BANGOR- Jayden Lorenz needed help to get through the first inning. Lorenz took care of things himself after that in leading Kiwanis National L.L., Regina, Saskatchewan to a 1-0 victory over Catalunya L.L., Barcelona, Spain to stave off elimination in the Senior League World Series at Mansfield Stadium.
Lorenz allowed two hits and a walk to the first three batters of the game. He also issued another walk in the first inning. Lorenz was able to get out of the jam thanks to a pickoff and two strikeouts. He retired 11 straight in the middle innings and 14 out of 15 after the first inning struggles. Lorenz was removed with two outs in the seventh due to reaching the 95 little league pitch limit. His final pitching line was 6.2 IP, 2 H, 3 BB,8 SO. Jared Gudereit earned the save by striking out the final batter.
“I felt great. It was great to get the first win for team Canada in a while,”Lorenz said. “I had a tough first inning, I threw I think 28. That hurt me a lot. I realized later in the game that it is the same game as anywhere else. I started grooving.”
Canada will play in another elimination game on Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m. against Dumfries, Virginia.
The only run of the game came in the bottom of the first inning. Cole Erick started things off with a single. He stole second and third, before coming home on a Brian So single. The all-stars from Canada had plenty of chances throughout. They left 10 runners on base, including the bases loaded twice.
“I think we can hit better, we stranded something like eight or nine guys in scoring position. We just couldn’t get the big hit,”Canada manager Roger DeCorby said. “It is going to be tough throughout, we just need to find a way to get a clutch hit.”
Spain will play a consolation game on Wednesday morning.