The Future Helena and Arizona Brewers -- 30th round 3B/OF Dedrick Signs

[battlekow]

Offense has become a priority behind the plate

Four of the first 16 players selected in the draft last month were strong-hitting catchers, underlining a recent trend emphasizing offense at that position.

By Lucas Shaw, Special to The Times

July 16, 2008

Brett Lawrie, at 6 feet tall, can dunk a basketball.

 

He can also hit a baseball. When Canada's junior national team went on a spring tour of the Dominican Republic, Lawrie hit .486 with eight home runs and 24 runs batted in.

 

The question is whether he can catch.

 

Lawrie, an 18-year-old native of British Columbia, did not begin playing behind the plate until last summer, at the suggestion of Greg Hamilton, his national team coach. That did not deter the Milwaukee Brewers, who made Lawrie the 16th pick overall in last month's major league draft.

 

The selection of Lawrie, whom Dodgers catcher and fellow Canadian Russell Martin calls the most athletic catcher in the game, points to a recent trend emphasizing offense at that position. Four of the first 16 players selected last month were strong-hitting catchers. And five of the six catchers at Tuesday's All-Star game were young players with impressive offensive numbers.

 

Chad Kreuter, USC head coach and a big league catcher for 16 years, said that the typical approach was to "put a big kid that can't do anything else behind the plate."

 

Rather than taking offense as a bonus to solid defense, Kreuter and many of his colleagues believe teams will sacrifice something on the defensive end if a player is skilled enough offensively.

 

"Everybody wants to have as much offense at every position as you can have," said Pat Casey, head baseball coach at Oregon State. "A lot of it depends on how offensive you are at other places. Can you afford to be more defensive behind the plate?"

 

But many in baseball say that despite the 2008 draft, and the emergence of young stars such as Joe Mauer of the Twins and rookie Geovany Soto of the Cubs -- Tuesday night's starters behind the plate -- handling pitchers and playing defense remain the most important skills for catchers.

 

"Offense is secondary," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia, a former catcher. "The catcher is going to influence a major league game more than anyone on the field by calling 140 or 150 pitches."

 

Added Jason LaRue, backup catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals: "I think they expected more offensive numbers out of some catchers but only a few guys can do it."

 

In Lawrie, the Brewers see potential.

 

"We took what we felt was the best player available," said Jack Zduriencik, vice president and special assistant to the general manager for player personnel with the Brewers. "He's played everywhere and this kid wants to be a catcher. We think he's an offensive player."

 

Also from June's draft, Buster Posey, taken fifth overall by San Francisco, led all of college baseball in batting average while Jason Castro, drafted 10th by Houston, led the Pacific 10 Conference in hits. But the one who drew comparisons to Mauer, a former No. 1 pick, was the sixth pick, Kyle Skipworth, who, like the Twins' Mauer, is a tall, left-handed hitting catcher just out of high school.

 

According to Jim Fleming, vice president of player personnel and scouting for the Florida Marlins, who drafted Skipworth, every team is looking for a catcher who can hit and excels behind the plate.

 

"It's almost like getting two players at once," he said.

 

While Skipworth's defense has been seen and evaluated, Lawrie's is still mostly unknown. Few doubt his hitting ability or athleticism, and it is the latter that many feel will help him become a great catcher.

 

"He's got a long way to go defensively but he has the athletic ability to be a good defensive catcher," Martin said.

 

Some, like Fleming, still believe that offense is just a bonus. Others, like Joe McIlvaine, a special assistant for the Minnesota Twins, believe there has been a shift in the game.

 

"If you come to a manager and are trying to sell him on a catcher, the first question is not can he catch and throw, but can he hit," McIlvaine said. "It's almost the same way at every position. It is so offense oriented."

 

The bigger question for McIlvaine or USC's Kreuter is why this shift has happened. Mike Gillespie, head coach at UC Irvine, points to a decrease in base stealing.

 

"You just don't see the base-stealing skills among major league players you once saw," Gillespie said. "There wasn't quite a concern about the running game. People probably felt you could prioritize offense more."

