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By Chris Kemlo
PBR Ontario Scouting Director

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PBR Spotlight Game: Great Lake Canadians 18u vs. Ontario Blue Jays 18u DH

Scarborough- Two of the top 18u teams in the country squared off on Saturday for an exhibition game at the University of Toronto’s Dan Lang Field. The fact that the Ontario Blue Jays 18u and Great Lake Canadians 18u were able to beat mother nature and be outside for game action in April is a success in its own.

These two teams are loaded with talent, and while both teams had players missing due to their commitment with the Canadian Junior National Team, there was still 11 of the top 35 ranked players on hand at the field. Not to mention, draft prospect Nicholos Hamilton who plays his ball for Great Lakes while he attends high school in New York was patrolling centre field and usually is the fastest guy in any park he goes to.

With two big righties on the hill for each team, one would guess that this would be a pitching duel right from the start. 6-foot-5, Austin Shields was on the mound for GLC while just recently, 6-foot-4, Division 1 Lipscomb commit Cole White got the start for OBJ.

With two singles in the top of the first inning that put GLC up 1-0, that is all they would need as Shields, Dean Angelo, and Dalton Harvey were able to work out of some trouble to keep OBJ off the board and end up with a 4-0 victory.

Shields ended up working 3.2 innings before being pulled with two outs and two runners on in the 4th. He didn’t give up a hit but had some issues commanding his fastball as he walked 8 hitters in his outing. The righty was up to 88 mph with some cutting action, but just couldn’t seem to find that rhythm on the day.

Angelo came in with runners on the corners but was able to get a fly out to escape. The pressure didn’t stop as he was in the same situation after an error and infield hit left him with two runners on and one out in the 5th, but he was able to induce back to back ground balls for a clean and impressive outing on the day. Angelo was 82-85 mph with lots of run on his ball in his 1.1 innings of work.

Dodge City community college commit Dalton Harvey came in to work the last two innings for GLC and close the door on any comeback OBJ might have had in mine. Harvey looked fresh as he came in 87-88 going right after guys. Again though, nothing came easy as a walk and a base hit had two on, but Harvey got 1B Ryan Rijo with a nice changeup down and away at 71 mph to get out of the 6th.

The 7th seemed to bring more intensity as OBJ lead off with two walks, but a 6-4-3 double play and a bases loaded fly out ended the game.

Cole White had a strong outing despite taking the loss. At one point he retired 10 hitters in a row as his fastball topped out at 87 mph, while being able to throw strikes with his curveball and changeup. White punched out 8 batters over 4.2 innings while giving up three earned run and four hits for a quality outing.

Justin Ditaranto came in out of the bullpen and did a good job working the final 2.1 for OBJ with three strikeouts and giving up one run on two hits. Ditaranto worked from a low-¾ arm slot while his fastball topped out at 79 mph while he showed control over his breaking ball.

In a losing effort, Matt Jones was 1-2 with two walks and a couple nice plays defensively at third.

Tony Hrynkiw continues to show why he is quite possibly the best defensive catcher in the province. He blocked well, backed door a runner at third while Nic Hamilton attempted to steal second. Smart, heads up player who will attend Connors State junior college in Oklahoma.

TOP PERFORMERS OF THE DAY

+ Infielder Lawson Burnett was 2-3 with an RBI on the day.

+ Jake Wilson was 0-1 with two walks and two runs scored.

+ Dean Angelo does a great job out the pen in his one and a third of innings work giving up one hit and no runs while working out of a couple jams.

Game 1:

 

LINESCORE

Great Lake 18s            100 020 1 - 4 7 1

Ontario Blue Jays 18s  000 000 0 - 0 2 2

Winning pitcher: Austin Shields (3.2 innings, 0 runs, 0 hits, 5 strikeouts, 8 walks). Other: Dean Angelo, Dalton Harvey

Losing pitcher: Cole White ( 4.2 innings, 3 earned runs, 4 hits, 8 strikeouts, 2 walks). Other: Justin Ditaranto

Game 2:

LINESCORE

Great Lake 18s            001 000  - 1 3 1

Ontario Blue Jays 18s  104 140  - 10 8 1

Winning pitcher: Ben Braun (5 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts). Other: Jake Conway

Losing pitcher: Dallas Taylor (3 innings, 6 hits, 5 runs, 4 walks, 2 strikeouts). Other: Brett Stenger

Leading hitters: Nick Howie, 2-2, 2 runs with 2 walks, Ryan Rijo 2-3 with 3 RBIs, Matt Jones 2-3, 2 RBIs