Duranleau's three-run blast key to Team Red win

ABC outfielder Mathis Duranleau (Montreal, Que.) rounds home plate after hitting a home run for Team Red against Team Navy in the Canadian Futures Showcase at Rogers Centre. Photo: Tomas Morgan/Toronto Observer (X: TomasMorgan49)

September 17, 2025

By Liam LaChappelle-Yonson

Centennial Sports Journalism

TORONTO - Mathis Duranleau (Montreal, Que.) hit a clutch three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to push Team Red past Team Navy in a 11-5 victory that saw three lead changes at the Canadian Futures Showcase on Wednesday.

The Montreal native's home run went 358 feet, scoring Maxime Decarie (Saint-Julie, Que.) and Jack Ward (Paris, Ont.) to break the tie. It was just the second ball to clear the wall through the first five games of the Canadian Futures Showcase at Rogers Centre.

“It feels amazing for real,” said Duranleau. “I can say to everybody I got a home run at a big league stadium, it is a really good feeling.”

Team Red opened the scoring early in the top of the first as starter Gabe Fink (Edmonton, Alta.) gave up two hits and hit a batter to load the bases, with Rogan Rivard (Bonnyville, Atla.) scoring on a wild pitch. Navy shortstop Lincoln Rose (Peterborough, Ont.) dropped the infield pop up, which allowed Maxime Blain (Repentigny, Que.) to score and put Team Red up 2-0.

After walking twice to start the bottom of the second, Team Red was only able to score one to extend their lead to 3-0.

Team Navy struck back in the top of the third after Rose doubled to cash in Jake Carriere (Abbotsford, B.C.) and Raphael Besançon (Boucherville, Que.) singled to plate Rose and Theo Lima (Whitby, Ont.), tying the game 3-3.

Navy broke the deadlock in the top of the sixth as Ben Laughlin (Ottawa, Ont.) lined a double down the right-field line to score Mikey Batiste (Mississauga, Ont.) to take back the lead.

The flood gates opened for Team Red in the bottom of the frame as they scored five runs off Deven Simonovic (Victoria, B.C.), including Duranleau’s home run and a run-scoring triple by Caine Fahrni (Vancouver, B.C).

Team Red's Elliott Lascelles (Toronto, Ont.), Daniel Dykema (North Vancouver, B.C.) and Fahrni all had multi-hit games in the victory.

Fink struggled with his command, going three innings while giving up three runs on three hits to go along with three walks and two strikeouts.

Reliever Carson Burton (Brandon, Man.) located his pitches well and took over in relief in the fourth, going two scoreless innings with three strikeouts, one hit and one walk. Simonovic would pick up the loss and a blown save in two innings of work, giving up five hits, eight runs, five earned, with two walks and one strikeout.

Team Red’s starting pitcher Aaron Monterroza (Brantford, Ont.) was strong for the first two innings but had a disastrous third where he allowed three runs. He pitched three innings, giving up three runs on two hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

Reliever Cameron Tully (Mississauga, Ont.) pitched well, going two scoreless innings, giving up one walk, one hit and striking out one. Reliever Richard Marshall (Whitby, Ont.) earned the win in relief, going two innings and giving up two hits, two runs, one earned, with one walk and two strikeouts.