Windsor Selects win pool, finish 8th of 86 in Cincy

By Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network
The Windsor Selects won its pool in the Dinger Bat Wood 16/17U World Series in Cincinnati last month.

They were one of three Canadian teams participating in the 86-team tourney run by the Cincy Flames and the only one to win their pool and move on to the top playoff bracket although the Selects were a 16U team.

In pool play Selects 16U went 4-1 to win the pool. The team was seeded 12th in the Diamond Division.

Jake Rajsigl threw a no hitter in the opener as Windsor edged the Columbus Ohio Cobras 17U 1-0. win. The Selects scored their run in the first inning on a fly ball from Gibson Krzemenski.

Next, Justin Doran led the offense with two hits and Krzemenski homered as Cam Lavigne registered the win striking out eight as Windsor knocked off Troy Jet Box 5-2.

Then came Game 3, 5-4 loss to the Ohio Glaciers as the Glaciers scored three in the sixth to take the lead.

Lucas Diluca and Josh Talerico had two hits apiece in defeating Next Level Baseball 17U from Illinois 6-4. 

Then, the Selects knocked off Pro Player Canes 17U from Indiana 8-3 as Tom Vanier had a pair of hits and Talerico drove in three runs to lead the offence. Jayden Fetter picked up the win.

Seeded 12th the Selects defeated 5th seeded Ohio Elite 17U 3-2 at Xavier University. Trailing 2-1 going into the seventh, the Selects scored twice to take the lead. Josh Talerico’s single tied the game and Tom Vanier’s single led to the go ahead run. Rajsigl was the winning pitcher with a complete game allowing four hits and had a 1-2-3 seventh.

In the quarter finals Selects faced A. Green Financial from Michigan and lost 8-4 as Doran had two hits at Miami University. 

The Selects coached by Chris and Jerry Soulliere, Marc Picard, Stave Bauer, Bob Marchand and Godfrey Janisse finished eighth over-all of 86 teams. 

All games were played on college fields: University of Cincinnati, Miami University, Xavier University, Wright State University, University of Dayton, Cedarville University, & Thomas More College.

Competing in the gold bracket the Great Lakes Canadians lost to the Chicago Elite, the Grizzlies Baseball Club, Bat Cage Baseball and the Pony Express before beating MAP Baseball from Minnesota in the Cincy Flames Summer Classic.

The Toronto Mets 17U competed in the platinum division but did not advance to the playoff round.