 

With fewer base stealers and pitchers delivering the ball to the plate faster every year, one attribute scouts typically seek -- arm strength -- has become less significant. Yet, most subscribe to McIlvaine's theory of shifting trends.

 

"Without a doubt we've seen a swing in things over the years," Gillespie said. Gillespie believes that just as shortstop became a more offensive position with the rise of Alex Rodriguez and Nomar Garciaparra, so catcher has with Martin and Mauer.

 

"I think the game in general has become offensive," said Eric Kubota, scouting director for the Oakland Athletics. Recent offensive numbers support Kubota and McIlvaine's beliefs. According to STATS LLC, 31 qualified catchers have hit over .300 since 2000, 11 more than between 1970 and 1990.

 

With power numbers down across the major leagues this season, what McIlvaine and others are waiting to see is whether there is a swing back.

 

"A lot of these younger guys these days put the emphasis on hitting," LaRue said. "It's starting to revert back. It is a defensive position not an offensive position."

[Chio151]

So yeah, I don't usually go for the 'softball' build, but she's well.... pretty.

[YostInfection]

A couple things raced through my mind in that photo of Brett swinging...

 

1) Could this be the next reincarnation of a beloved Wisconsin figure wearing #4, with the given name of Brett???

 

2) I then immediately remembered Mr. Paul Molitor. Looks like Brett is on the hunt for a new number...

 

Impressive young man, let's hope his confidence translates into hits.

[battlekow]

I just got word from 19th-round RHP Blake Billings that he's signed and in Arizona. That means that, assuming Lawrie is going to sign, which is widely accepted as a foregone conclusion, the Brewers will have signed their first 26 picks. That's excellent.

[homer]

"Brett is 6 feet and 200 pounds of lean muscle. He has a 46-inch vertical leap."

 

 

Wha?????

[battlekow]

Canada breaks out the brooms

 

By Brody Mark

Thursday, July 17, 2008

 

Brett Lawrie came into Thunder Bay as the main attraction and he didn't disappoint.

The Team Canada junior squad phenom hit three home runs in three games as his team went undefeated in the Warm Up to the Worlds exhibition series which wrapped up Wednesday night at Port Arthur Stadium.

Lawrie's last blast came against Chinese Taipei as Team Canada shut them out in Wednesday night's finale 8-0.

"I wasn't looking to do too much," said Lawrie, who was selected 16th overall in the first round of the Major League Baseball Draft last month by the Milwaukee Brewers. "Just come out here and try to do what I can to help the team win and get a good pitch to hit."

Canada swept Taipei in their two-game set while beating the Thunder Bay Selects 6-2 Tuesday afternoon. The games acted as a dress rehearsal for Taipei and Canada as they head west to play in the 2008 World Junior Baseball Championship that starts on July 25 in Edmonton.

The job doesn't get any easier for Canada's head coach Greg Hamilton, who will have to whittle down his roster from 25 to 18 guys for the championship.

"We got everybody out and we had an opportunity to look at some people and we have relative comparisons to make," said Hamilton. "We have some challenges in terms of our roster so it's starting to clarify itself."

Lawrie got Canada on the board in the top of the first inning when he smashed a Tsung-Chien Lin pitch over the left-field fence.

Teammate Lionel Morrill copied Lawrie with a solo blast of his own in the top of the second inning, also courtesy of Lin. It was Morrill's second home run of the series, his first a grand slam walk-off homer off the Selects in the eighth inning of that contest.

Canada went on to score two more in the third and eighth innings while adding singles in the fifth and sixth inning.

Team Canada pitcher Andrew Ledger picked up the win for his team while Tsung-Chien Lin took the loss for Chinese Taipei.

Taipei couldn't get much going with the bats as they earned just four hits in the game. Relief pitcher Jui-Hua Yang was the lone bright spot for his team Wednesday night as he threw three innings while allowing just one run on four hits.

Team Canada will now hold mini-camps in Brandon, Man., and Winnipeg before making a stop in Okotoks, Alta., before finally arriving in Edmonton.

Winning all three games has Hamilton happy leaving Thunder Bay.

