Atlantic rallies late for thrilling win over Futures

David Calabrese slides head first into the plate to score the first run of the game for Futures Navy as Atlantic catcher Ayden MacKenzie attempts to coral a wild pitch. Umpire Matt Lowndes made the call, as pitcher Cameron Bender (25, right) and Navy hitter Zachary Laurie (14) look on. Photo Credit: Julia Kreuz

By Jennifer Redenbach

Canadian Baseball Network

TORONTO – Team Atlantic scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to complete the most thrilling finish in the T12 tournament so far as they came back for a 2-1 victory over Futures Navy on Sunday afternoon at the Rogers Centre.

With Max Grant at bat, a wild pitch from Gavin Pringle brought Micah McDowell scampering down the third base line for the win.

Atlantic (2-1) were down 1-0 going into the bottom of the seventh before Ayden MacKenzie doubled to right with nobody out. He was replaced by pinch runner Nick Gravel, who advanced to third on a wild pitch and came in on a fielder’s choice.

That led to McDowell’s heroics.

Gravel called it a team victory.

“We stayed together as a team and cheered the whole game and came out with the win,” said Gravel afterwards, adding there is a lot of optimism looking forward to Monday’s semi-finals. “We are a good group of guys and have been communicating with each other. I am super excited for tomorrow.”

Futures (1-2) scored their own run on a wild pitch that brought David Calabrese home, this time in the top of the third. That held up for four innings.

This was a well pitched game, featuring Turner Spoljaric (son of former big leaguer Paul Spoljaric) for Futures, and Cameron Brewer, for Atlantic.

Spoljaric, a 15-year-old right-hander, tossed four shutout innings, allowing only a pair of hits, and two walks, while recording two strikeouts.

Brewer, 17, also went four. He permitted one hit, one run and three walks while also striking out a batter.

Team Atlantic is the defending champion of the week-long tournament that ends on Monday night.