Juniors tie Australia at World Cup Selection camp

Infielder Dylan O’Rae (Sarnia, Ont.) went 1-for-3 with two runs and two stolen bases for the Junior National Team in their 4-4 tie with Australia in Bradenton, Fla., on Monday. Photo: Baseball Canada

September 5, 2022

Baseball Canada

The Junior National Team Selection Camp moved down to Tampa Bay, Fla., earlier this week as the Juniors look to ramp up the workouts in preparation for the WBSC 2022 World Baseball Cup.

This last portion of the camp will feature three exhibition games against international competition where Canada will face off against the United States, Australia and Chinese Taipei.

Junior National Team 4 Team Australia 4

The Junior National Team battled Team Australia to a 4-4 tie in Bradenton, Fla., in the second exhibition game of the Selection Camp in preparation for the WBSC 18U Baseball World Cup.

The JNT scored four runs on eight hits.

Reece Usselman (Langley, BC) started for the Juniors and worked three scoreless innings, limiting Australia to two hits and a walk while striking out four. Chase Marshall (Surrey, BC) was the first out of the bullpen. He came in to pitch two strong innings in which he permitted one run on one hit, while walking two and striking out two.

After a short rain delay, Jack Pineau (Thunder Bay, Ont.) toed the rubber for the juniors and struck out four and allowed only an unearned run in two innings. Zak Szabo (Whitby, Ont.) came in to close out the game, but his outing was cut short when he was hit by a comebacker after only 2/3 of an inning. Szabo was fine after the play, but was taken out as a precautionary measure.

Offensively, the juniors were led by Myles Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) and Sam Shaw (Victoria, BC) who both collected two hits each. Dylan O’Rae (Sarnia, Ont.) provided a spark at the top of the lineup with a 1-for-3 performance. He also scored two runs and swiped a pair of bags. Sam White (Aurora, Ont.) also had a good day at the plate, going 1-for-3 with an RBI. Deiten Lachance (Sherbrooke, Que.) had an RBI double in the bottom of the second inning, which was the only extra-base hit for the juniors.