Mills shines for Team Navy in tie with Team Grey

Team Navy starting pitcher Josh Mills (Leduc, Alta.), of the Okotoks Dawgs Academy, delivers a pitch against Team Grey at the 2025 Canadian Future Showcase on Thursday at Rogers Centre in Toronto. Photo: Faraz Hashmi

September 18, 2025

By Faraz Hashmi

Centennial Sports Journalism

TORONTO - Team Grey rallied late to secure a tie against Team Navy on Thursday at the Canadian Futures Showcase at Rogers Centre, keeping them in contention to play in Friday’s championship game.

In the top of the sixth, Team Grey’s Daril Rodriguez (Red Deer, Alta.) plated Evan Walker (Ajax, Ont.) and Jamie Moore (Komoka, Ont.) to tie the game 2-2 with a single to centre field.

Navy starting pitcher Josh Mills (Leduc, Alta.) shined over three innings, allowing one hit, a walk and striking out six to earn player of the game honours.

“I knew I had to come out here and compete, and that's what I did,” Mills said after the game. “I tried to get ahead in the count, and strikeouts came with battling through it.”

Navy, the youngest team of the tournament, saved their best performance for last but couldn’t get over the line, finishing without a win at the annual showcase.

Although Navy didn’t get the results it wanted, Mills said he and his teammates gained valuable experience this week in Toronto.

“It's for sure more of a learning experience for us, just seeing the other talent of the older kids here,” said Mills. “I guess I'm just trying to take as much as I can from here and build off of it to next year and hopefully succeed.”

Team Grey starting pitcher Wes O’Connor (Oakville, Ont.) finished his night with two strikeouts over three innings, allowing one run, two hits and a walk. Closer Zachary Landreville (Montreal, Que.) made sure his team stayed undefeated, striking out five over two innings of one-hit ball.

Team Grey seemed hungry to play in the championship game, as their bench was loud and emotional throughout the game.

Navy missed out on a crucial play in the bottom of the fifth as Arnold Ohanian (Laval, Que.) hit a triple with one out, but was thrown out at home on a fielder's choice one pitch later. This missed run would cost them the win later in the game.

Lincoln Rose (Peterborough, Ont.) got Team Navy on the board in the bottom of the third, dashing home from third on Mattias Jimenez’s (London, Ont.) groundout double play.

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth, Navy’s Korbin Greaves (Ajax, Ont.) stole home to extend their lead 2-0.