15U Nationals struggle against Waterloo and Guelph, stampede past Clinton in exhibition play

Stratford shortstop Landon McCann patrols the infield against the Guelph Royals at Stratford National Stadium on June 11.

Like their 18U contemporaries, the Stratford 15U Nationals hit a bump, dropping two games on the road to the Waterloo Tigers and at Stratford National Stadium to the Guelph Royals last week.

On June 10 against the Tigers, Stratford took an early 3-0 lead after Dexter Powell drove in two runs with a two-out single. Waterloo answered in the bottom of the second with two runs, narrowing the gap to 3-2. Powell’s third RBI of the game then pushed the Nationals ahead 4-2 by the end of the third inning.

After a scoreless fourth inning, the Nationals extended their three-run lead in the top of the fifth when Jake Price hit an RBI single to score Jackson Goebel. However, the Tigers countered with a four-run inning in the bottom half, taking a 6-5 lead.

Stratford evened the score in the following inning when Landon McCann scored on a stolen base at home. The Tigers took the lead with a home run, making it 7-6 as they headed into the final inning. However, Stratford went down in order, ending the game.

Starting pitcher Cole Morris pitched into the fifth inning before being relieved by Powell with one out. Morris threw 88 pitches over four and a third innings, striking out two, allowing five earned runs on two walks and seven hits. Powell pitched one and two-thirds innings in relief and gave up the winning run in the sixth inning.

Morris led the Nationals with two runs, and players McCann, James Antonio, Goebel and Price also contributed by scoring for Stratford.

The Nationals returned home to Stratford National Stadium to face the Guelph Royals Team 1 on June 11.

Guelph pounded Stratford’s starting pitcher Price for four runs in the first inning, but Powell’s RBI triple and an RBI single from Goebel cut the Nationals to 4-2 heading into the second. After the Royals scored on a sacrifice fly put the visitors back up by three runs in the third.

Stratford re-entered the game in the bottom of the fifth after Powell’s second RBI of the game, and Goebel’s two-run double tied the score at 5-5. Guelph answered with runs in the fourth and fifth innings before scoring seven runs in the sixth to secure the win. Although the Nationals mounted an offensive push in the final two innings, they ultimately lost 15-11.

Powell, Goebel and McCann combined for seven hits and six RBI for Stratford. The top of Stratford’s batting order, Will Molenhuis, Morris and Powell, combined for eight of the team’s 11 runs.

With the losses, Stratford is tied for fifth in the Inter County Baseball Association (ICBA)’s 15U standings with a 5-4 record with the Ancaster Angels.

On June 15, the Nationals travelled to Clinton for an exhibition game against the Mustangs.

Led by Morris's two home runs and four runs scored, the Nationals defeated the home team 19-3. All ten starters on the Stratford roster scored at least one run. Max Barter led the team with three hits, while Blake Mogk and Morris each had three RBIs.

The Nationals would like to continue their momentum as they resume their ICBA regular season play on June 16 in Simcoe against the Giants. Stratford’s next home game is on June 18, after press time, at National Stadium against Guelph Royals Team 2.