TAIPEI, TAIWAN – The rain did not dampen the bats of the Senior National team as they would pound out 18 runs in their second game at the 2007 IBAF World Cup against Thailand to earn the victory by a score of 18-0 in seven innings at Hsinchuang Stadium.

All nine offensive starters for the Canadians reached base in this game.

The onslaught began in the first inning when Matt Rogelstad (New Westminster, BC) hit a solo home run to open the scoring. A passed ball to score Mike Saunders (Victoria, BC) and an RBI single by Jimmy VanOstrand (Richmond, BC) to score Taylor Green (Courtenay, BC) would make it 3-0 after one inning.

The Canadians would then bat around in the third inning, sending 12 men to the plate, to score six runs and increase their lead to 9-0. Saunders began the inning with a solo shot to right, then VanOstrand would hit a two RBI triple and would later score on a sacrifice fly by Emerson Frostad (Calgary, AB). Two more runs would come in on an error, a single and a pair of walks.

“It was good to do some damage and get off on the right foot today,” says VanOstrand who was 3-for-5 with a pair of singles, a triple, two runs scored and four RBI. “Everyone got some good swings and no one was trying to do too much.”

After scoring a pair of runs in fifth inning and two more in the sixth inning, the Canadians would explode for another five runs in the seventh.

Jamie Romak (London, ON) would begin the rally after being hit by a pitch and after a Green single, Romak would score on a single from VanOstrand. After Nick Weglarz (Stevensville, ON) drew a walk to load the bases, Frostad would hit a grand slam down the right field line to complete the scoring.

“It was good to get things going today,” says Frostad who was 2-for-5 with two homers and seven RBI. “We didn't do much offensively last night, so it feels good to get a couple of hits and drive in a few runs. Everyone up and down the lineup did well today and that's big going forward in the tournament.”

Jon Lockwood (Toronto, ON) had a solid outing, allowing only four hits and three walks with six strikeouts in six innings of work.

R.J. Swindle would pitch a perfect seventh to close out the game, registering a strikeout.

“Lockwood's performance was absolutely wonderful,” says SNT Field Manager Terry Puhl. “We needed the innings so that we have plenty of pitching going forward. Also, getting four home runs today, we hit some hard yesterday right at guys, but they're pretty hard to catch when they go over the fence.”

Next up for the Senior National Team will be Cuba on Friday, November 9 at 6 pm at the Hsinchuang Stadium.

André Cormier
Manager, Media/Public Relations
Baseball Canada
613-748-5606
media@baseball.ca

BASEBALL CANADA – 8 November 2007