Tuesday, November 4, 2003
Lead-off homers + Johnson = Canada 3-0
By BOB ELLIOTT -- For SLAM! Canadian Baseball
No less than 14 graduates of the successful Canadian Junior National Team are currently wearing Team Canada jerseys.
Their goal is to knock off either Team USA or Cuba for one of the two berths in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens at the Americas Olympic Qualifying tourney.
Well, so far, so good.
Right-hander Mike Johnson (Edmonton, Alta.), who had never worn Canada on his chest saw to that. Johnson pitched six innings allowing one run as Canada beat Mexico 8-2 Tuesday night at Estadio Nacional in Panama City, Panama to move to 3-0 in Pool A.
Johnson benefitted from a quick start provided by shortstop Kevin Nicholson (Surrey, BC) and Stubby Clapp (Windsor, Ont.) who led off the game with back-to-back homer against Mexican pitcher Rigo Beltran.
It was Canada's first action since winning over Puerto Rico Friday 8-5 in 11 innings. They also picked up a win over The Bahamas, which withdrew from the tourney at the last minute.
Some people will do a lot for their country. Count Johnson as one of those. After starting the season pitching for Triple-A San Jose in the San Francisco Giants organization, his contract was sold to Korea, which he dominated.
Despite the fact, he and his wife are expecting a baby, Johnson jumped at the chance to play for his country.
"I'd never played for Team Canada before," Johnson said from Arizona and the training camp before heading to Panama.
"I'm really excited about the chance and the fact that it is the Olympic Qualifier had a lot to do with my decision to play. My wife and I expecting our first baby on Nov. 10th, but we think it is a big honor and a great opportunity to possibly play in the Olympics next year."
In 1992 Johnson tried out for the National Team but didn't make the final cut.
"After looking at who was on the team, I thought we were going to be very competitive," Johnson said recently. "If we play the way we're capable of playing we have a legitimate shot at finishing in the top two. I know that the Cubans and team USA will be tough but the Canadians came close a few years ago with a strong showing in Winnipeg, and hopefully we are ready to get to the next level."
In Korea, Johnson was 8-0 with a 2.80 earned run average and three saves. In 17 games he worked 64 1/3 innings allowing only 45 hits, while walking 27 and striking out 52.
Johnson, originally signed by Bill Byckowski when he was with the Blue Jays, was 4-3, with a 3.72 ERA and one save with Fresno.
Today, Canada faces Cuba, which also has a 3-0 record after beating Mexico in 13 innings on Monday. Manager Ernie Whitt will give the ball to right-hander Jason Dickson (Chatham, N.B.).
Following today's action, the top four teams from each pool advance to the quarter-finals. Ideally, what Canada and every other country is hoping for is that Cuba and USA meet each other in the either the quarter-finals or the semi-finals, thus one will be eliminated under the single knockout format.
In Phoenix, Whitt's team battled Team USA, managed by Frank Robinson, to a 6-6, 10-inning tie.
In the cross over quarter-final, the top team in Pool A would play the fourth place team in Pool B and the second-place team in Pool A would play the third-place team in Pool B and on and on.
While Canada and Cuba stand alone at 3-0, Panama leads Pool B with 3-0 mark and play Team USA, tonight. USA is 2-0 and has a rain out against Brazil to make up.
Besides the 1-2 punch of Nicholson and Clapp, Canada's run production came when Nicholson reached on an error in the third and scored on a homer by Pete LaForest (Gatineau, Que.).
Outfielder Ryan Radmanovich (Calgary, Alta.) drove in two runs with a double in the sixth and third baseman Todd Betts (Scarborough, Ont.) hit a scoring fly ball in the seventh.
LaForest doubled and scored on a single by Betts in the top of the ninth.
Johnson was relieved by Chris Begg (Sunderland, Ont.), who retired the Mexicans in order in the seventh. Mikey Kusiewicz (Nepean, Ont.) pitched a flawless eighth. Phil Devey (Lachute, Que.) and John Ogiltree (Mississauga, Ont.) combined to finish out the game.
