Howard helps Team Red to 8-8 tie with Team Green

Toronto Mets INF Drew Howard (Whitby, Ont.) had two hits, a run and two stolen bases for Team Red in their 8-8 tie with Team Green in the final T12 game played on Wednesday. Photo: Tyler King (file photo)

September 18, 2019

By Thomas Williams

Canadian Baseball Network

With eight runs each, the final game on Wednesday at Tournament 12 finished in a back-and-forth draw between Team Green and Team Red.

Both teams led for significant portions of the seven innings, but it was a five-run fourth inning from Team Red that shifted the momentum and forced the tie.

DH Drew Howard was one of those runs scored in that half inning, getting on base by a single to right field, loading the bases for an eventual two-run single from teammate Jason Begin (Sherbrooke, Que.).

After an inning like that, the designated hitter wanted a bit more from the end result.

“After a long nail biter, the draw was an unfortunate finish, but it is what it is,” said the batter from Whitby, Ont.

Howard finished the game 2-for-4 with that run and a strikeout that came in the first inning.

The one punch-out was the second out of the game and gave Team Green's starter Justin Thorsteinson, of Langley, B.C., his first of three strikeouts through his three innings.

“At the beginning I felt like I wasn't taking the best pitches in the zone,” Howard said. “But more towards the end, I was in my zone. I'm focused on getting good pitches and taking good, quality swings at them.”

Team Red coach Brock Kjeldgaard has coached against Howard this summer and has high praises for the game's stand-out batter.

“I coached against Drew all year, so I saw him first hand. He's a good ball player,” said the coach.

His familiarity with the DH was a benefit, but Kjeldgaard was still managing young athletes that he has never met or seen play before Wednesday's game at the Rogers Centre.

“There's some kids that are familiar, that we play against all year,” Kjeldgaard said. “Then there are some kids we have never seen before.”

Even with the unaccustomed teammates, Team Red was able to mount a comeback that made the end result respectable.

Howard scored the final run for his team, but Team Green's Arlen Peters (Schanzenfeld, Man.) was able to tie the contest with a single at the top of the final inning.

Day three of the Blue Jays’ national scouting combine goes at Rogers Centre on Thursday.