Canada grabs berth in world juniors
By Bob Elliott, QMI Agency
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There’s a saying about playing “some good ol’ country baseball.”
Canada played some good ol’ Canadian baseball grinding out a 4-3 win over Columbia at Estadio Once de Noviembre at the Americas World Junior qualifier Saturday afternoon in Cartagena, Columbia.
The win qualifies Canada for the World championships in Seoul, South Korea next year. Canada plays Team USA for first place Sunday to conclude the tourney.
Trailing 1-0 in the second, Oakville’s Kyle Hann singled to centre scoring Justin Atkinson of Surrey, B.C., and third base coach Corey Eckstein waved home Dustin Houle of Pentiction, B.C.
Houle, who had doubled earlier, crushed the catcher and Canada had a 2-1 lead.
Jake Hansen of Fort McLeod, Alta., took over for reliever Skylar Janisse of Maidstone, Ont., in the eighth and allowed a single to cut Canada’s lead to 4-3. Hansen struck out the final hitter in the eighth and two of three in the ninth.
Whitby’s Ryan Kellogg started for Canada and picked up the win working 6 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk, while striking out four.
Brendan of Cochrane, Alta., knocked in Hann with an infield roller in the seventh.
Toronto’s Justin Marra singled home Hendricks in the third.
Windsor’s Jacob Robson and Hann each had two hits.
