Czech Republic Hands Canada its First Loss of U18 Men’s World Cup

February 24, 2020

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Palmerston North, New Zealand – The Canadian Junior Men’s National Softball Team suffered its first loss by dropping a 9-2 decision in six innings to the Czech Republic at the WBSC U18 Men’s Softball World Cup. The Czechs scored in each of the game’s six innings, while Canada had several chances to score but was unable to get the key hits at the right time.
 
The Czech Republic opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning, getting a two-out walk with the runner advancing to second on a wild pitch before scoring on a single through the right side of the infield. In the bottom of the inning, Joey Rousseau (St-Charles de Bellechasse, Que.) singled to center with two outs and stole second but the Czech starting pitcher struck out the side. The Czech Republic added to its lead with a homerun to lead off the top of the second and scored another run later in the inning on a two-out RBI single to take a 3-0 lead. Jackson Pegelo (Cargill, Ont.) led off the bottom of the second with a deep fly ball off the centerfielder’s glove for a two base error but Canada was unable to move him any further.
 
In the top of the third, the Czech Republic got a leadoff double on a sinking line drive to right and the runner moved up to third on a passed ball before scoring on a single to left. Max Major (Delisle, Sask.) led off the bottom of the frame with an infield single and advanced to third on a single over the first baseman by Rousseau to put runners on the corners, but Rousseau was caught stealing at second and the next batter grounded out as Canada was held off the scoreboard. The Czech Republic got an inside-the-park homerun with two outs in the top half of the fourth to extend its lead to 5-0.
 
Looking to get Canada back in the game, Pegelo lined a single into right field to lead off the bottom of the fourth and Jack Becker (Drumbo, Ont.) walked to put two runners on base with one out. After a strikeout for the second out, pinch hitter Brock Fencott (Belleville, Ont.) hit a ground ball that was missed by the second baseman allowing pinch runner Owen Rahn (Durham, Ont.) to score from second. Major singled off the pitcher to load the bases, but a strikeout to the next batter held the score at 5-1. The Czech Republic got a leadoff single in the fifth and the runner advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a ground out before scoring on a fielder’s choice to extend their lead to 6-1.
 
Connor Brooks (Napanee, Ont.) reached on an error with one out in the bottom of the fifth followed by a walk by Pegelo and a single off the pitcher by Mason McKay (Tavistock, Ont.) as Canada loaded the bases once again. However, a pair of strikeouts left the bases loaded for the second straight inning. The Czech Republic offence kept producing in the sixth drawing a pair of walks before a three-run homerun put them ahead 9-1. Xavier Daneau (St-Celestin, Que.) led off the bottom of the sixth with a single to left, moved up to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single past the second baseman by Major. Pinch hitter Tyler Branchaud (Metcalfe, Ont.) singled over the first baseman, but a pair of strikeouts and a fielder’s choice ended the game on the run-ahead rule.
 
Box Score: Czech Republic 9 vs. Canada 2

 

Reese Yantzi (Shakespeare, Ont.) got the ball in the pitcher’s circle for Canada, yielding five runs (four earned) on seven hits and four walks, striking out eight batters in four innings. Nathan Running (Innerkip, Ont.) relieved Yantzi in the fifth, allowing four runs (three earned) on two hits and three walks in an inning and a third, while Brody Fraser (Upper Nine Mile River, N.S.) pitched two thirds of an inning issuing one walk. The Canadian offence produced nine hits in the game but they were all singles, led by Major who contributed with three. Rousseau had a pair of singles, while Branchaud, Pegelo, McKay and Daneau each chipped in with one.
 
The loss dropped Canada to third place in Group A with a 2-1 record, while the Czech Republic jumped up to second with a 2-1 record as well. Team Canada will be looking to bounce back with a key game against first place Australia (3-0) at 5:00pm local time on Tuesday (11:00pm EST Monday). Other earlier scores on the third day of the tournament saw Argentina beat South Africa 6-1 and Australia blanked Singapore 11-0.
 
For more information including schedules, live scoring and streaming, visit the tournament website at https://u18mswc.wbsc.org/en/2020

 

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For more information, please contact:

Gilles LeBlanc
Manager - Marketing & Communications
Softball Canada
p: (613) 523-3386 ext. 3105 | m: (613) 795-1996
w: www.softball.ca | e: gleblanc@softball.ca