Photo courtesy of Scott Roblin

By Scott Roblin

Shut Out

Medicine Hat blanked by Puerto Rico in Junior Little League World Series opener

Aug 11, 2019 | 3:45 PM

TAYLOR, MI – The debut of the Medicine Hat AAA All-Stars on the world stage didn’t go quite as planned on Sunday, losing their first game at the 2019 Junior Little League World Series.

Playing as Team Canada, the All-Stars were only able to muster three hits against Team Puerto Rico in a 4-0 shutout loss in Taylor, Michigan.

Over the first three innings, Canada and Puerto Rico were on even footing with a scoreless game entering the fourth inning.

Medicine Hat’s defence wasn’t able to contain Puerto Rico’s bats in the top half of the fourth following a pair of singles and a walk by Kevan Schafer to load the bases.

Henry Clausell drew into the game pinch hitting for Puerto Rico skying one to left field which was caught by Koby Eskestrand, but Eddiel Almodovar was able to tag up and score the game’s first run.

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Following another single by Puerto Rico to load the bases again, Schafer was pulled after three and two-thirds innings.

Trevin Ressler came into the game for Medicine Hat on the mound, but immediately gave up a double to left field by Nathan Martinez to bring two more runs in for Puerto Rico.

Canada began pressing in the bottom half of the fourth with Ressler and Kayne Olinski sitting at second and third base, but Eskestrand grounded to second base for the inning’s final out.

In the top of the sixth, Martinez continued his big day at the plate with a double to centre field to bring Jomar Bermudez around to score to make it a 4-0 game.

Ressler, Schafer, and Jeff Bullock were the only Canadian batters to register hits off the Puerto Rico pitching staff, while Martinez led the way with three RBIs for the Puerto Ricans.

Beginning their tournament off with a loss, the Medicine Hat squad will move down to the ‘B’ bracket on the international side.

Canada will take on the loser of Monday night’s contest between Latin America and either Australia or Asia-Pacific.

That elimination contest will get underway on Tuesday morning at 9:00 am.