Video: Canada wins Pan Am baseball gold in Ajax eight years ago today

Canada won baseball gold in Ajax eight years ago today with a memorable finish worthy of a Little League championship.

Canada, the defending Pan Am Games champs in men’s baseball, was down two runs to the U.S. and down to their final two outs with runners on first and second in the 10th. Thanks to a few errant throws by the Americans, Canada scored the tying and gold-medal winning runs without a single hit in a wild finish at the Pan Am Ball Park off Audley Road in north Ajax.

USA lefty David Huff tried a back-door pickoff play at first and his throw sailed all the way to the fence in foul ground, prompting third base coach Stubby Clapp to send Skyler Stromsoe home from second.

When the next throw went over the third baseman’s glove, Clapp kept waving and sent Peter Orr home too.

The throw beat Orr to the plate but the collision jarred the ball loose and Orr, the pride of Newmarket, was ruled safe and Canada celebrated an improbable 7-6 victory in front of a sold-out crowd of nearly 5,500, which included then-councillor, now Ajax Mayor Shaun Collier and Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne.

Woman’s baseball was introduced at these games and Canada medalled there as well, losing the gold medal final to the USA.

Congratulations Team Canada, gold in men's baseball! pic.twitter.com/Let6JSJ9ni

— Shaun Collier (@mayor_collier) July 20, 2015

#OTD Eight years ago, @baseballcanada won gold over the U.S. at the Pan Am Games in dramatic fashion in Ajax, Ont.

Pete Orr (Newmarket, Ont.) was the baserunning hero for Canada in a sequence of events you have to see to believe, so here you go:https://t.co/oWKtBglhvc

— Kevin Glew (@coopincanada) July 19, 2023