August 13, 2022

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

If the opposing team doesn’t score, they can’t win.

Team Alberta right-hander Michael Yusypchuk (Edmonton, Alta.) went a step further on Friday night, no-hitting Team BC in the semifinal of the 2022 Canada Summer Games tournament. The performance, and the victory, vaulted his team into the gold medal game on Saturday night against Team Ontario.

“I knew going into the game that BC was a very good hitting team but I was excited for the challenge,” Yusypchuk said. “My main plan of attack was to keep them off balance by mixing my pitches and getting ahead with strike one. I have to give credit to my catcher Gavin Galenza and pitching coach Harold Northcott for calling an awesome game.”

The game plan worked, as Yusypchuk had the BC hitters in knots all game long.

Designated hitter Nathan Flewelling (Innisfail, Alta.) hit a bases loaded triple in the top of the second inning to give Alberta a 3-0 lead. An RBI single by Matthew Murray (Red Deer, Alta.) made it 4-0 and that was more than Yusypchuk needed.

As the innings wore on, Yusypchuk admits it was hard not to notice the zero in the hit column on the scoreboard beyond the left field wall.

“With the hits being displayed on the big scoreboard I could see it the whole game but I was trying not to worry about it too much,” he said. “I also knew it wasn’t my goal or focus in the game. We wanted to win and make it to the gold medal game so I was trying to focus on that.”

Mission accomplished. Alberta is headed to the gold medal game at the Canada Summer Games/Canada Cup for the first time since they lost 5-1 to British Columbia in 2014. In 2009, they made it all the way to the gold medal game at the Canada Summer Games in PEI, losing 8-1 to Quebec.

Having such an impressive performance while donning the Team Alberta jersey made it even more special for the 2024 high school graduate.

“I would have to say this is probably one of my best outings and to do it with the Alberta logo on my chest was amazing,” he said. “It was truly an awesome atmosphere at the park all day with the fans and our team, so it will be a day that I remember for the rest of my life.”

The Missouri State commit became the third pitcher in tournament history to throw a no-hitter, joining David Steffler (Peterborough, Ont.) in 1997 and current Seattle Mariners prospect Ben Onyshko (Winnipeg, Man.) in 2013.

Yusypchuk describes himself as a competitor that is comfortable throwing any pitch in any count. That was on full display Friday afternoon.

Now he and his teammates are focused on finishing the job they came to Niagara to do.

“Once I saw our right fielder make that last catch, the emotions really hit me and it was truly a blur,” he said. “I was so happy and excited. I was trying to calm down, collect my thoughts and enjoy the moment with my team. Everyone was extremely fired up and excited to play for a chance to bring home a gold medal.”

To watch Saturday night’s gold medal game visit https://niagara2022games.ca/.