"You want to get some momentum going," said Hamilton. "You'd rather sweep than lose three, so that's a positive."

 

Notes: Chia-Liang Hung and Keng-Ha Chang combined to allow just three hits and one run while striking out 12 as they defeated the Thunder Bay Selects 6-1 in Wednesday's early game. Hua-Jui Yang went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in to lead the offensive charge.

The win was Chinese Taipei's lone victory in the three games they played.

[Mass Haas]

Lawrie aims to swing big bat in Beijing

By Gary Ahuja - Langley Times

 

Published: July 17, 2008 5:00 PM

At just 18 years old, Brett Lawrie will be facing players with professional experience either at the Major League level, or one step below at the AAA level.

But judging by his track record so far, Lawrie should have no problem fitting in.

"The talent is exceptional for his age," said Greg Hamilton, the director of the national teams for Canada's baseball program.

"He is a very special talent.

"A kid that we think has the ability to contribute at the Olympic level."

Lawrie was named to Canada's men's baseball team, adding some firepower from the right-side of the plate.

His selection makes him the second member of the Lawrie household who will be attending the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing next month: older sister Danielle, 21, is a star pitcher for the women's softball team.

And much like Danielle said, Brett agrees that playing multiple sports growing up helped him become a better athlete.

"I think playing different sports has helped me," he explained.

"I was always active."

But baseball was always the game of choice.

"As a little guy, I always had a ball in my hand," Lawrie said.

His father Russ likes to joke that Brett came out of the womb hitting.

Whatever the case, the youngest of the Lawrie clan always showed an ability to smack the ball.

It probably began on family camping trips where he would go down to the water and spend hours hitting rocks with a racket, developing good hand-eye co-ordination.

Lawrie excelled through the ranks of organized baseball and has been a big part of the Langley Blaze baseball program and with the Canadian junior national team.

All of that helped Lawrie earn a scholarship to noted-baseball powerhouse Arizona State University and to be a first round draft pick (16th overall) of the Milwaukee Brewers.

If Lawrie does not sign with the Brewers, he will attend Arizona State in the fall.

In limited action with the Blaze this season - he has been away at junior national camps a few times - Lawrie has hit .435, with 11 of his 20 hits going for extra bases. His slugging percentage is an outstanding .870, more than 300 points higher than his closest teammate.

That includes for four home runs. And these home runs are not just going out of the park, but striking cars in the parking lot at McLeod Park, as was the case when he accomplished that feat twice in the same game.

Now Lawrie will take his game to the Olympics, where his teammates range in age from 20 to 41.

"He has proved he can hit pro pitching and I think he should fit in fine with that team," predicts Blaze coach Doug Mathieson.

Hamilton said that while Lawrie is young, he should be a factor for the Canadians.

"We are not expecting him to carry the load, we are not expecting him to be the saviour," Hamilton said.

"We realize he is 18, but we respect the fact that he is a pretty special kid."

To succeed, a mature, competitive personality is needed.

"The make-up is a big reason why he is here," Hamilton said. "He is one of those kids we feel can deal with it and handle that kind of environment."

http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/320*465/NewS.47.20080717161326.BrettLawrie_0534BW_20080718.jpgRob NEWELL/Langley Times

Brett Lawrie, just 18 years old, will hope to provide the Canadian offence with some pop from his bat at the Beijing Olympic Games next month. Lawrie is first helping the Canadian junior national team at the world junior baseball championships in Edmonton later this month.

[battlekow]

What happened?

[Mass Haas]

Thanks for the find, bk, you had placed it in Wednesday's Link Report by mistake...

[battlekow]

Haha, oh. I was confused (apparently more than I knew). Thanks MH.

[battlekow]

Okotoks hosts big league hopefuls

Brewers' teen prospect from B.C. set for quick visit

Kristen Odland, Calgary Herald

Published: Sunday, July 20, 2008

When it's all said and done, summer 2008 could likely stand as the winner in Brett Lawrie's books.

For starters, the 18-year-old from Langley, B.C., opened the summer playing for Canada on a tour of the Dominican Republic and wowed major league scouts with his hitting, going 17-for-35, with eight homers and 24 runs batted in.

