Rivard’s two-run homer helps Team Red defeat Team Grey

Team Red centre fielder Rogan Rivard (Bonnyville, Alta.), of the Vauxhall Baseball Academy, hit a two-run home run in the second inning vs Team Grey in the Canadian Futures Showcase at Rogers Centre on Thursday. Photo: Nathan Simpson/Toronto Observer

September 18, 2025

By Michael Vavaroutsos

Centennial Sports Journalism

TORONTO – Rogan Rivard (Bonnyville, Alta.) led the way with a two-run home run as Team Red cruised to a 6-1 victory against Team Grey in the final round-robin contest of the Canadian Futures Showcase, Thursday night at the Rogers Centre.

The player of the game crushed his first dinger of the tournament 358 feet to right field and had an exit velocity of 97.1 miles per hour. Rivard batted .429 in his four games played.

“I wanted to catch a ball up front, kind of seeing it deep because he has that good curveball,” Rivard said after the game, of Grey starting pitcher Will Steinman (Toronto, Ont.). “I saw his fastball cutter out front and kind of just left my bat, and I was hoping for the best.”

Even after the centre fielder’s moment, Rivard turned the focus to his teammates

“This team means a lot to me,” he said. “They’re a super supportive group, and it really means a lot to me that I was invited out to this tournament.”

Team Red got the scoring started early. Cam Gerla (Calgary, Alta.) hit a ground ball to bring in Yale commit Elliot Lascelles (Toronto, Ont.) after he tripled in the first at bat of the game.

Then in the top of the second with runners on first and second, both runners took off for a double steal, but Team Grey catcher Evan York (Waterloo, Ont.) picked up a throwing error on the play, bringing home Caine Fahrni (Vancouver) for the 2-0 lead.

On the very next pitch, Rivard launched his two-run home run, extending the Team Red lead to four.

York would hit a single in the bottom of the third to cut the lead to 4-1. Carter Bestebroer (Chilliwack, B.C.) scored on the play.

Team Red added a couple of insurance runs in the top of the seventh, after Jack Ward (Paris, Ont.) was hit by a pitch while the bases were loaded, scoring Roen Douglas (Petrolia, Ont.).

Just one at bat later, Matthew Kolodziej (Oakville, Ont.) singled on a line drive to right field, scoring Rivard to bring the lead to 6-1.

Even with the offensive success from Team Red, it was their pitching that really shined in this one. Starting pitcher Xander Guedes (North Vancouver, B.C.) threw for three innings, and allowed one run on two hits, while also striking out four.

Reliever Charles Bernatchez (Québec City, Que.) pitched three scoreless innings. He did not allow a hit, while striking out six. Jasper Bakker (Port Perry, Ont.) pitched the final inning, giving up no runs.

Alternatively, it was a completely different story for Team Grey. Steinman allowed four runs and three hits in his three innings pitched.

Reliever Jack Thompson (Toronto, Ont.) provided some stability out of the bullpen, tossing two scoreless innings. Jérôme Lucas (Montréal, Que.) closed it out, giving up two runs on two hits and three walks over his two innings..

Despite the setback, Team Grey will have a chance to bounce back when they face Team Royal in Friday's championship game.