18U Knights Win Season Opener

The 18U Ottawa Knights opened their Quebec AAA baseball league schedule with a 4-1 win over Gatineau Tuesday, May 18 at Ottawa Stadium.

The Knights scored single runs in four of their six at-bats to earn the victory, making the most of their six hits.

 On the mound, starter Casey Floyd (1-0) scattered three hits in four innings for the win. Justin Carpenter and Dillon James finished up, with the Knights pitchers holding Gatineau to just six hits in the seven-inning game.

Leadoff hitter Rizz Mendoza opened the game with a single and later scored on a Justin Carpenter liner down the first base line. In the second inning, Dillon James was hit by a pitch and scored on a balk after being advanced to third base.

In the third, Ryan Morrissette walked and scored on a Steve Milks RBI triple deep into the right-centrefield gap. The final Ottawa run scored in the fifth, when Mendoza walked to lead off the inning and scored from second base on a Gatineau throwing error.

Other Ottawa hits went to Morrissette, Jake Marko and James, who ripped a double down the third base line in the sixth, then stole third base with none out. Unfortunately, that was where he was left standing, as the Knights could not cash him in.

The only Gatineau run scored in the sixth inning, on a throwing error on a steal of third base. The ball soared into left, and the runner scampered home.

The win came despite a much-depleted roster. The 18U Knights are still awaiting three of their regular players – who will step into the usual number three, four and five spots in the batting order -- to return home from their U.S. college teams.

The Knights play a doubleheader at Ahuntsic Park in Gatineau on Saturday, May 22 starting at noon.