In June, he made Canadian history by going 16th overall to the Milwaukee Brewers in the first round of the 2008 MLB draft -- making him the highest Canadian positional player to hit the big leagues.

The summer offerings continued when Lawrie recently earned a spot on Canada's Olympic team, Beijing-bound in a matter of weeks -- the youngest player to be named, no less.

But in some ways, it's been a natural progression for him.

He's been a member of Canada's national system since he was 15 and had caught the eye of Arizona State University back in December.

"I was just playing to win and doing what I do -- play baseball," noted the former Langley Blaze of the B.C. premier league, who could head to the NCAA Division 1 school if his agent can't strike an appropriate deal with the Brewers in the coming weeks.

"I think playing all the time with Team Canada and then getting drafted like that, I do have a lot of confidence in myself now," said Lawrie. "I know I can play day in and day out with those guys."

His power, according to major league scouts, sets him apart from the rest, but they say his positional play is still waiting to be defined.

For Canada in August, he'll be a multipurpose player, fitting the mould as a catcher, infielder or outfielder.

But as for the Big Show, he's been trying not to let anyone break his stride.

"You hear a lot of things," said Lawrie. "Someone may (rank) you here, someone may have you there; one (report) could be way better than another (report), so you never want to get your hopes up. And I never did.

"But as the draft came and I had a good Domincan series . . . I think people saw me down there and I guess my stocks kind of rose after that.

"It just took off from there."

Gearing up for Olympic play, Lawrie is doing time with the Canadian junior team, led by national director Greg Hamilton, for the remainder of the month.

And starting on Monday, Lawrie will be one of the marquee players paying a two-day visit to Okotoks' Seaman Stadium for a quick exhibition stop.

They'll be joined by future major leaguers and summer Olympians from the the United States and Chinese Taipei junior national teams to clash against the Okotoks Dawgs for an International Super Series.

From there, the Canadian team will head to Edmonton for the World Junior Triple 'A' Baseball Championship July 25 to Aug. 3.

"When you have international teams from Canada, the U.S. and China that are stacked with kids who have been recently drafted and will be in the big leagues in a few years," noted Dawgs managing director John Iricandia, "that's a pretty impressive thing.

"Once word gets out to people, they're going to want to see it."

[Minigoon]

19th-round RHP Blake Billings said that he hopes to sign by next week. His signing is currently being held up by Seth Lintz, who has to sign before Billings can (I'm not entirely sure why--they share the same scout, and Billings said the picks had to sign in "chronological order".). Before Lintz can sign, he has to take a physical in Milwaukee, and he can't do that until the doctor has an open time, which is next week.

 

Any word on Billings? Sounded like he would be following Lintz quickly to Arizona.

[battlekow]

Just a couple posts above you, Minigoon:

 

"I just got word from 19th-round RHP Blake Billings that he's signed and in Arizona. That means that, assuming Lawrie is going to sign, which is widely accepted as a foregone conclusion, the Brewers will have signed their first 26 picks. That's excellent."

[battlekow]

Apparently Maverick Lasker has a stress fracture in his back, so it looks like he won't be making his debut until next year. I asked him if the Brewers voided his contract and re-signed him for a lesser amount, a la Cody Scarpetta, and he said no.

[battlekow]

EDIT: box score

Brett Lawrie homered and Stosh Wawrzasek struck out 11 in 7 innings to help Canada beat Italy in the World Juniors:

 

CANADA THRASH ITALY AT WORLD JUNIOR BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

EDMONTON - Stosh Warzasek of Langley, B.C, pitched two hits and 11 strikeouts over seven innings as Canada shutout Italy 7-0 to open the World Junior Baseball Championship on Friday.

"The game plan was just to throw strikes," said Wawrzasek, a Milwaukee Brewers prospect. "I just went out there and pounded the zone just so I could get a feel (for the hitters) and the second time around I'd know what to do.

"It's a good start for the whole team. It's a great way to start our tournament, especially with the run support we have."

