P.E.I. teams drop openers

National competitions underway in three sites

Three P.E.I. teams dropped their opening games at Baseball Canada national competitions on Thursday.

In Bedford, N.S., P.E.I. lost 8-1 to New Brunswick at the 16-and-under girls’ invitational championship. After the teams exchanged single runs in the opening frame and played a scoreless second inning, New Brunswick scored four times in the top of the third to take control.

Selena Ford and Ella Nicholson recorded P.E.I.’s two hits.

Ford, who gave up five runs on six hits and one walk in 2 2/3 innings, took the loss. She finished with four strikeouts.

P.E.I. will look to even its record against Nova Scotia Team Two today at 9:30 a.m. The Island squad will also play Newfoundland and Labrador at 3:30 p.m.

13-under

In Woodstock, Ont., Quebec Grey, which struck for six runs in the top of the fifth inning and five in the top of the seventh to blow the game open, launched a 17-hit attack in an 18-4 triumph over P.E.I. at the Dairy Queen 13-andunder national championship.

Luke Coughlin and Graysen LaPorte collected multiple hits to lead P.E.I. offensively.

Losing pitcher Jack MacKinnon allowed six runs, seven hits, no walks and struck out three in two innings of work. P.E.I. was back on the field against Ontario later Thursday and faces British Columbia on this morning.

15-under

At the Ray Carter Cup national 15-and-under championship in Oshawa, Ont., Quebec defeated P.E.I. 8-1.

Noah Dow, Tyler Taylor and losing pitcher Mike MacRae recorded P.E.I.’s three hits. MacRae allowed four runs on three hits and struck out three in three innings.

P.E.I. was scheduled to play British Columbia on Thursday night. Today, P.E.I. plays host Oshawa in an early evening start.