The plunking may have been immortalized in sports and YouTube highlights, but for Rene Tosoni it was merely immediate and then a blur.

As the target of the now infamous brawl between Canada and Mexico at the World Baseball Classic last week, Tosoni admits to being both perturbed and a little riled up still after Canada's elimination from the competition.

"When I was walking to the plate I watched the third baseman (Luis Cruz) motion to the pitcher (Arnold Leon) to put the ball in my ribs," recalled Tosoni to the NOW. "So I was prepared to be hit."

It could end up as the tournament's defining moment - depending upon Tuesday's championship final between Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic.

For the 26-year-old Tosoni, it wasn't the highlight of his experience.

Competing for a role with the Milwaukee Brewers, the Port Coquitlam native said the call to join Canada for the two-week tourney was a chance to shine on a different stage, and share a rare camaraderie.

"There is a ton of emotion playing for your country and in a tournament where you need to win to move on," said Tosoni. "Our team bonded real well together. [Justin] Morneau had a good team barbecue at his house a day before our first exhibition game (March 5 against Milwaukee).

"We had a pretty intense but friendly game of street hockey outside his house. We split the teams up West versus East and of course the west was victorious. Nothing like a friendly hockey game to bond a bunch of Canadians."

It was a stunning start for Canada, whose roster included MLB all-stars Joey Votto, John Axford and Morneau and up-and-comers like Brett Lawrie and Michael Saunders, as they were unceremoniously shocked 14-4 by Italy.

It meant the Canadians needed a big win to stay in the hunt to advance to round two - and with run differential factoring in the round-robin standings, that meant scoring runs.

So in their next game against Mexico, the Canucks remained aggressive on the base paths in the ninth despite holding a 9-3 lead. And that didn't sit well with some members of Team Mexico.

"I have been playing baseball ever since I can remember and I can't tell you that I have ever been thrown at on purpose," the left fielder noted.

That it came on the third pitch, after two failed attempts to hit him, seemed the most ridiculous part, he noted.

"If the pitcher just hit me with the first pitch it would have been a completely different outcome. I would have accepted their decision for putting me on base. I would be unhappy but I would get it.

"After taking a few good steps towards the mound the catcher cut me off. I remember being shoved by the catcher and everything after that feels like a blur."

To advance to the second round, Canada needed to beat the U.S., but fell 9-4 in a game that the underdogs led 3-2 entering the eighth inning.

"It was a great game against the U.S., we had the right guys pitching at the right time," he said. "We have beat the U.S. before so we were confident we could win, especially coming off our win the day before.

Unfortunately we did lose, but it was a good game and we battled until the end."

Since that elimination - and after a succession of media requests and attention regarding the Canadian-Mexican standoff - Tosoni has been able to reflect a little and focus a lot on spring training in Arizona.

Over the past month, he has gotten just seven plate at-bats in spring training action, and posted one hit - a triple. Although he understands he is considered as outfield depth and likely starts the season in the minor leagues, Tosoni - who posted five home runs and a .203 batting average over 60 games for Minnesota in 2011 - continues to work hard for another opportunity.

After last year's struggles, where injuries limited him to 90 minor league games between High-A and Double-A and a .224 batting average, a fresh start with a new organization was welcomed. And he's happy with how things have gone so far as a new member of the Brewers baseball family.

"I'm getting to meet a lot of new guys and see how they go about their style of baseball. I have been in a couple big league spring training games and had the chances to come in late to pinch hit a couple times. I just want to show them how I play base-ball. I think of myself as an aggressive outfielder but make smart plays."

Some good health and a strong start will put him in on deck should Milwaukee need a well-rounded outfielder this season.

Until that moment arrives, he's more than happy to have added a stint playing for Canada and wearing the Maple Leaf.

"Having the opportunity to play for Canada is such an honour for me every time. When you play for your country there is so much emotion and intensity involved," added Tosoni.

"I don't know that anyone will ever know that feeling until you play for your country."

sports@thenownews.com