2019 MNT Exhibition Games (Schedule/Results)

Kelowna, B.C. - Team Canada began its journey towards the WBSC Men's Softball World Championship with an 11-1 exhibition game win over Andre's Merchants from Kelowna. The Canadian pitching tandem of Devon McCullough (Saskatoon, Sask.) and Patrick Burns (Saskatoon, Sask.) was dominant in the circle, with McCullough earning the win with three hitless innings and striking out eight while Burns allowed a run on two hits and 10 strikeouts in four innings of relief.

Canada opened the scoring with a run in the second when Kyle Ezekiel (Holyrood, N.L.) drew a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on a single by Ryan Boland (St. John's, N.L.). Ezekiel and Boland were at it again two innings later as they started the fourth with back-to-back doubles to push Canada's second run in to score, with Bradley Ezekiel (Harbour Main, N.L.) smashing a two-run homerun to give the red and white a 4-0 lead. Canada loaded the bases with one out in the fifth before Bradley Ezekiel singled in a run and a second runner crossed the plate on a ground out by Mathieu Roy (St-Gervais, Que.). Canada put the game away by scoring five runs in the top of the seventh, highlighted by a two-run double by Roy, an RBI single by Jeff Ellsworth (St. Lawrence, P.E.I.) and two more runs scored on errors.

Bradley Ezekiel led Canada offensively by going 2-for-4 with a homerun and three runs batted in, while Ryan Boland had a double and three singles and drove in two. Blake Hunter (Nanaimo, B.C.) had two hits including a double and Ellsworth had a pair of singles and an RBI. Roy chipped in with a double and three runs batted in.

Kelowna, B.C. - Team Canada defeated the Grande Prairie Pirates - the host of the 2019 Men's Canadian Championship - by a score of 18-1 in exhibition action ahead of the Kelowna May Days Tournament.

Canada jumped out to an early lead when Tyler Pauli (Mitchell, Ont.) connected with a three-run homerun in the second inning. In the third, Jason Hill (St. John's, N.L.), Patrick Burns (Saskatoon, Sask.), Shane Boland (St. John's, N.L.) and Bryan Abrey (Richmond, B.C.) started the inning with four consecutive singles to bring in a run, and after another run crossed the plate on a fielder's choice, Kyle Ezekiel (Holyrood, N.L.) hit a two-run double to give Canada a 7-0 lead. Steve Mullaley (Freshwater, N.L.) delivered a three-run shot later in the inning.

In the fourth, Kyle Ezekiel hit a three-run blast with Mullaley, Hill and and Burns later connecting for three consecutive homeruns. Kris Walushka (Victoria, B.C.) singled and scored on a double by Abrey to round out the scoring.

Sean Cleary (Harbour Main, N.L.) picked up the win in the pitcher's circle for Canada.

Kelowna, B.C. - Canada's bats kept rolling in exhibition action in the nightcap of a doubleheader, defeating the Vernon Installers 10-0.

Kris Walushka (Victoria, B.C.) got the red and white on the board quickly by leading off the bottom of the first with a solo homerun. The following inning, Jeff Ellsworth (St. Lawrence, P.E.I.) walked and scored on a triple by Patrick Burns (Saskatoon, Sask.) before Ryan Boland (St. John's, N.L.) hit a two-run homerun. Later in the inning, Walushka hit an RBI double and scored on a single Blake Hunter (Nanaimo, B.C.), who went on to score on a wild pitch. Ellsworth led off the bottom of the third with a homerun to give Canada an 8-0 lead, with Hunter adding a two-run blast in the fourth to complete the scoring.

Scott Lieph (Sooke, B.C.) was the winning pitcher for Canada.