TODD DEVLIN -- Canucks open Japan's FISU Games

July 29, 2010

TODD DEVLIN -- Canucks ready for Student Games in Japan

By Todd Devlin

As far as Canadian national teams go, they’re somewhat obscure. In fact, they’re largely unknown even within baseball circles in their own country.

But for the fourth time, that unknown team -- a collection of Canadian-born collegiate players -- will compete at the World University Baseball Championship, an eight-team tournament this year to be held in Tokyo, Japan from July 30 to August 7.

The Canadians find themselves in Group A alongside Team USA., Chinese Taipei and Sri Lanka, while Group B consists of China, Korea, Cuba and Japan. Games will be played at four different ballparks, including Meiji Jingu Stadium, a 37,933-seat stadium that is the home of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of the Japanese Central League.

The event is sponsored by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), and is sanctioned by the IBAF. First held in 2002, the tournament is one of several classified as a minor world championship, and thus the results have an impact on the IBAF World Rankings.

Of course, the university squad isn’t the only Canadian ball team in international competition this month -- Canada’s highly-successful junior national team is currently in Thunder Bay, Ontario for the 24th World Junior Championship. But while a great deal is known about Canada’s 18-and-under contingent, the entry that will take the field in Japan this week remains much more of a mystery.

That fact shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, the team of university-aged ballplayers come together for just one event -- the bi-annual World University Games -- before disbanding.

But despite the short time they’ll play together, there’s reason to take notice of this team -- especially this year. That’s because, just like Canada’s junior national team, this squad is expecting big things in the next few weeks.

“We should be very solid,” said Team Canada manager Todd Plaxton (Saskatoon, Sask.), a former junior national team coach who will be making his World University Games coaching debut. “I expect that we should cross over and hopefully play for a medal.”

That expectation certainly isn’t unrealistic. In 2008, behind head coach Terry McKaig (Vernon, BC), the longtime manager of the UBC Thunderbirds, the Canadian team had a strong showing at the fourth installment of the World University Games in the Czech Republic. Though they finished with a 2-4 record, all four losses came by two runs or less (three were by a single run). And two of those were extra-inning defeats, including a heartbreaking 4-3 loss in 11 innings to the eventual champion Team USA (which incidentally had Stephen Strasburg on its roster). The Canadians wrapped up the tournament with a 3-1 win over the host Czech Republic to claim fifth place.

It was the best showing Canada had put forth at the tournament in its three trips to date, and it was thanks to a much-improved roster that for the first time included mostly Canadians playing in NCAA or NAIA baseball programs.

The same holds true for 2010. But, according to Team Canada assistant coach Scott Ballantyne (Waterloo, Ont.), this year’s roster is even more improved.

The breakdown looks like this: 11 NCAA Division I players, nine players from NAIA schools (including six from UBC), one junior college player (NJCAA), and one player from Ontario University Athletics (OUA).

“This team is better for sure,” said Ballantyne, who manages the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks in the eight-team OUA circuit. “Both talent-wise and experience. This year we have some guys that have played in it before. In 2008, we didn’t have anybody who had played in it.”

One of the returnees is Sheldon McDonald (Spruce Grove, Alta), a left-handed pitcher from UBC who is expected to be a key contributor. In 2010, his first season since transferring from Northeastern University, McDonald went 9-2 with a 2.94 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 70 1/3 innings for the Thunderbirds en route to being named an NAIA West All-Star.

“Sheldon is likely our number one,” Ballantyne said. “He had a great year at UBC.”

The pitching staff is NAIA heavy, with six arms coming from the association. Joining McDonald is RHP Luis Castillo (Burlington, Ont.), who went 6-2 with a 2.77 ERA for Bellevue University Bruins in 2010. In 2009, he was named a Canadian Baseball Network First-Team All-Canadian.

The rest of the NAIA arms include three more UBC pitchers, RHP Shawn Hetherington (Tsawwassen, BC), RHP Eric Brown (Thunder Bay, Ont.) and returnee RHP Brandon Kaye (Langley, BC), as well as Brewton-Parker University RHP Drew Parker (Surrey, BC).

