IXTAPA – The Canadian Junior National Baseball Team held a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the ninth, but Mexico were able to score a pair of runs and take a 5-4 win in the semi-finals of the America's World Junior Qualifier.

This was a highly contested match-up between both teams that was played in torrential conditions as rain fell threw most of the game, making the field slippery and muddy.

The Canadians took a 2-0 lead to in this game with a run in the fourth inning and one in the sixth inning. Brett Lawrie of Langley, B.C. scored both runs on RBIs from Leslie Williams of Scarborough, Ontario and Chad Stang of Surrey, B.C.

The Junior team pitchers held the Mexicans to no-hit thru seven innings. Phillippe Aumont of Gatineau, Québec started the game and threw three perfect innings, registering five strikeouts in his outing.

Colin Buckborough of Niagara Falls followed by throwing four no-hit innings before plunking Ramon Navarrete and walking Adan Velazquez in the eighth inning. He left the game with both runners on one out to Stosh Wawrzasek of Langley, B.C.

The Mexicans were able to capitalize on an error and two base hits to score three runs in the eighth to take a 3-2 lead.

The Canadians retook the lead in the top of the ninth when Michael Crouse of Port Moody, B.C., who reached on a single, came in to score on a bases loaded single from Brett Lawrie. Carter Bell of Courtenay, B.C., who reached on a walk, came around to score on a wild pitch. The Juniors now held a 4-3 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth.

But that lead would not last long as the rainy conditions contributed to four walks by Canadian pitchers and which scored the tying run and a wild pitch allowed the winning run to score.

Now the Junior National Team msut get ready to face the United States for the bronze medal on Saturday, September 1. The U.S. fell to Cuba in the other semi-final by a score of 3-2.

BASEBALL CANADA – 31 August 2007