Team Quebec had a perfect run at the Canadian Men's Baseball Championships as they went 6-0 in tournament including a dramatic 6-5 walk of win over Team Saskatchewan in the Gold Medal game this past Sunday night. The title is the first for the proivince in over a decade at the championships. 

 

In round robin play, Quebec opened round robin with a pair of wins. In their first game, they took on Team Nova Scotia. Both teams were tied after the 1st inning but Quebec would score two runs in the 3rd inning to take a 3-1 lead. They would add another run in the 6th followed by three more in the 7th to win this game 7-1

 

Josue Peley led the way offensively for Team Quebec going 3-for-3 with a double, a walk, a run and an RBI. Joanthan Martin was 2-for-4 with a HR, two runs and a pair of RBIs while Moises Perez was 1-for-4 with a HR, a run and three RBIs. Chris Thibidean accounted for the Nova Scotia offense going 2-for-3 with a solo HR.

 

Karl Gelinas was the winning pitcher throwing a complete game allowing one run (earned) on six hits. He walked one batter while striking out six. Codey Shridere took the loss for Team Nova Scotia tossing 6 1/3 innings allowing seven runs (all earned) on 10 hits. He walked three batters while striking out five. 

 

Later in the day, Team Quebec then matched up against Team Newfoundland & Labrador. Quebec jumped out of the gates early in this one as they scored four run in the 1st inning and added two in the 2nd inning for an early 6-0 lead. Team Newfoundland would cut that lead in half scoring three run in the 3rd inning but Quebec would add two runs in the home half of that frame followed by two more in the 4th inning and three in the 5th inning to win this game by a score of 13-3

 

Josue Peley led the way again offensively going 2-for-3 with a HR, a double, two runs and three RBIs. Kevin Tremblay was 2-for-4 with a HR, two runs and three RBIs while Douglas Toro was 1-for-4 with a double, a run and three RBIs. Alex Walsh led the Team Newfoundland offense going 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs while Grany Kenney was 2-for-2, with a double, a run and an RBI. 

 

Jonathan Paquet started and collected the win for Team Quebec. He went four innings allowing three runs (all earned) on six hits. He walked one batter while striking out six. Oscar Rodriguez threw a clean 5th inning walking one batter and striking out one. Aaron Peach started and took the loss for Newfoundland tossing an inning and allowing four runs (three earned) on two hits. He walked two batters while striking out one. 

 

On Friday, Team Quebec then matched up against Team Ontario. This game was scoreless through the first three innings before Team Onatrio opneed the scoring in the 4th inning plating a single run. They would add two more runs in the 5th inning to extnd their lead to 3-0.

 

Team Quebec would finally get to the Team Ontario starter in the 7th as they plated three runs off of him as well as a pair of relievers to tie the game up 3-3. The game would remain scoreless for the next three innings before team Quebec would finally break the deadlock in the 11th inning scoring a pair of runs and would hang pn for a 5-3 win. 

 

Kevin Tremblay led the offense for Team Quebec going 1-for-3 with a pair of walks and three RBIs. Josue Peley was 2-for-6 with a triple, two runs and an RBI while Jonathan Martin was 2-for-4 with two doubles, two walks and two runs. Mitch Hudvanger led the Team Ontario offense going 2-for-5 with a double, a walk and a pair of RBIs while Jake Lumley was 1-for-4 with a HR, a walk, a run and an RBI.

 

Mathieu Poirier started on the mound for Team Quebec and threw four innings allowing one run (earned) on one hit while walking three. Philippe Saad would follow him to the mound allowing two runs (both earned) on one hit in a 1/3 of an inning. Samuel Poliquin would enter next and go 3 2/3 innings, allowing no runs on one hit while walking three and striking out three as well. 

 

Lefty Bryan Corona would enter the game next and would end up collecting the win. He threw two innings alllowing no runs on no hits while walking two and striking out one. Sam Belisle Springer would throw the final inning collecting the save. He allowed no runs on no hits while striking out two batters. Jake Rajsigl, the 4th pitcher for Team Ontario took the loss going 2 1/3 innings allowing two runs (both earned) on two hits while walking two.

