Toronto Mets Gianluca Montanaro (Aurora, Ont.) had two hits, including a double and knocked in two runs as the Canadian Premier League won its opening exhibition game at Jupiter, Fla,

October 6, 2023

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

Before pool play at the Perfect Game WWBA World championship began, there was a bragging rights title to settle with an exhibition game.

The Brewers/Langley Blaze, who have been long-time participants, played an exhibition game against Canadian Premier before the start of the 25th annual event.

Jamie Romak (London, Ont.) and Corey Eckstein (Ancaster, Ont.) put a Canadian Premier League lineup together that had CF Jorge Valdes (Milton, Ont.) leading off, SS Will Moore (Paris, Ont.) batting second and 1B Gianluca Montanaro (Aurora, Ont.) hitting fourth. All three had two hits each to help Canada Premier to a 10-6 win over Langley. Moore had a run-scoring double and Montanaro doubled as well, knocking in a pair.

RF Quinn Carson (Oakville, Ont.) also doubled knocking in a pair, while LF Brodey Bitove (Toronto, Ont.) added a two-run triple. C Brayden Ricketts (Brampton, Ont.) hit a two-run single and Jonah Andrade (Oakville, Ont.) knocked in a run as well. .

RHP Makaio Cisneros (Whitby, Ont.), LHP Luca Alagheband (Toronto, Ont.), RHP Owen Slater (Whitby, Ont.) and RHP Luke Glenn (Queensville, Ont.) each had scoreless outings, while RHP Will Hynes (Mississauga, Ont.) allowed an unearned run.

DH Nolan Weinmeyer (Sidney, BC), 2B David Krahn (Langley, BC), 1B Anthony Clavet (Quebec, Que.), C Alex Thompson (Langley, BC) and C Justin Anctil (Mirabel, Que.) had one hit each. LF Benito Bonilla (Halifax, NS), RF Will Polanco-Ethier (Laval, Que.), Thompson, Anctil and Polanco-Ethier each drove in runs.

LHP Carter Germain (Maple Ridge, BC) allowed three runs on three hits and a walk.

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Langley dropped a 7-5 exhibition game to the Milwaukee Brewers Scout Team. 2B Joey Marino (Surrey, BC) had two hits, including a double, and drove in a run. 3B Zach Cavanagh (Chilliwack, BC), Keegan Drinkle (Maple Ridge, BC) and RF Will Polanco-Ethier (Laval, Que.) each knocked in a run.

Benito Bonilla (Halifax, NS) pitched a scoreless inning, hitting 88 MPH in his 14-pitch inning -- 64 per cent strikes -- allowing one hit. RHP Tristan Eberle (Regina, Sask.) allowed three runs -- two earned -- on one hit and three walks. He was clocked at 87 MPH. RHP Owen Fernandes (Maple Ridge, BC) pitched two innings giving up three runs -- two earned -- on four hits and two walks, while striking out four, hitting 87 MPH. RHP Jack Thompson (Langley, BC) gave up a run in his one inning of work.

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The 104-team tourney -- 26 pools of four teams apiece -- is staged at Roger Dean Stadium facilities in Jupiter, Fla. and is the most covered scouting event of the year.

DH Adyn Schell (Toronto, Ont.) singled and knocked in a run as Rawlings National Scout Team defeated the Sticks Brewster/White Sox Scout Team 5-3.