning to notch the complete game win.
Box Score: Canada 6 vs. Mexico 1
Yantzi was great in the pitcher’s circle for Canada, allowing only one run while scattering four hits and five walks, striking out 10 batters in his seven inning complete game. McKay was the offensive star for Canada, driving in four runs with a homerun and two singles. Rousseau contributed a two-run triple, with Brooks, Van Boekel and Jackson Pegelo (Cargill, Ont.) each adding a single.
The win improved Canada’s Placement Round record to 4-0, with head-to-head wins over Mexico and Singapore meaning they have secured seventh place in the tournament. They will wrap up the World Cup with a game against Denmark (0-3) at 1:00pm local time on Saturday (7:00pm EST on Friday). For more information including schedules, live scoring and streaming, visit the tournament website at https://u18mswc.wbsc.org/en/2020.
