Ontario Green's bats come alive in rout of Futures Navy
Ontario Green leadoff man Cooper Davis strides to the plate. Photo Credit: Tyler King
By: Max Greenwood
Canadian Baseball Network
Thanks to clutch hits early in the game and diligent plate discipline in later innings, Ontario Green exploded for 12 runs in a Saturday night rout of Futures Navy.
Boxscore: Ontario Green 12 Futures Navy 1
Despite the lopsided final, the top of the first provided us with some small ball in the form of intelligent base running. Dondrae Bremner hit a one-out single, then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher. Trei Cruz cashed him in with a single to left field, but was then thrown out a play later attempting to follow Bremner’s lead and steal second himself.
In the top of the second, Green was all over the bases and threatening once again. The first four batters reached, culminating in a massive Bryce O’Farrell RBI double off the top of the left field wall. The extra-base hit was the farthest struck ball by any player on the day, and O’Farrell missed a home run by just a few feet. The inning was full of spectacular plays, as Navy shortstop Jaden Brown caught a pop fly with his bare hand after getting twisted up sprinting into left field.
Navy had multiple base runners in the bottom of both the second and third innings, eventually plating a run off an Ian Jordan single in the third. It would be the only run Navy scored though, as Green starting pitcher Corben Peters consistently worked his way out of danger.
Green coach Mike Steed spoke about his starter’s efforts. “[Peters] pitched around a jam in the second and third. You know he gave up one run, but I thought he handled himself really well,” Steed said. “He stayed composed and went pitch to pitch.”
Navy starter Thomas Murphy deserved better in the third inning, as he cruised through the first two batters, striking both out. The game began to unravel for Navy as an error by the third basemen kept the inning alive for Green. One unearned run came into score before Murphy retired the last batter, effectively striking out the side.
Green pitcher Garner Spoljaric entered the game in the fourth, and the bullpen shut down Navy, holding them hitless for the rest of the night. Spoljaric struck out a couple batters and took home the win for Green.
Green coach Mike Steed discussed how pitchers have an advantage in tournaments like T12. “With 1-1 counts, pitchers are in favor there,” said Steed. ‘You go up 1-2 and then you can really go anywhere and that’s what our guys did - just attack the zone.”
The sixth is where things came to a head for Green, as they managed to score six runs in the inning. Green players walked seven times, sending a total of 12 men to the plate. “We really managed the strike zone well today,” added Steed. “We didn’t put ourselves in bad counts and chase pitches out of the zone.”
Navy reliever Justin Bradt suffered the most, giving up six earned runs in the inning. Even so, the lack of batting production from Navy meant that Bradt didn’t even suffer the loss, as the game was effectively over from the second inning onward.
Green reliever Dallas Hunter came in for the sixth to finish the game and did not allow a single base runner. Hunter received a bit of help from his defence though, as Dondrae Bremner made a fantastic barehanded play on a slow roller to shortstop. That play ended the game in accordance with Baseball Canada’s mercy rule, and was really representative of a great effort by Green all around.
Ontario Green finishes Saturday's action with a record of 1-1-1, and will play B.C. Orange (2-0-0) Sunday night at 7:00 pm. Futures Navy (0-1-2) will square off against Atlantic Maroon (1-1-0) Sunday at 4:30 pm.