Gifted pitcher Phillippe Aumont, a manchild from Gatineau, was on the mound.
And the scouts watched and scribbled notes onto official-looking pieces of paper after every pitch.
One scout had Aumont clocked as high as 96 mph. Others said he topped out at 94.
Control was an issue, with 36-of-80 pitches recorded as balls. While his fastball was nearly unhittable, Aumont ran into some problems with his curveball. The hurler left the game after throwing 80 pitches, giving up just one hit, but walking five in one inning. The line read three runs allowed in 3T innings -- with the Canadians eventually losing the game 9-3.
"I never saw a guy like Randy Johnson at the age of 18, so it's hard to compare (Aumont)," said former major-leaguer Denis Boucher, scouting the game for the Washington Nationals. "But at (Aumont's) age, there are not many kids that can throw that hard.
"The first couple of innings, it was very easy for him. But he ran into (some control problems). That's part of baseball. He has to learn to deal with that.
"We're trying to learn as much as possible about him. I don't think this hurts him.
"I've been watching him for three years now. He was very raw at 16. But he's improved his control. He's come a long way.
"I think he could be picked in the first round (of the June 7 Major League Baseball draft). He's got that kind of talent.
First-round talent indeed. ESPN has him pegged as the sixth overall selection in the draft. If he goes in the first round, he'll become just the sixth Canadian to do so.
Such talent, a desire to succeed and a wicked fastball. That's what's setting Aumont apart from others.
It's now a regular occurrence. Aumont pitches and the scouts watch. He's scheduled to throw for the Canadians again next Sunday. He says it's become routine to be watched, to have his every move scrutinized.
"It's getting closer to June and I'm getting a bit more nervous," said Aumont. "But when I'm on the mound, I don't think about the scouts. It's just me and the catcher."
All was not bad for the Canadians yesterday. The bats woke up in a 12-2 thumping of the Thunderbirds in the tailend of a doubleheader. Jeremy Lockwood-Menard tossed a four-hitter while Matt Pugliese and Steve Frost each had three hits.
As for Aumont, his mind was on bigger things.
"I'm always thinking about pro ball," he said. "Playing pro baseball is my dream."
A dream that may not be too far away from becoming reality.
