McFarland: Back-and-forth affair leads to tie between Royal and Navy at Futures Showcase

Ontario Blue Jays outfielder Mikey Batiste (Mississauga, Ont.) had a hit, a run and walk for Team Royal in their 5-5 tie with Team Navy in the second game of the Canadian Futures Showcase on Thursday night. Photo: Emma Megelas, UBC

September 17, 2026

By: Joe McFarland

Alberta Dugout Stories

No lead was seemingly safe as Team Royal and Team Navy finished off Day 1 of the Blue Jays Academy Canadian Futures Showcase playing to a 5-5 draw.

Royal got out to the early lead thanks to a two-run single from Rhys Whiteford (Duncan, BC) in the top of the first inning, plating Mikey Batiste (Mississauga, Ont.) and Jalen Jacob (Maple, Ont.).

They added to their 2-0 lead in the second inning when Dayne Liske (Red Deer, Alta.) scampered home when a Charles-Etienne Drewitt (La Prairie, Que.) pitch got by catcher Justin Blouin (Montreal, Que.).

In the top of the third, Toby Wilding (Vancouver, B.C.) doubled in Jacob and it felt like Royal was in cruise control.

However, back-to-back bases-loaded walks by Riley Wolbeck (Leduc, Alta.) and Braylon Stern (Delaware, Ont.) cut Navy’s deficit in half in the fourth.

Blouin then got some revenge for the earlier passed ball when he hammered a bases-loaded double to right-centre field to give his squad the lead.

With their backs against the wall, Royal fought back in the top of the seventh inning, working the bases loaded for Ira Rootman, who hit a high fly ball to centre field, allowing Ludovic Therriault (Sherbrooke, Que.) to trot in from third to cap off the scoring.

Rootman says it was a hard-fought game which allowed everyone to get acclimated to what the showcase is all about.

“My biggest goal for this tournament was just to play hard and with energy,” said the California native, who was born in Toronto. “Stepping into this one, it’s a new environment and I’m just going to have fun with my friends and just prove what I have.”

On the mound, Drewitt, Major MacNeil (Angus, Ont.) and Simon Rae-Labarre (Quebec, Que.) combined to allow five runs on five hits, seven walks and 14 strikeouts for Navy, while Richard Marshall (Whitby, Ont.), Callum Dickie (Oro-Medante, Ont.) and Matis Trahan (Mercier, Que.) gave up five runs on four hits and 10 walks while striking out six for Royal.

Royal will face Teams Black (12 p.m. P.T.) and New Blue (6 p.m. P.T.) on Friday, while Navy takes on Red (3 p.m. P.T.).