JUNIORS TRIUMPH
OVER NICARAGUA

Ixtapa – The Canadian Junior National Baseball Team scored three runs in the sixth inning to take the lead for good and take a 4-1 win over Nicaragua in a seven inning game at the America’s World Junior Qualifier.

With the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning with one out and runners on first and second, Jordan Wideman of Mississauga, Ontario pulled a single to drive in the winning run.

The Canadians would add two more insurance runs in the inning on RBIs from Carter Bell of Courtenay, B.C. and Chad Stang of Surrey, B.C.

Bell also scored the opening run of the game in the first inning on a sacrifice fly from Brett Lawrie of Langley, B.C. Nicaragua tied the game in the third inning on an RBI single form Elmer Reyes that drove in Ariel Arguellos.

On the mound, Brad Furdal of Ancaster, Ontario started the game and got things rolling by striking out the first four batters he faced. Furdal would finish the game with eight strikeouts in six innings of work, allowing one run on two hits with one walk.

Nick Bucci of Sarnia, Ontario earned the save by allowing only one walk and a hit batsman. The final out of the game came from a pick off at first base when the catcher Jordan Wideman threw to first baseman Leslie Williams of Scarborough, Ontrario for the tag out.

Presuming that the round robin portion of the schedule is completed, with the possibility of a game against the Bahamas still to be played, the Junior National Team will earn second place in Group A and would face the first place team in Group B in the semi-finals on Friday, August 31. The winner of the semi-final will play for the gold medal, while the other will play for the bronze. Both medal games will be played on Saturday, September 1.

BASEBALL CANADA – 29 August 2007