Peckham: Reason strikes out seven to help Team Royal past Team Black

Toronto Mets lefty Ethan Reason (Stouffville, Ont.) started and struck out seven batters in three innings to help Team Royal to a 4-3 win over Team Black at the Canadian Futures Showcase on Friday. Photo: Jacqueline Tung

September 18, 2026

By: Noah Peckham

BCIT

Team Royal earned a well-pitched win on Day 2 of the Blue Jays Academy Canadian Futures Showcase at Rogers Field at Nat Bailey Stadium in Vancouver, B.C.

After tying Team Navy 5-5 on Day 1, Team Royal defeated Team Black 4-3.

Team Black was playing their first game of the tournament.

Team Royal’s Ethan Reason (Stouffville, Ont.) had a strong start, striking out three of the first four batters he saw in the top of the first. Team Royal carried that momentum into the second inning as they led off with a walk from Rhys Whiteford (Duncan, B.C.), followed by a single by Mikey Batiste (Mississauga, Ont.). Whiteford and Batiste were then able to steal second and third base.

With two runners in scoring position, Jalen Jacob (Maple, Ont.) hit deep fly ball that was tracked down at the warning track, scoring one run and advancing another runner to third. The inning ended with a ground out from Will White (Perth, Ont.).

Team Black cracked Reason in the second inning, Noah Stanley (Blakefield, Ont.) walked, stole second and then scored on an RBI double from Theo Lima (Whitby, Ont.).

Team Black’s starting pitcher Logan Cummins (Mississauga, Ont.) found his groove in the bottom of the second inning. After giving up a lead-off walk, he struck out the next three batters and the game was tied 1-1 after two.

Reason countered with a dominant third inning for Team Royal. After giving up a single to the first batter, he then struck out the next three batters in a row. He ended his day with seven strikeouts in three innings.

“It felt pretty good honestly, (it was my) first time pitching at the Canadian Futures Showcase. It was a really good experience – I loved it a lot,” said Reason. “I want to showcase the velo and the accuracy with the strikes and get the curveball in there for the strike outs.”

Bode Lynch (Maple Ridge, B.C.) came in to pitch for Team Royal in the top of the fourth. He gave up a double to Jerome Fortier (Beauharnois, Que.), who later scored on a bases-load walk to Lima.

Team Royal took the lead back in the bottom of the fourth when Alexander Wallace (Oakville, Ont.) singled in Toronto-born Ira Rootman (Los Angeles, Calif.). Wallace later scored on a single from Toby Wilding (Vancouver, B.C.)

The two teams traded runs again in the fifth inning, then the pitchers duel resumed when Jake Trask struck out the side in the top of the sixth for Team Royal.

Tanner Wiens (Niagara Falls, Ont.) countered with a strikeout and two popouts in the sixth, then both pitchers shut the door in the seventh, preserving the Royal victory.

“It feels great (to win). I think as a team we got closer today, we want to use the momentum of this win going into the next game,” said Reason

Team Royal’s next game is Saturday at 9 a.m. against Team Navy and Team Black looks to bounce back in their game against Team New Blue at 6 p.m. tomorrow.