Jrs. blanked in finale by Nationals

Andrew Yerzy (Toronto, Ont.) had a 2-for-3 game as the Junior National Team completed their trip to Lake Beuna Vista, Fla. with a 7-0 loss to the Washington Nationals extended spring team.

Score: Washington Nationals Extended 7 Canada (18U) 0
Location: ESPN Wide World of Sports – Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Canada 18U Starting Lineup:
1. Miles Gordon CF
2. Kobe Hyland SS
3. Tristan Pompey DH
4. Josh Naylor DH
5. Andrew Yerzy C
6. Demi Orimoloye RF
7. Jonathan Martin 1B
8. Ben Komonosky DH
9. Brad Aldred 3B
10. JF Garon LF
11. Royce Ando 2B

Starting Pitcher: RHP Will McAffer

HOW IT HAPPENED
– After two scoreless innings, the Nats put a run across in the third thanks to three consecutive singles hit off of reliever Michael Brettell (Fonthill, Ont.) to open the frame.

– Things didn’t get much better for Brettell in the fourth as the Nats scored four runs on five hits with the big blow coming in the form of a triple that plated two runs.

– In the eighth, three singles a walk with the bases loaded by reliever Tyler Whitbread (Camlachie, Ont.) brought in two more runs for the Nats.

JNT HIGHLIGHTS
– After homering the day before, Andrew Yerzy (Toronto, Ont.) followed up with a 2-for-3 day at the dish that included a double in the fifth.

– JNT starter Will McAffer (North Vancouver, BC) opened with two scoreless innings where he scattered three hits and walked one.

– Mathieu Deneault-Gauthier (Candiac, Que.) also held the Nats scoreless for two frames and struck out one batter while only allowing one hit.

– RJ Freure (Burlington, Ont.) tossed a scoreless ninth and fanned one batter.

BY THE NUMBERS
Hits: 2, Yerzy (2/3); 1, Gordon (1/3), Hyland (1/3), Martin (1/3), Ando (1/2)
2B: 1, Yerzy
Strikeouts: 2, Whitbread; 1, Brettell, Deneault-Gauthier, Freure.

UP NEXT
Players, coaches and staff will return to their respective destinations Sunday … The Junior National Team will reconvene next month in the Dominican Republic for the annual tour through the Dominican Summer League from May 21-29 … In August, the team will head to Australia for the final selection camp that will determine the 20-player roster that will represent Canada at the WBSC U18 World Cup in Osaka, Japan from Aug. 28-Sept. 6.