Canada took little time in getting on the board. Brett Lawrie of Langely, B.C. hit a sacrifice fly to score Ivan Hartle of North Vancouver, B.C., in the first inning.

Later on in the sixth, Lawrie would homer as Canada put the game away with a four-run tear.

"I had a 2-0 count and I knew he was going to bring me a fastball and I just put a good swing on it," says Lawrie of his home run.

Michael Crouse of Port Moody, B.C., hit a RBI double in the seventh to bring in Toronto's Marcus Knecht for the final run.

Canada next faces Chinese Taipei on Saturday. The match will mark the seventh meeting between the teams since July 15th.

[DHonks]

not to jinx anything, but does Lawrie ever go more than a game or two without homering?

[battlekow]

EDIT: box score

 

More big hits (three triples!) for Brett Lawrie on Saturday against Chinese Taipei. Unsigned Brewers picks Nick Bucci, James Kottaras, and Marcus Knecht also took part:

Juniors Win Wild One In Bottom of the Ninth

EDMONTON - In what was a back and forth tilt with Chinese Taipei, the Junior National Team pulled off one of its most exciting wins to date when Brett Lawrie (Langley, BC) hit a walk off triple to break a 6-6 tie in the bottom of the ninth inning to win their second game at the World Junior Championship by a score of 7-6.

Lawrie's third triple of the game with one out in the bottom of the ninth brought in James Kottaras (Markham, ON) to score the winning run in what turned out to be a wild affair.

"I love being put in a game breaking situation," says Lawrie, who was 3-for-4 with three triples and three RBI. "I just kept my composure and I was able to drive a fastball on the outer half into the gap and we ended up winning the game. It was fun."

With the score 6-4 for Canada heading into the top of the ninth, Chinese Taipei were able to load the bases with only one out on Mike Monster (Kelowna, BC) when he hit Ming-Yen Kan to bring in a run and make it 6-5.

Evan Grills (Whitby, ON) was then brought in to relieve Monster with the bases still loaded. Fu-Lin Kuo would hit a single to center to bring in the tying run and Chun-Yi Wu was waved in to try and score the go-ahead run.

The throw from center beat Wu to the plate with catcher Greg Densem (Toronto, ON) waiting to apply the tag. Wu would then virtually dropkick Densem, striking his spikes in the catcher's mask.

This incident would clear both benches, but the situation was diffused before there were any further altercations. Wu was ejected from the game and could face a possible suspension.

The fireworks in the top half of the frame setup what was a dramatic finish in favour of the Canadians.

"That's international baseball. You got to play as a team," says JNT Manager Greg Hamilton. "Everyone has to pull for one another. You got to pick everybody up and have a never say die attitude. We got some guys who will compete really hard and it's never over until it's over."

"We were able to bring the guys together and dial it down a little bit," adds Hamilton, referring to the incident at the plate. "We got them to understand that there is potentially a lot more baseball still to be played and we wanted to keep our heads above and not let it get away.

The incident at the plate and the heroics in the bottom of the ninth overshadowed what was a great back and forth battle between these two teams.

The Juniors opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning by scoring a pair of runs, highlighted by Lawrie's first triple of the game to drive Canada's first run.

Nick Bucci (Sarnia, ON) got the start on the hill for Canada and took care of Chinese Taipei in order in the first inning. He would retire the side in order again in the third on route to a five inning outing, allowing three runs and two walks with five strikeouts.

"I wanted to give six strong innings. I couldn't get that done, but the team came thru in the clutch," says Bucci. "This is the biggest win in my life. The best game I've ever played in."

With the score 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth, Lawrie hit his second triple to drive in Kottaras for the Juniors' fourth run.

Taipei would make it 4-3 in the sixth, but Canada would respond in the bottom half of the inning on a sacrifice fly from Marcus Knecht (Toronto, ON) to score Carter Morrison (Langley, BC), who had reached with a triple.

Taipei would once again make it a one run game in the seventh, but Canada brought their lead back up to two in the eighth when Carter Bell (Courtenay, BC) would score on a fielder's choice, setting up what would be an exciting final frame.

