Alexandre Denis had four hits — three doubles, two RBIs — as the Laval Pirates 440 Chevrolet won its opener.

July 1, 2021

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

The first ball game of the season in the province of Quebec was at Parc St-Laurent at the 11U age grouping.

The Brewers de Jonquiere edged Cardinals de Jonquière 6-5 on June 14. That same night the Cardinals beat Phillies de Chicoutimi 12-10.

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Also the same night the Saguenay Lac-Saint-Jean loop kicked off with the Royaux hammering Angels de St-Honoré 11-1 at Petit terrain St-Honoré in 16U.

Royals de Jonquière beat Athlétiques Alma 14-4 at Stade Richard-Desmeules in 21U play.

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First game in each province

PLAY BALL !: Coffin-continues to drive the Chevies in PEI

PLAY BALL II: Cloverdale opens BC, Coquitlam sweeps, Deagle goes deep

PLAY BALL III: New Brunswick underway _ Mudcats, Alpines, Cats, Cards win

PLAY BALL IV: Prairie Pirates had no Chantze against Price, Sask5 Giants

PLAY BALL V: 75th season kicks off at St. Pat’s Ball Park in St. John’s

PLAY BALL VI: Foothills off to fastest start in Alberta, Sergent gives orders

PLAY BALL VII: Lafleur has perfect night, Bourassa, Denis, Picard also excel

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The Laval-Laurentides-Lanaudière team got the Quebec triple-A midget development league off to a good start with an 11-4 triumph over Lac St-Louis on June 15.

Samuel Lafleur was 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs, while Charles Lavigne doubled in three runs. Louis-Félix Anderson, Maxime Fortin, Renaud Godon and Joel Ouellette also knocked in runs.

Jérémy Claveau picked up the win pitching 2 1/3 innings allowing one run as he struck out six. Claveau threw 58 pitches (36 for strikes). Jacob Théroux-Duguay worked 1 2/3 scoreless and Luc-Olivier Melançon pitched two innings, allowing three runs.

Lac St-Louis was led by Carlos Velasquez, who had a 3-for-3 day, including a triple, and knocked in a run. Brett Goldenberg doubled as well.

Timothy Moritt worked two innings and allowed six runs on four hits and two walks.

Laurentides scored on a double by Lavigne in the first, a ground ball by Renaud Godon in the second inning, and a single by Anderson in the second inning.

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Philippe Bourassa doubled with two outs in the seventh to tie the game and then scored on an outfield error in Laval’s Pirates 440 Chevrolet in a 12-11 win over the Gatineau Tyrants in the Quebec Elite Junior League opener at Sancartier Park.

Alexandre Denis and Frédéric Achard-Groleau scored on Bourassa’s drive. Reliever Gabriel Archambault picked up the victory pitched 2 2/3 innings, allowing two hits.

The Pirates scored seven runs in the second, but the Tyrants came back with nine points. Besides three RBIs from Bourassa, Alexandre Denis had four hits, including three doubles and two RBIs. Félix Achard-Groleau, Johan Quezada and Maxime Fortin all had two hits in the win.

Vincent Picard drove in three for Gatineau. Frédérick Lanouette allowed three unearned runs in two innings and charged with the loss.

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A seven-run second powered the Charlesbourg Alouettes to a 9-5 victory against the Diamants de Québec in LBJEQ play. It was win No. 1 for manager Josué Peley, while Diamants new skipper, Quebec Capitales pitching legend Karl Gelinas, suffered his first loss.

Thomas Drouin, Rafael Boutin and Jean-Nicolas Lebrun each had two RBIs in the win, while Antony Gilbert produced the other.

Reliever Gabriel Boucher recorded the win pitching 2/3 of an inning in relief for Charles-Antoine Pépin.

Diamonds’ Thomas Couture was tagged for seven earned runs on four hits in 1 1/3 innings. Émile Boies and Olivier Dubuc each had two RBIs for the Diamonds.