Baseball Canada Cup Day One

By Robert Murray, Fort McMurray Today

Thursday, August 4, 2016 2:59:26 MDT AM

Two Atlantic Provinces are the only undefeated teams after the first day of the 2016 Baseball Canada Cup. Newfoundland and Labrador (2-0) and Prince Edward Island (1-0) stood atop Pool B in the competition while a four-way tie added intrigue to an already competitive Pool A.

Prince Edward Island needed a massive comeback and extra innings to secure a comeback against their Maritime rivals Wednesday at Ross Hennigar Park.

Brett Platts hit a three-run home run in the top of the seventh and Gabriel Penalver knocked in a pair of runs in the top of the eighth to complete P.E.I.’s comeback bid.

Entering the game in relief, Brandon Condon pitched five strong innings for his province, allowing seven hits, but no runs in the 19 batters he faced.

Game Two: Newfoundland and Labrador 6 Nova Scotia 3

Up until the top of the sixth, Nova Scotia seemed poised to secure a win in their opening game of the tournament in the second all-Atlantic province battle of the day.

Newfoundland and Labrador had other plans though, scoring five runs in the their half of the sixth as the visitors doubled up their hosts. Lead-off hitter Daniel Rice hit a three-run home run to account for the majority of his team’s offence in the inning.

Dylan MacKenzie did all that was asked of him in two and one-third innings of work, striking out two batters and holding Nova Scotia to no hits or walks.

Game Three: Ontario 6 Alberta 4

Rishaun Daniels from Ontario slides into second base as Alberta’s LaRon Smith attempts to apply the tag on a stolen base attempt. Robert Murray/Fort McMurrayToday/Postmedia Network

One inning was all Ontario needed to top the tournament hosts Wednesday.

Ontario used a six-run sixth inning and held off a late comeback bid to top Alberta by a two-run difference.

Lucas Wepf pitched two and two-thirds innings of one-hit ball for Ontario to secure the win. He struck out six of the 11 batters he faced in the game. Cameron Dyck had started the game for Ontario as the Oakville, Ont. native struck out five batters of three and two-thirds innings.

Game Four: Saskatchewan 8 British Columbia

After getting thrashed around in the gold medal game of the Canada Cup last year, Saskatchewan got their chance at retribution and made good on it.

An eight-run fifth inning, featuring a grand slam from Brody Frerichs, quickly wrestled control of the game into Saskatchewan’s hands.

Saskatchewan held the three-time defending champions to two hits in the game while striking out seven. Connor Sparks and Logan Hoffman joined forces on the mound for Saskatchewan, with Sparks claiming the win.

Game Five: Newfoundland and Labrador 3 Québec 1

Newfoundland’s Andrew Janes delivers a pitch against Québec Wednesday at Ross Hennigar Park. Robert Murray/Fort McMurrayToday/Postmedia Network

Newfoundland and Labrador remained perfect Wednesday afternoon, shutting down Qu´bec early and never losing a close lead.

Single runs in the second, third and fifth innings secured the win while Andrew Janes shutdown Québec from the mound. Matthew Janes chipped in the opening run of the game with a single while Cole Tucker’s single scored John Cribb to put their province ahead for good in the game.

Game Six: Nova Scotia 6 Manitoba 1

Nova Scotia’s Jaden Griffin delivers a pitch against Manitoba Wednesday at Shell Place. Robert Murray/Fort McMurrayToday/Postmedia Network

Nova Scotia avoided falling into the dubious 0-2 hole with a 13-hit effort over Manitoba.

Lower Sackville’s Jaden Griffin struck out five batters and allowed just one-hit over five and two-thirds innings to help Nova Scotia find their form. Chris Ritchie and Keeshaun Such contributed to the offensive success of Nova Scotia at each juncture in the game.

Game Seven: Alberta 2 Saskatchewan 0

Alberta’s Ben Erwin delivers a pitch from the mound at Shell Place Wednesday. Robert Murray/Fort McMurrayToday/Postmedia Network

Saskatchewan got a taste of their own medicine Wednesday evening at Shell Place, suffering a shutout at the hands Alberta to even up both team’s records at 1-1.

Zach Rabe scored on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first and came home again in the bottom of the third following a double by LaRon Smith.

Spruce Grove’s Ben Erwin threw six full innings of two-hit ball while Edmonton’s David Richards threw a no-hit seventh inning for the save.

Game Eight: British Columbia 7 Ontario 0

Fynn Chester pitched a complete-game shutout of Ontario Wednesday. Robert Murray/Fort McMurrayToday/Postmedia Network

British Columbia answered the result in their first game with a shutout of their own Wednesday night, blanking Ontario. B.C. scored three runs in the bottom of the first and never looked back en route to the victory.

Finn Chester pitched a complete game shutout, striking out two and allowing four hits. Steven Moretto hit a solo home run in the victory and scored two of his team’s runs in the game.

rmurray@postmedia.com