Grainger: Henderson, Quack propel Team New Blue to victory over Team Royal

Fieldhouse Pirates and Team New Blue outfielder Will Henderson (Mississauga, Ont.), shown here walking back to second base on Friday evening, went 2-for-2 with a triple, a home run and three stolen bases to help propel his squad to a 7-2 win over Team Royal at the Canadian Futures Showcase. Photo: Abbey Neufeld, UBC

September 18, 2026

By Avery Grainger

UBC Journalism

Team Royal and Team New Blue entered Friday night’s matchup at Rogers Field at Nat Bailey Stadium with plenty of confidence, energy and competitive intensity.

Fresh off wins earlier in the day, both teams were hungry for more, but it was New Blue who took home a big 7-2 win.

The first and second innings finished scoreless, with Will Henderson (Mississauga, Ont.) ripping a triple to centre as the notable play in the bottom of the first. Zach MacDonald (Lacombe, Alta.) walked and stole second shortly after, but three strikeouts by Gabe Fink (Edmonton, Alta.) stranded both runners in scoring position.

In the second, New Blue managed a one-out single from Galen Hudel (Waterloo, Ont.), as the crowd continued to wait for the game’s first run.

Royal finally broke through in the third. Dayne Liske (Drayton Valley, Alta.) reached base and advanced into scoring position before scoring on a single to centre by Eimel Segura (Gatineau, Que.). New Blue threatened in the bottom half, with Henderson stealing both second and third, but Royal preserved its 1-0 lead.

Things changed in the fourth. Hudson Nikkel (Stanley, Man.) singled, moved to second on a wild pitch, and then scored on a double to centre by Caleb Quack (Breslau, Ont.), tying the game at 1.

Royal regained the lead in the fifth when Rhys Whiteford (Duncan, B.C.) doubled and scored on Liske’s RBI single to right. New Blue answered immediately, as Juan Cruz (Mississauga, Ont.) walked, stole second and third, then scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 2.

Royal was held scoreless in the sixth despite a one-out single from Grady Jones (Chesterville, Ont.). New Blue then broke the game open in the bottom half. In as a pinch-hitter, Will Zielinski (Victoria, B.C.) was hit by a pitch then stole second and third, while Hudel walked and also advanced into scoring position. Quack drove both runners home with a two-run double to centre, giving New Blue a 4–2 lead.

Royal went down in order in the seventh, and New Blue added three more runs in the bottom half.

Cruz was hit by a pitch, stole both second and third, then scored when Henderson launched a two-run inside-the-park home run to right-centre. Gino De Santis (Chatham, Ont.) later walked and came around on Zielinski’s RBI single, extending New Blue’s lead to 7–2.

Quack said he was looking to “do some damage” in the game, and that is certainly what happened. Named Player of the Game, he says he was proud of his performance, but doesn’t want to stop here.

New Blue is back in action on Saturday against Team Black (6 p.m. P.T.), while Royal faces Team Navy in the early game (9 a.m. P.T.).