Simpson becomes first to go deep at Futures Showcase, helps lead Team Black to win

Team Black catcher Connor Simpson (Victoria B.C.), of the Victoria Eagles, hit a solo home run in the fifth inning against Team Navy in the Canadian Futures Showcase at Rogers Centre on Wednesday. Photo: Ethan Gabor/Toronto Observer

September 17, 2025

By Tomas Morgan

Centennial Sports Journalism

Catcher Connor Simpson (Victoria, B.C.) crushed a 368-foot solo home run over the left field fence in the fifth inning to rally Team Black to a 4-1 victory over Team Royal on Wednesday in the Canadian Futures Showcase at Rogers Centre.

The Victoria Eagles catcher was the first in four games of this wood bat tournament to put one over the fence. Every level below pro tends to use aluminum bats, which sends the ball further.

“It’s pretty amazing,” said Simpson, in a post-game scrum. “I don’t hit many home runs, so hitting one here is a great place to do it.”

Simpson finished the game 1-for-2 with the round-tripper (off lefty Mitchell Rauckman, of Saskatoon, Sask.), a walk, an RBI and a run.

“He was throwing his fastball outside, so I had a feeling he was going to go [inside]. I was sitting fastball and I got my pitch”

Team Royal pitcher Desmond Tregaskis (Tsawwassen, B.C.) pitched the opening three innings, surrendering just one run. That one opened the scoring in the third when Christian Iriotakis (Toronto, Ont.) hit a single off a slider down in the zone to score Simpson from third base.

Team Black hurler Cole Dorland (Langley, B.C.), also pitched three innings, allowing just one hit and striking out two. Black gave up a run with Dorland on the mound on an errant throw from the catcher to first.

Outfielder Quinn Lightfoot (Caledon, Ont.) scored from second base on the play for Team Royal to tie the game 1-1.

Following Simpson’s solo home run in the fifth to take the 2-1 lead, Team Black’s Madden Peters (Lantzville, B.C.) hit an RBI single in the sixth to score Austin Blair (Victoria, B.C), making it 3-1.

In the seventh inning, Easton Kitura (Vauxhall, Alta.) stole second, allowing Rhys Whiteford (Duncan, B.C.) to score from third on a heads-up play, sealing the Team Black victory.

Team Black’s pitching allowed just three hits in seven innings. Logan Forgie (Ottawa, Ont.) picked up the win in two innings on the mound, striking out two. He needed just 12 pitches to retire the side in the fourth.

Aidan MacLellan (Milton, Ont.) also worked through the last two innings of the game, recording three strikeouts and picking up the save.