Baseball Canada Cup Day Three

By Robert Murray, Fort McMurray Today

Saturday, August 6, 2016 3:04:00 MDT AM

British Columbia picked up a pair of important victories Friday at the 2016 Baseball Canada Cup, moving into first place in Pool A and giving themselves a chance to clinch first place i the group Saturday in their final round robin game.

In Pool B play, Nova Scotia and Québec put the pressure on Newfoundland and Labrador Friday, with each team winning their third straight game at the tournament to move into a three-way tie for first in the pool.

Game 16 British Columbia 10 Saskatchewan 4

Abbotsford’s Travis McDougall pitched a complete game five-hitter Friday against Saskatchewan, striking out six batters, allowing just four runs, two of them earned.

British Columbia got to Saskatchewan early, scoring four runs in the bottom of the second and then breaking the game further in the sixth inning with a five-run boost. Rhys Cratty and Damiano Palmegiani each hit solo home runs in the win while Jayden Knight picked up a pair of hits and three RBI in the game.

B.C. batters did well to put the ball in play, striking out just once during the entire game.

Game 17 Ontario 3 Alberta 2

Ontario continued their run of late-inning comebacks Friday morning, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to complete a comeback against Alberta.

Kimani Bailey scored on a balk with two out in the top of the seventh to put Ontario ahead for good. A complete game from Aaronn Curtis Atkins for Ontario helped secure things on the mound. The Windsor, Ont. native struck out eight batters and allowed four hits.

Tyler Black had a pair of triples, scored a run and drove in another to air Ontario’s efforts at the plate.

Game 18 Québec 4 Manitoba 0

Québec’s Jeremy Matte no-hit Manitoba through the first four and two-thirds innings Friday at Ross Hennigar Park. Robert Murray/Fort McMurrayToday/Postmedia Network

Québec secured their third straight victory at the Canada Cup Friday with a shutout of Manitoba.

Archer Brookman drove in a pair of runs on just his second hit of the tournament, while Marc Antoine Lebreux went three-for-three at the plate and scored a pair of runs. Lebrun also had a pair of stolen bases in the game. Jeremy Matte, Vikton Bergeron and Edouard Savoie threw a combined one-hitter, silencing Manitoba’s bats.

Game 19 Nova Scotia 5 New Brunswick 3

Nova Scotia celebrate a run against New Brunswick in the top of the seventh during their comeback victory Friday. Robert Murray/Fort McMurrayToday/Postmedia Network

New Brunswick’s late-inning woes continued at Shell Place Friday against Nova Scotia.

A three-run seventh inning brought Nova Scotia back from the edge of defeat and built a two-run lead they preserved, claiming a share of the Pool B lead in the process. Jake Lonar went the distance, striking out three batters and scattering five hits over seven innings of work.

Kentville’s Doug Hassell picked up a pair of hits and scored two runs, the second of which tied the game at three in N.S.’s final trip to the plate. Nathan Livingston and Keeshaun Such also scored in the seventh innings. Four Nova Scotians had multi-hit games.

Game 20 Prince Edward Island 11 Newfoundland and Labrador 2

Prince Edward Island took Newfound and Labrador by surprise in their Friday afternoon matchup at Ross Hennigar Park, scoring nine first inning runs en route to a 11-2 victory.

Logan McDougall struck out eight batters over seven innings of work, allowing three hits and a pair of walks throughout the game.

Each starter from P.E.I. scored a run in the game while all but two had a hit in the game. Chandler LaPorte had three hits in the game, scored a pair of runs and drove in three runs to aid his team’s performance as they knocked off the only remaining perfect team in the tournament.

Gabriel Penalver and Gavin Hickey each drove in a pair of runs in the game.

Game 21 British Columbia 4 Ontario 0

In a battle for first place in Pool A, British Columbia continue to flex their muscles on both sides of the ball, shutting out Ontario and guaranteeing themselves a shot at a medal.

Abbotsford’s Cade Smith struck out seven batters in the complete game victory. He allowed four hits and issued three walks in his first start of the tournament. British Columbia’s patience at the plate paid off with nine walks as they amassed their four runs with only three hits. Steven Moretto and Damiano Palmegiani each drove in runs in the game.

The win was British Columbia’s fourth in a row after losing their opening game Wednesday.

Game 22 Saskatchewan 7 Alberta 3

Saskatchewan halted a three-game losing streak by beating Alberta at Shell Place Friday evening. Alberta fell to 1-4 with the loss while Saskatchewan inched themselves up to 2-3. Brody Frerichs contributed offensively again for Saskatchewan, scoring three runs and driving in a pair of runner on three hits.

Danny Berg had a pair of hits and also drove in a pair of runs. Ryan Olchoway pitched four and two-thirds innings of two-hit ball allowing just one earned run for the win.