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By Kyle MacKinnon and PBR Staff
PBR Ontario Scout

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12 Days of Christmas Rundown:
Day 1: A Week In Florida
Day 2: Top Stats of the Year
Day 3: CPBL to Debut in 2016
Day 4: A Look Back at TPG
Day 5: A Look Back at Early Commitments

Ontario 12 Days of Christmas: Ontario Blue Jays Tournament Wins

When a travel ball team loses it’s best hitter to Major League Baseball’s June Amateur Draft, it can sometimes create a hole that may be tough to replace. Especially when that team is from Canada, and that pick is Josh Naylor, who was drafted number 12 overall to the Miami Marlins.

This proved to be the start of one of the Ontario Blue Jays best summers on record, despite losing one of their most talented position players ever, early in the summer.

The 18u Red team, lead by Head Coach Colin Tyler, had an enjoyable summer. Tyler and his staff led to the 18u team to another successful spring and summer slate, including a win in the All-American Classic in Memphis, Tennessee and the USSSA International Games in Kissimmee, Florida.

In Memphis, the 18u OBJ Red team had to string together three straight wins on the final day in order to secure the tournament. In game one, Dalton Clarke secured the win in walk-off fashion of the mercy variety, with a grand slam. The hit gave Darius Barlas the win.

In the semifinals, the explosive offense came to life again, putting up four in the third, nine in the fourth, and two in the fifth. Stuart Martin came away with the inning-shortened win. Jacob Jones lead the way with a 3-4 effort on the offensive side.

The championship game was a little tighter than the first two on the day. After giving up an early run to the Bryant Black Sox out of Arkansas, they chipped away with two runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Jake Medeiros came away with the win, and Tanner Zeggil had the two inning save.

In the round robin portion of the USSSA tournament, the Jays held a 3-1 record, with a solid run differential of +15. The real action began in the semi-final, when they went up against Florida Travel Baseball - Latin America.

Left-handed pitcher Stuart Martin went to the mound, carrying his 9-0 record on the season. Martin surrendered four runs in the third inning, but other than that, almost flawless. The offense was carried by shortstop Kevin Dion who was 4-5, with three RBIs. The Jays rallied late to win the game 6-4, giving Martin a complete game and a 10-0 record.

In the final, the 18u Red team faced off against the Florida Hardballers, who were the only team to beat them in the round robin. The Jays fell behind early 4-0 with Jake Medeiros (Mississauga, ON) on the mound, but rallied again late, putting up a nine run sixth is all they would need.

In the game Max Hewitt  and Dalton Clarke both had two RBIs. Final score of 9-5 gave the Jays the title.

The 16u White Ontario Blue Jays had another successful season under the helm of Head Coach Sean Travers and his staff. After winning the 16u PBLO pennant, the Jays took to the road for the USA summer travel schedule.

In the Pastime Wood Bat National Championship in Indianapolis, IN, the 16u White team cleaned out all of their opponents to a perfect 7-0 tournament record.

In the semifinal, the Jays took on the Huntington Hounds. They sent dual threat Alex Jones to the mound. He gave up a single run, over six innings of work. That would be more than enough, as the offense exploded for nine runs.

The Jays would meet up with the Canton Spikes, who were also undefeated up until that point in a winner take all match-up.

Halton natives led the way for the Jays, as recent Hofstra commit Jack Berczi  got the win, throwing a complete game, and infielder Bryce O’Farrell was named tournament MVP after the Jays 6-2 victory.

In 16u White fashion, the Jays also went undefeated through the AABC North Atlantic Regional Championship going 4-0 and earning them a berth into the AABC 16u World Series in Frisco, Texas. The Jays dominated competition in the four games, with and outstanding +38 run differential.

The 18u White team, under the leadership of Dan Bleiwas, set a Perfect Game record, in becoming the first Canadian team to win one of their events. They also continued their dominance at the B.E.S.T. National Championship, which they have won now three years running.

In the Perfect Game BCS National Championship in Fort Myers, FL, the Jays ran the table, going 8-0. Although there was a ton of offensive fire power throughout the Jays lineup, it was clearly the pitching that carried them through the tournament. The Jays used 10 pitchers, who gave up four runs, on 28 hits in 48 innings, compiling a 0.58 ERA. RJ Freure was named MVP pitcher after the final, going 2-0 on the tournament. Offensive standouts included Ryan Rijo  who had three doubles and 9 RBIs as well as catcher Tony Hrynkiw who had a home run and 9 RBIs throughout the tournament.

The B.E.S.T. National Championship in Pensacola, FL, has been dominated by the Jays over the past two years, and 2015 was no different.

Taking a solid 6-0 record into the final, the Jays were relentless in beating the Mid-South Brewers 12-3. In the win, the Jays did fall behind early, 3-0. After the rocky start, RHP Dexter Coughtrey settled in and let the offense go to work. With five runs in the third, it was all the Jays would need. Paul Rupnik  had two 2Bs and three RBIs and Rijo had a home run and four RBIs.

After it all shook down, the Ontario Blue Jays organization took home six total tournaments south of the border at various levels.