The Junior National Team will now face one of its biggest challenges in the tournament when they take on Cuba on Sunday, July 27 at 3:00 pm at Telus Field.

[battlekow]

EDIT: box score

 

The Canadian Juniors lost on Sunday to Cuba. Brett Lawrie's not mentioned in the recap (the only Brewers draftee that is mentioned is unsigned Marcus Knecht), and I can't find a box score, so not sure what he did, but apparently it wasn't worth noting:

Juniors Suffer First Loss at Worlds

EDMONTON - The Junior National Team had Cuba on the ropes the entire game, but they could not hold on as a wild pitch and an error allowed two runs to score in the eighth inning and give the Cubans a 4-3 win over the Canadians.

With Canada ahead by a score of 3-2 in the top of the eighth, Cuba had men on second and third with one out when Evan Grills (Whitby, ON) uncorked a wild pitch, accompanied by an error would allowed both runners to score and give Cuba the 4-3 lead.

That wild pitch would be the only kink in Grills' armour on this day as the 16-year-old left-hander threw eight solid innings, allowing the four runs, two of which were earned, on eight hits and two walks with six strikeouts.

"I wanted to be on the mound for this game," says Grills. "After facing them last year (in Mexico) I wanted a second chance. I thought I pitched well today and the defense played well behind me. We just didn't come out on top."

After the Cubans took the lead, the Canadians would threaten in the bottom half of the inning with runners on first and second with two outs, but the Cubans got Ivan Hartle (North Vancouver, BC) to ground into a force out to end the frame.

Brandon Petite (Glace Bay, NS) pitched the ninth inning and kept the Cubans at bay with some help from his defense as Michael Crouse (Port Moody, BC) and Lionel Morrill (Edmonton, AB) both made spectacular catches in the outfield. Crouse made a diving grab in center for the second out, while Morrill made a leaping catch at the wall in left for the third out.

Unfortunately, there were no comebacks like the night before as the Canadians could not get anything started in the ninth and they would go down in order to end the game.

"It was a good ball game by both teams," says JNT Manager Greg Hamilton. "Neither team gave in and the difference between these two teams is very small."

"I think we showed that we can beat them," adds Grills. "One play was the difference in the end."

The game started with the Cubans getting on the board first in the top of the first inning on a RBI single to make it 1-0.

Canada responded in the bottom of the second by scoring a pair of runs to take a 2-1 lead. Carter Morrison (Langley, BC) scored on a wild pitch and Marcus Knecht (Toronto, ON) crossed home plate on a throwing error.

Cuba would tie it up in the third with another RBI single, but Canada regained the lead in the fifth on a RBI triple from Morrison.

Canada had their chances to put the game away, but ended up leaving nine runners stranded compared to Cuba's seven.

The Junior National Team will enjoy a day off on Monday and will return to action on Tuesday, July 29th at 7:05 pm against Puerto Rico at Telus Field.

[homer]

Having Lawrie will reduce the sting if Lucroy is the PTBNL in the Sabathia deal. Can't wait to see him at Helena or WV.

[Mass Haas]

Unsigned Brewers picks Nick Bucci, James Kottaras, and Marcus Knecht also took part.

 

Actually, Bucci signed on June 10th, according to the Brewers. They must be letting him take part regardless.

[battlekow]

Oh, you're right Mass. I was confusing him with Nick Fogarty. I actually think Bucci goes by "Nic".

[battlekow]

Apparently Lawrie is catching for Canada, at least in the Juniors.

 

Souris baseball scout recognizes a winner

 

By JASON HILLS, SUN MEDIA

EDMONTON -- San Diego Padres scout Murray Zuk of Souris sat in Telus Field with a keen eye the last time Edmonton hosted the World Junior AAA Championships in 2000. He's back again this time around.

"The last time the tournament was here there were some tremendous kids like Joe Mauer and Jeremy Bonderman," said Zuk.

"There were probably more big name players in that tournament (2000), than there are this year, but it's pretty hard to say anybody has been better than Brett Lawrie in either tournament."

The Team Canada catcher was drafted 16th overall by the Milwaukee Brewers this past June, making him the highest Canadian positional player ever chosen.

