| Game 21: Ontario 11 Saskatchewan 1 (5 innings) |
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Ontario on a roll DARREN STEINKE This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Ontario flexed its muscle and it spelled doom for Saskatchewan. Looking to return to the Baseball Canada Cup final after a one-year absence, Ontario bombed the squad from the wheat province 11-1 Friday afternoon at Athletic Park. The game ended after five innings due to the 10-run mercy rule. With the victory, Ontario has won four straight games after losing their opener of the tournament to sit first in Pool A at 4-1. “The most important thing was to get the offence rolling,” said Ontario head coach Jason Chee-Aloy. “We started off slow. “We started build momentum offensively. The guys are coming around and hitting the baseball a lot better.” Ontario stormed out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first. The highlight of the rally was a two RBI single by shortstop Maxx Tissenbaum. The three runs came off of two hits, two errors, a walk, a hit batter and a dropped third strike. The lead extended to 5-0 in the bottom of the second after Ontario outfielder Tanner Nivins slammed a two-run home run over the left field fence. The ball hit the running path behind the fence and appeared to bounce into the South Saskatchewan River. “We have really come together as a team,” said Nivins. “Our bats have finally come on.” In the bottom of the third, Trevor Barton hit a two RBI single with two outs to stretch the Ontario edge to 7-0. Ontario added three more runs in the fourth and a single in the fifth to end the game. Ontario received a strong performance on the mound from Jerome Werniuk, who struck out six batters in throwing a three hitter. Logan Calanachie suffered the loss on the hill for Saskatchewan only lasting three innings. Besides the hitting and the pitching, Chee-Aloy was pleased with how his team ran the base paths. Saskatchewan seemed to have all sorts of problems with Ontario’s skill and speed and committed four errors. “Unlike the last three teams I coached in this tournament, this team has definitely the most speed,” said Chee-Aloy. “We thought we would always look to take advantage of that strength whenever we can.” Saskatchewan head coach Roger Anholt was disappointed with the errors his club made Friday, and he said they contributed to the blowout results. Anholt’s squad fell 9-3 earlier in the day to Quebec. “I give those guys all the credit in the world,” said Anholt. “Team Ontario is a very good team. “I can sum up our losses today by mistakes. I’d like to think that the real team Saskatchewan was the one we saw (Thursday) against B.C. and Ontario. “We were just not even close to that (Friday). We deserve to get beaten in both games.” |