 

On Saturday, Team Quebec played their final round robin game against the host team from Red Deer. Quebec would open the scoring in the 1st inning as they took an early 3-0 lead. Red Deer would tie the game with three runs of their own in the bottom of the 3rd inning.

 

Team Quebec would reclaim the lead the following inning adding a rund for a 4-3 lead. They would add three more in the 5th inning and another run in the 6th inning to extend their lead to 8-3. Red Deer would get two runs back in the top of the 7th inning but Team Quebec would take this game by a score of 8-5.

 

Kevin Tremblay led the way offensively for Team Quebec going 2-for-3 with two HRs, a walk, two runs and four RBIs. Moises Perez was 3-for-4 with a double, two runs and an RBI while Josue Peley was 3-for-4 with a pair of runs. Tyler McWillie led the Red Deer oeense going 3-for-4 with a pair of HRs, two runs and four RBIs while Josh Edwards was 1-for-3 with a HR, a walk, a run and an RBI.

 

On the mound, Oscar Rodriguez drew the start for Team Quebec. He went 3 2/3 innings allowing three runs (all earned) on six hits. He walked one batter while striking out three in getting a no decision. Rene-Dave Pelchat picked up the win going 3 1/3 innings allowing two runs (both earned) on three hits. He walked one batter while striking out four. Rees DeRuyter took the loss for Red Deer throwing 3 2/3 innings allowing four runs (all earned) nine hits while striking out four batters. 

 

With a 4-0 record in the round robin, Team Quebec was the top seed in the pool and advanced directly to the semi-finals where they would take on Team Nova Scotia. Team Quebec put this one out of reach early as they scored one run in the 1st, followed by seven in the 2nd inning and four more in the 3rd inning for a 12-0 lead. They would get one more in the 4th inning for a 13-0 win in this game. 

 

Raphael Gladu led the offense for Team Quebec going 2-for-2 with a double, a walk, two runs and a pair of RBIs. Douglas Toro was 2-for-3 with a run and three RBIs while Moises Perez was 1-for-3 with a HR, a walk, a run and three RBIs. Brett MacGinnis had the sole hit for Team NS with a pinch hit single. 

 

Sam Belisle Springer drew the start and collected the win throwing five innings allowing no runs on just one hit. He walked one batter while striking out nine. Garrett Nicholson drew the start for Team NS and took the loss throwing one inning allowing 5 runs (all earned) on five hits. He walked three batters while striking out none. 

 

This put Team Quebec in the final where they would take on Team Saskatchewan. Team Quebec would open the scoring in this one scoring a pair of runs in the 2nd inning for a 2-0 lead. They would add another run in the 3rd innng to take a 3-0 lead after three innings. After a scorless 4th inning, Team Saskatchewan would get their first run of the game in the 5th inning cutting the lead to 3-1.

 

Team Quebec would answer back with two in the home half of the inning to extend their lead to 5-1. Team Saskatchewan would put together a big rally in the 6th inning and would plate four runs to tie the game up 5-5. Both team would be held scorless in their next at bats and in the bottom of the 7th inning, Raphael Gladu was the hero as he launched the first pitch he saw in the inning over the fence in centre field for a 6-5 Team Quebec win. 

 

Gladu led the way offensively for Team Quebec going 2-for-4 with a HR, two runs and an RBI. Moises Perez was 2-for-3 with a HR, a run and two RBI while Raphael John Leblanc goes 1-for-3 with a HR, a run and two RBIs. Jordan Dezotell led the way offensively for Team Saskatchewan going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI while Nolan Bracken was 1-for-2 with a double, two runs and two RBIs. 

 

That brought the 2023 edition of the Canadian Men's Baseball Championships to a close. Baseball Canada announced two major award winners at the completion of the tournament. SS Chris Farrow from Team Nova Scotia was named the Top Defensive Player of the Tournament while OF Mosies Perez from Team Quebec was named the Top Hitter of the Tournament. A big congrats to both of these players of their great play at this year's event.

 

A big thank you to all of the teams and fans for their supoort and for following throughout the tournament. We were happy to bring everyone across the country some of the coverage from Red Deer. Speaking of Red Deer, a big thank you and congrats to the Red Deer Riggers team for their amazing job in hosting this event this year. It was first class all the way and everything was very well put together.