“There has been competition the first 10 days of workouts and intra-squad games at the Junior National Team camp in Ajax, Ont., but nothing like the sixth inning of Saturday. Lefty Reece Usselman was pitching in the sixth inning. RF Jacob Zibin pulled an inside pitch over the left field fence at Pan Am Field for a home run. Zibin touched first, looked in at the mound and pulled at the words CANADA across his chest. There is competition for jobs that will lead to decision-day on Wednesday and then there is competition that will last all season ... and maybe next. You see Usselman (Langley, BC) pitches for the Langley Blaze. And Zibin (Langley, BC) is his Blaze teammate in the British Columbia Premier League.

It was one piece of the puzzle in a game that ended in a 5-5 tie.”

RHP Micah Bucknam (Abbotsford, B.C.) and Ty Doucette (Dartmouth, N.S.) impressed at the recent 35th annual Area Code Games.

Leaving Florida, the Ontario Blue Jays wondered what would happen when they reached Marietta, Ga. After all, they were entering the 368-team 2021 Perfect Game World Wood Bat 2022 Grads 17U National championship at the TOP Chops East Cobb Complex. Mike Steed’s travelling road show went 4-1 to finish second in pool play.