De Santis, McKinstry, Wallace lead Canadian Premier to win, advance to round of 32

Great Lake Canadians’ Gino De Santis (Chatham, Ont.) had a pair of hits for Canadian Premier.

October 10, 2026

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

Back in the glory days of the Toronto Blue Jays, we would have seven or eight writers at each World Series game.

Some nights there were not enough story lines to go around. And other games there were so many turning points/ideas/performances to write about some guys would have to double up.

The editor assigning stories after Canadian Premier edged Elite Squad Scout 18U 6-5 on Saturday would have had his hands full. Let’s see ... what to write about Canadian Premier?

_ The four-run, two-out rally in the first?

_ The two-run rally in the fourth to break a 4-4 tie?

_ A lead-off double to begin Elite’s final at-bat and then a 1-2-3 ‘warm up the bus. We’re outta here,’ inning by the reliever with the tying run 90 feet away?

_ The three key doubles?

_ The starter who gave his team a chance to win?

_ Advancing to the round of 32 in the 120 tournament.

* * *

Canadian Premier jumped on Elite with four runs in the first as Samuel Ellis (La Pache, Que.) led off reaching on a three-base error. Evan Walker (Ajax, Ont.) bounced out to knock in a run. After a walk and a Galen Hudel (Waterloo, Ont.) single, Gino De Santis (Chatham, Ont.) lined a single to centre. Two wild pitches — as the Elite pitcher stayed away from the dangerous Mikey Batiste (Mississauga, Ont.) — then increased the lead to 4-0.

Now, even at 4-4 in the fourth inning, Batiste led off with a double to left and scored on a single by Alex Wallace (Oakville, Ont.). Two batters later, Ellis doubled to right, brining home Wallace.

Canadian Premier starter RHP Lucien Kovalcik (Burlington, Ont.) pitched 2 2/3 innings allowing four runs -- two earned -- on five hits. He struck out five in his 51-pitch performance (33 strikes). LHP Korbin Greaves (Ajax, Ont.) recorded the final out of the third.

Great Lake Canadians RHP Owen McKinstry (Port Elgin, Ont.),

Then skipper Romak went to RHP Owen McKinstry (Port Elgin, Ont.), who faced three hitters in the fourth, then had plenty of traffic in the fifth: an error, a walk, an out, a run-scoring fly ball and then someone showed McKinstry he could throw a strike too: catcher Ludovic Therriault (Saint-Malo, Que.) gunned down the runner attempting to steal second. Hang with ‘em.

Yet Elite would not go quietly into the Jupiter night. A lead-off double to left put the tying run into scoring position.

First McKinstry retired the No. 3 hitter on a pop up to Wallace in foul ground. A grounder moved the tying run 90 feet away.

Now, McKinstry was facing the man that Canadian Premier came to the park hours ago to get out. The final out. 2B Juan Cruz (Mississauga, Ont.) grabbed the pop up.

De Santis had two hits, including a double and an RBI, while Batiste and Ellis also hit doubles.

* * *

Richmond burning: The Richmond Braves 18U Platinum beat the Brewers Langley Blaze 7-1. Rilen Niclai homered for the Blaze’s only run.

LHP Caleb Miller (Delta, BC) worked an inning, allowing four runs -- three earned -- on three hits and two walks. He threw 33 pitches (42% strikes) and hit 87 MPH.

Sam Craven (Victoria, BC) was next, pitching 2 1/3 innings giving up one run on four hits and three walks. He threw 48 pitches (57% strikes) and was clocked at 86 MPH.

Then came RHP Benjamin Dartnell (Vancouver, BC) who tossed a scoreless inning, giving up one hit. He only needed 11 pitches (72% strikes) as he hit 92 MPH.

* * *

And another Canuck: Christian Heffernan (Puslinch, Ont.) singled in two runs for USG/Elev8 Rawlings National.