Blain, Ellis lead late push for JNT in MLB draft series loss to IronBirds
Maxime Blain (Repentigny, Que.) is congratulated by Sam Ellis (La Pêche, Que.) after his home run in the eighth inning against the Aberdeen IronBirds on Sunday. Photo: Baseball Canada
June 14, 2026
Baseball Canada
The Junior National Team fell just short in a 7–6 loss to the Aberdeen IronBirds in the finale of their three-game MLB Draft League International Series at Ripken Stadium.
After Aberdeen jumped out to an early 3–0 lead, Canada answered in the third inning with four straight hits. Maxime Blain (Repentigny, Que.) and Sam Ellis (La Pêche, Que.) opened the rally with back-to-back singles before Kadyn Armitage (Surrey, B.C.) drove in Blain with an RBI single to centre. Robert Omidi (Mississauga, Ont.) followed with a run-scoring single of his own, bringing home Ellis to cut the deficit to one.
The Juniors continued to battle offensively throughout the afternoon. Blain added another single in the fifth before launching a solo home run to left field in the eighth, while Ellis finished with three hits, a walk, two stolen bases and an RBI single in the sixth that scored Cohen Miller (Calgary, Alta.) after his triple to right field.
Canada made one final push in the ninth, loading the bases after walks from Omidi, Zach MacDonald (Lacombe, Alta.) and Austin Blair (Victoria, B.C.). Rhys Whiteford (Duncan, B.C.) brought Omidi home on a fielder’s choice to make it a one-run game, but the rally ended with the tying run at third.
On the mound, Desmond Tregaskis (Delta, B.C.) delivered a strong relief appearance, entering in the sixth and keeping the IronBirds off the board the rest of the way. He struck out four over three scoreless innings, including a clean seventh and eighth to give Canada a chance late.
The Juniors will now hit the road to take on the State College Spikes in the next stop of the MLB Draft League International Series.