Canadian baseball history made as national team qualifies for WBC knockout stage

Team Canada has finally advanced to the knockout stages of the World Baseball Classic. Having played in every iteration of the tournament since it's inception in 2006, the Canadians have had very little success to talk about on one of baseballs biggest stages.

However, that all changed on Wednesday (Mar. 11) when they beat Cuba 7-2 to punch their ticket to the quarterfinals. And while there is only one currently Blue Jay playing on this team, there were tons of Blue Jays connections that helped them get there.

Plenty of Blue Jays connections have helped Team Canada in their WBC knockout stage qualification

Starting with Canada's starter Cal Quantrill, who's father, Paul, pitched for the Blue Jays for six seasons (1996-2001) and is currently Team Canada's pitching coach. The younger Quantrill went five innings against Cuba, allowing just one earned run on two hits, while striking out five batters.

Current Blue Jays' prospect Adam Macko was credited with a hold. He entered in the sixth with Canada up 5-2. There was a runner on third and after walking Yoel Yanqui on four pitches, Macko came back and struck out Yiddi Cappe on three straight pitches.

Meantime, former Blue Jay Otto Lopez, who may have made one of the defensive plays of the tournament with his relay throw against Panama earlier in the week, was once again a difference maker in this game. Lopez went 2-for-4 at the plate, with two RBIs, a run and a walk. He also made a controversial play on the base paths early in the game. He got caught in a rundown, but ran into Cuban third baseman Yoan Moncada, and was then awarded third base due to the interference.

Canada, who went 3-1 in pool play, officially finished as the top team in Pool A with Puerto Rico finishing as the runner ups. That means Canada will play Team USA, the unlikely runner ups from Pool B after Team Italy became the even unlikelier winners of that group after going 4-0, which included a shocking 8-6 upset win over the USA.

It will be a tough test for Canada as they get set to face a loaded Team USA squad. But team manager Ernie Whitt, another former Blue Jay, has been there before. Back in 2006, Whitt led Canada into battle against the USA squad, managed by beloved Blue Jays former catcher, manager, broadcaster Buck Martinez.

Canada built up an 8-0 lead through five innings, before the USA stormed back and scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth. But the game then became a pitchers duel, and was highlighted by some terrific defensive plays. No further runs were scored and Team Canada went on to win the game 8-6.

Whitt will once again be at the helm this time around, flanked by another former Blue Jay in Russel Martin who is his first base coach and Justin Morneau, a long-time member of the Minnesota Twins, who went 3-for-5 against the USA as Team Canada's first baseman and clean up hitter in 2006.