Guatemala City, Guatemala – The Canadian U17 Junior Men’s National Team got some great pitching and a key hit in the fifth to defeat Mexico 4-1 in the Gold medal game of the Pan American Softball Championship. Reese Yantzi (Shaskespeare, Ont.) was stellar in the pitcher’s circle limiting Mexico to only four hits, while Joey Rousseau (St-Charles-de-Bellechasse, Que.) delivered a tie-breaking three-run inside-the-park homerun to provide the offence.
 
In the top of the first, Mexico got a two-out single, but the next batter grounded out, while Canada got a leadoff single by Ryan Bicknell (Prince Albert, Sask.) followed by a hit by pitch but a sacrifice bunt, ground out and strikeout left two runners stranded. Both teams put two runners on base with a single and a walk in the second but neither team was able to open the scoring. Mexico got on the board first in the top of the third, getting a leadoff infield single with the runner stealing second, moving up to third on a passed ball and scoring on a sacrifice fly. Connor Brooks (Napanee, Ont.) lined a one-out double to center in the bottom of the inning but was caught in a rundown on a fielder’s choice on the next play.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Rousseau was hit by a pitch, stole second and took third on a ball in the dirt before scoring on a single off the end of the bat of Jack Becker (Drumbo, Ont.) that the third baseman was unable to get to, evening the score at 1-1. Mexico got their leadoff batter on base to start the fifth, but he was caught stealing at second, and Yantzi got out of the inning with a fly out and a strikeout.
 
Canada was able to break the tie in the bottom half of the fifth. Jackson Pegelo (Cargill, Ont.) hit a one-out double to right, and after a strikeout for the second out of the inning, Andrew Van Boekel (Bright, Ont.) drew a walk to put two runners on base. Rousseau then stepped up and put a charge into a deep fly ball to centerfield, with the centerfielder falling shy of the warning track and the ball hitting off his glove and to the fence, allowing both runners and Rousseau to score on the inside-the-park homerun and put Canada ahead 4-1. Yantzi allowed a two-out single and a walk in the sixth but struck out the following batter, and retired Mexico in order in the seventh to end the game.
 
Box Score: Canada 4 vs. Mexico 1
 
Yantzi earned the complete game win, allowing one run on four hits and five walks, striking out 10 batters over seven innings. Rousseau had the three-run homerun, Becker had a run-scoring single and Brooks and Pegelo each hit a double. Max Major (Delisle, Sask.) added two singles and Bicknell hit one.
 
The win gave Canada the gold medal at the tournament, winning six straight games after losing their opener to the United States. Mexico earned the silver medal, with their two only losses coming to Canada. Argentina defeated Guatemala 4-0 to win the bronze medal. All four teams will compete at the 2020 WBSC U18 Men’s World Cup in New Zealand.