The Alvinston Jr. Indians and Sr. Indians hosted the Canadian Junior Men's National Team that is headed to Midland, Michigan to complete at the WBSC World Championships for U19. Our national U-19 team visited Alvinston for a friendly doubleheader, in front of 673 fans who were treated to some great fastball, in two five inning games.

 

In game 1, the Alvinston Jr. Indians tackled Canada first.  Matt Laidlaw toed the rubber for the Jr. Indians, and after walking the lead off batter, and the next batter reaching on an error, the next batter induced a double play hit, and Alvinston was able to escape the inning without giving up a run. Laidlaw was clean again in the second, allowing only one single, and his team answered in the bottom of the second inning. Brady Hogg singled up the middle, and Clay Dolbear followed with a walk.  The next batter was Brett Case, and reached first via an error to load the bases with nobody out.  Mark McNally then came to the dish and clubbed a double down the right field line, to score both Hogg and Dolbear.  Now with one out after a small running miscue, Gavin Vermeersch singled for the Jr. Indians to score McNally to make it a 3-0 lead.  

 

In the top of the third inning, Avery Arsenault walked for Canada, and Tyler Randerson tripled to centre, to score Canada's first run.  Matt Laidlaw turned things over to releif pitcher Steve Malott, who allowed Randerson to score via a wild pitch, making it 3-2 for Alvinston, but Malott settled down and ended any more threats in the inning.  In the bottom of the third inning, it was Hogg who was at it again for Alvinston.  With one out, Brady Hogg hit an opposite field line drive homerun, making it 4-2 for Alvinston.  

 

Malott and the Jr. Indians defence was perfect in the fourth, which set the stage for an exciting fifth and final inning for the fans.  Malott induced fly ball outs to the first two hitters, and the Jr. Indians were sitting pretty.  But the next hitter for Canada was Randerson, and he clubbed a hard single off of Malott's leg to get a two out rally going for Canada.  A pinch runner than sotle second base, and pinch hitter jake Bricknell made the game close, when he double into the gap, making it 4-3 for Alvinston.  The next hitter however would leave the tying run stranded when he flew out to centre, as Malott and the Jr. Indians earned an impressive 4-3 victory.  

 

Malott was credited with the win for Alvinston, in relief of Matt Laidlaw who started.  Ben Broek was the hard luck losing pitcher for Canada in the game, as he came in in relief of Cole Pavey who allowed 3 runs, in which two were earned. Broek was impressive, as his only blemish in two and one third's innings of work, was the Hogg solo homerun. He had 5 strikeouts.  

 

In game #2, Canada sent their ace, Tyler Randerson to the mound, and the young pitcher did not disappoint against the Alvinston Indians.  The Indians opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning, when leadoff batter Tyler Pauli hammered a solo homerun, making it 1-0. Joe Triest then followed with a double into the gap, but the Indians were unable to cash the second run, as the next three batters were retired.  

 

Team Canada would even the score in the second off of Indians starter Jeff Wise, as Godbent reached first via an infield single to short.  Isaac Lefebvre went into pinch run, and the Canadian speedster was a flash on the bases, as he stole second AND third base, and then went home via a pass ball to tie the contest.  

 

In the third inning however, Wise allowed back to back walks to the 8th and 9th hitters for Canada, and they made the Indians pay. The first runner was Derek Hyde, and he advanced to second via a wild pitch, and then stole third base, and scored via a pass ball.  Jake Bricknell then singled for Canada to score Sheldon Brednle, for what was now a 3-1 lead.  Canada would score one more run in the inning, as Jake Wiffen scored, making it 4-1.  

 

The Alvinston Indians had no answer to Randerson and Team Canada the rest of the way, as they had only 2 singles and one walk, as Canada went on to a 4-1 win.  Randerson earned the win for Canada, allowing one earned run over five complete innings, with 4 hits, 1 walk, and 10 strikeouts.  Wise suffered the loss for Alvinston, while Jeff Lyons was effective in relief for the Indians.  

 

Two great games of ball for the fans in Alvinston on a beautiful Monday night for ball.  Good luck to Canada at the U-19 World Championships in Midland, Michigan, July 24-30.  Thanks to the almost 700 fans who packed the bleachers in Alvinston for some great fastball!