Lawrie has had an exceptional tournament.

He is tied for the tournament lead in hits (six) and RBI (five). He also leads the tournament with three triples.

He smacked a home run against Italy in the tournament opener.

"He's doing it all," said Zuk.

"His bat is doing it, his legs are doing it stealing bases, he's making great plays behind the plate."

"He's doing absolutely everything," added Zuk.

"I don't think you could ask anymore from a player. than what he's doing."

[battlekow]

EDIT: box score

 

Lawrie homers again!

Juniors Merciless In Win Against Puerto Rico

EDMONTON - It did not begin well for the Junior National Team, but they would regroup and score 16 unanswered runs on route to 18-7 win over Puerto Rico at the World Junior Championship.

All nine-hitters got at least one hit in this game. Leading the way was Brett Lawrie (Langley, BC) who was a double short of the cycle, going 3-for-4 with six RBI, a triple and an inside the park home run.

"We did a good job of handling pitches and we produced with guys in scoring position," says Lawrie. "If we can keep producing like that and cash in guys we're going to be in good shape."

This game would be called after seven innings due to the 10-run mercy rule which is in effect.

However, the Canadians did not get this win the easy way as Puerto Rico would erase a one run lead in the bottom of the first by scoring six runs and take a 6-1 lead.

Andrew Ledger (Toronto, ON) started on the mound for Canada and would give up five of the six first inning runs, pitching one-third of an inning. Jonathan Gilbert (St-Georges, QC) came in relief of Ledger and would give up the sixth run before settling down and getting the final two outs of the inning.

The Juniors would recover and begin chipping away by scoring two runs in the top of the second inning. Carter Bell (Courtenay, BC) and Luke Willson (Lasalle, ON) began the inning with back-to-back doubles. Carter Morrison (Langley, BC) and James Kottaras (Markham, ON) would cash them in, reducing the Puerto Ricans' lead to three.

The Canadians opened the flood gates in the fourth inning by scoring six runs and taking a 9-6 lead. Greg Densem (Toronto, ON) drove in the first run of the frame on a double, scoring Morrison. Ivan Hartle (North Vancouver, BC) and Lionel Morrill (Edmonton, AB) would follow up by driving in each a run. Then Morrill and Brett Lawrie would score the go-ahead and what would be the winning run on a triple from Michael Crouse (Port Moody, BC). Crouse would score on a Carter Bell single.

From there Gilbert was on cruise control. He would hold Puerto Rico to one hit over the next five innings. In total, he allowed two hits with five strikeouts in 5.2 innings pitched.

"I just went in and tried to throw strikes and keep us in the game so we could comeback and win," says Gilbert.

"(Gilbert) was outstanding," says JNT Manager Greg Hamilton. "You had to have that. We were in a situation where we couldn't wait any longer. Not only did he keep us in the game and give our offence the chance to take over, but he helped us save some arms we'll need moving forward."

The Canadians would answer their six run fourth inning with a five run fifth, highlighted by a triple from Lawrie to score three runs.

Canada would keep the pedal to the metal in the sixth by adding another four runs featuring a two-run inside the park home run from Lawrie where the center fielder lost the ball, allowing the Brewers draft pick to go around the bases.

"I knew I hit it hard," says Lawrie. "It was one of those things where I knew he had lost it, so I just took off and kept running hard."

"It's been a long time," adds Lawrie of his inside the parker. "I can't really remember the last time I hit one."

With the game well in hand, the Canadians turned to Mike Monster (Kelowna, BC) in the seventh to close things out. The Puerto Ricans would add an unearned run but that would be it as Monster would strikeout the Puerto Rican hitter for the final out of the game.

Next up for the Junior National Team is a date with the Czech Republic. Game time is at 3:00 pm in St. Albert.

[battlekow]

Here's an interesting blog post from Out Of Left Field about the Canadian Juniors and how Brett Lawrie might be converting some Canadian baseball fans into Brewers fans.

[battlekow]

According to Global Baseball Company, Lawrie will most likely be playing SS for Canada's Olympic team.