DANBURY -- Johnny Caputo set off his black-and-white Westerners uniform with a bright red undershirt, a nod to his neutrality in Sunday's friendly border war at Rogers Park.
In the second of three games in the NECBL's annual global exhibition tour, the Westerners hosted the Canadian Junior National Team, a selection of elite players, between the ages of 16 and 18, with whom Caputo -- a Toronto native who is entering his junior season at SUNY Stony Brook -- traveled the globe for two years.
"I put the red on to pay my respects to where I came from," said Caputo, who was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 12th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. "I came up through the program and I wanted to show my appreciation."
Caputo and his shirt were a welcome sight at third base, where he chatted up his former third-base coach and several former teammates. But on the first pitch he saw in the first inning, Caputo launched any doubts about his current allegiance over the center-field fence for a two-run home run, igniting a 10-5 Westerners victory.
Caputo's homer was preceded by catcher Chad Vanaman's leadoff shot, which splashed the brook beyond the fence in left. The Westerners additionally clubbed three doubles, and while the results were unofficial, they were still encouraging for a team that's struggled to score in losing eight of its last 10 games.
"Most people probably would have not wanted to play an exhibition game right in the heart of their season," said Westerners manager Jamie Shevchik. "I think we needed to. We need to just continue to play. Some guys got out of some slumps today."
The game was interrupted by a passing thunderstorm in the bottom of the third inning, with the Westerners still leading 3-0.
After about a 40-minute delay, Danbury starter Rob Blanc, a Sandy Hook native, was removed in favor of lefty Brandon Bonilla, who allowed a run on two hits and four walks in three innings of work.
Team Canada would rally to take a 5-4 lead, scoring four runs off another southpaw, Cam Hatch, in the seventh inning. But the Westerners answered with two runs in the seventh and four more in the eighth, the highlight a two-run single from former Masuk standout and current UConn outfielder Jon Testani.
Nick Octavi had three hits to lead the Westerners' 10-hit attack. Vanaman and Testani chipped in two hits apiece.
Team Canada is still evaluating players for impending roster cuts before heading off to a handful of international tournaments. While high school baseball in Canada is mostly overshadowed by junior hockey, the national teams have become a breeding ground for big-league talent.
"You look on ESPN, you see Canadian (baseball players) every day, succeeding in the major leagues," Caputo said.
"Of course, 40 years ago, it was only a few guys, but now it's growing and growing. This program especially is great for exposure, getting guys looked at by college and pro scouts. This program is developing Canadian baseball more than anything else."
The Westerners (8-13) begin a three-game homestand Monday, when they host the Holyoke Blue Sox at 6:30 p.m.
CANADA 000 001 400 -- 5 7 4
DANBURY 301 000 24X -- 10 13 1
Batteries: C -- Brodie Harkness, Luke Manuel (5, L), Matt Lloyd (8) and Owen Spiwak; D -- Rob Blanc, Brandon Bonilla (4), Cam Hatch (7, W), Ryan Carter (8) and Chad Vanaman, Nick Octavi. SO: Harkness 4, Manuel 3, Lloyd 2, Blanc 4, Bonilla 3, Hatch 1, Carter 4. BB: Manuel 3, Lloyd 3, Blanc 1, Bonilla 4, Hatch 2, Carter 1.
2B: Josh Naylor (C), Spiwak (C), Vanaman (D), Octavi (D), Riley Palmer (D). HR: Vanaman (D), Caputo (D), Jake Lumley (C). RBI: C -- Lumley, Mitchell Bigras, Spiwak 2, Morgan Lofstrom; D -- Vanaman, Caputo 2, Testani 2, Octavi, Palmer 2.
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