On Day One of the 2019 Canada Cup, Nova Scotia won their first game over a tough Alberta squad with a hard-fought 2 to 1 victory after 8 innings.

Nova Scotia got things started early with a run in the first inning. Number 2 hitter Nick Gravel drove a grounder up the middle for NS’s first hit. He eventually moved to 3rd and scored on a passed ball. Despite having a total of 9 hits, NS did not score again until the 8th inning. The offensive attack was led by Micheal Short who was 3 for 3 with two doubles and a triple. Layton Cuvilier chipped in two hits of his own.

Tyler Boudreau got the start on the mound for NS and he put together a masterful performance. Boudreau gave up only 1 hit, two walks, and zero runs over 5 2/3 innings.

Parker Hanrahan came on to close out the 6th. In the bottom of the 7th Hanrahan struck out the first batter to keep the shutout intact. The second batter was Alberta pinch hitter Connor Crowson and he proceeded to hit a Home Run over the left field fence to tie the game. Hanrahan then walked a batter, struck out the next, and NS Head Coach Kevin Richardson intentionally walked another to set up the force play. The inning ended when pinch runner Michael Lovsin was caught stealing at 3rd.

Extra innings at Canada Cup invoke a tie breaker rule where the last two outs from the previous inning start the inning at 1st and 2nd. Things got started with a Passed Ball that moved Ryan Fitzgerald to 3rd and Nick Gravel to 2nd. Fitzgerald then scored what turned out to be the winning run on a base hit by Noah Boutilier.

In the bottom of the 8th Alberta also started with runners on 1st and 2nd. Alberta immediately sacrifice bunted the runners over to 3rd and 2nd. Richardson brought in Timmy Mann to replace Hanrahan on the mound and then intentionally walked the next batter to set up a force play at all bases. The next batter hit into a Fielder’s Choice and Mann finished things off by inducing a Fly Out to Left Fielder Fitzgerald to end the game.

Hanrahan ended up with the Win with Mann getting the Save. Player of the game was Tyler Boudreau.

Nova Scotia just finished their second game with a 3 to 2 win over Manitoba. I will have an update on that game tonight.