Hermosillo, Mexico – The Canadian U18 Men’s National Team lost its first game of the Super Round on Thursday, dropping a 4-1 decision to Japan. Team Canada outhit Japan 7-6, but a string of three consecutive hits to score three runs in the bottom of the second was enough for Japan to hold onto for the win.
 
Canada got the game’s first hit in the top of the first when Adrian Green (Carbonear, N.L.) hit a hard ground ball that took a bad hop into the shortstop’s chest with two outs, but he was retired on a fielder’s choice to end the inning. In the second, Alex McGillivray (Durham, Ont.) led off with a single and was sacrificed to second, but the next two batters struck out. In the bottom of the frame, Japan got a leadoff walk and after the next two batters were retired, three straight singles led to three runs scored to take a 3-0 lead.
 
In the top of the third, Blake Brubacher (Newton, Ont.) led off with a walk and Green singled off the pitcher, but Canada once again could not score as the three other batters struck out. McGillivray led off the fourth with a single and was left stranded, then the following inning Brubacher led off with a single but was later thrown out at the plate trying to score from second on a single by Green on a perfect throw from the left fielder.
 
McGillivray gave Canada some life in the top of the sixth by hitting a homerun to left to cut the lead to 3-1, but Japan responded with a solo shot of their own with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. Canada was retired in order in the top of the seventh to end the game.
 
Box Score: Japan 4 vs. Canada 1
 
Cohen Christner (New Hamburg, Ont.) got the start in the circle for Canada, allowing three runs on three hits in an inning and two thirds. Nate Thiessen (Surrey, B.C.) allowed one hit and struck out two in an inning and a third of relief, with Nic Neid (Terrace, B.C.) allowing a run and two hits with three strikeouts over the final three innings. Green and McGillivray both went 3-for-3 for Canada, with Brubacher getting the other hit.
 
Team Canada (1-2) will square off against the United States (2-1) in the Super Round Friday at 5:00pm local time (7:00pm EST). Earlier in the day on Thursday, Australia (1-2) edged Venezuela (0-3) 4-3 and in the late game Mexico (3-0) beat the United States 8-1.