Rounding out the 10-man staff are a pair of NCAA Division I hurlers -- Texas Pan American LHP Kyle Kotchie (Pickering, Ont.) and University of Arkansas LHP Christian Kowalchuk (Saskatoon, Sask.), as well as Midland Junior College RHP David Walkling (Nanaimo, BC) and University of Guelph RHP Adam Reynolds (Guelph, Ont.), Team Canada’s third returnee from 2008.

Of the 12 position players, nine are from NCAA Division I schools.

University of Illinois senior Aaron Johnson (Sussex Corner, NB) and Dan Welch (Victoria, BC) of the University of Dayton will share the catching duties. In 2010, Welch threw out 27 of 45 would-be base stealers, an impressive rate of 62.5%.

The infield include 3B Carter Bell (Courtenay, BC), a sophomore at Oregon State University. Bell, a former junior national team member, was a 22nd round draft pick by the San Francisco Giants in 2008, and is currently #8 on the Canadian Baseball Network’s draft list for 2011.

Canada’s group of infielders also includes Mark Ellis (Maple Ridge, BC), who hit .304 with a .408 on-base percentage and an impressive .993 fielding percentage in 55 games for Southern Mississippi State in 2010. Fellow middle infielder Chad Marshall (Paris, Ont.) should also have an impact for Team Canada. In 2009, Marshall led his team -- Stony Brook University -- with 68 hits and was second with a .354 average en route to earning All-America East Second Team honours.

Oklahoma City University’s Garrett Regan (Calgary, AB) will man first base. In 2010, the senior hit .362 with 24 doubles, nine home runs and 54 RBIs. Those numbers are similar to those put up by Team Canada utilityman Carl Moniz (Laval, Que.), who batted .369 with 10 home runs and 63 RBIs at Georgia State University this past spring.

Going straight by the numbers, Canada’s outfield may be its biggest strength. Greg Wallace (Nanaimo, BC), a senior at Evansville University, led his team in several offensive categories in 2010, including batting average (.371), hits (91), RBIs (75), total bases (166) and slugging percentage (.678). Meanwhile, Ryan Fleming (Whitby, Ont.) and Aaron Dunsmore (Spruce Grove, Alta.) were equally impressive. Fleming hit .375 with a .484 on-base percentage, 59 RBIs and a team-high 13 home runs at Georgia State University, while Dunsmore led his squad -- the University of Dayton Flyers -- in home runs (13), doubles (19) and RBIs (54).

A pair of UBC outfielders -- Nic Lendvoy (Langley, BC) and Blake Carruthers (Calgary, Alta.) -- round out Team Canada’s outfield contingent. Lendvoy led the Thunderbirds with a .373 batting average, 18 doubles and 53 RBIs, while Carruthers enjoyed a phenomenal freshman season for the T-Birds, batting .335 with seven home runs and 35 RBIs while earning an NAIA Gold Glove. Carruthers is also on the Canadian Baseball Network’s ‘watch list’ to be drafted in 2011.

Collectively, it’s a roster that has bench boss Plaxton excited. And he’s quick to credit fellow assistants Ballantyne and Cavanagh Whitely (Vancouver, BC) for putting it together.

“I’m very fortunate to have Cavanagh and Scott on the staff,” Plaxton said last month. “They have been very busy following players online and recruiting.”

With the benefit of having both served as assistant coaches at the 2008 Games in the Czech Republic, Ballantyne and Whitely, a former UBC assistant and now manager at Douglas College in New Westminster, BC, took an active role in scouting Canadian collegiate players over the last two years in preparation for the 2010 event.

In an effort to field the best team possible, the duo poured over lists of Canadian ballplayers playing at NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA schools, narrowing down the overall number of 700 to a list of about 150. That list was then cut down over the last several months to its current size.

“It was a team effort,” Ballantyne said. “There were a lot of conference calls and emails back and forth.”
It wasn’t an exact science, and there were roadblocks along the way, but it appears Ballantyne and Whitely did pretty well for themselves. By all accounts, it’s the best roster Canada has assembled in its four years of competition at the World University Games.

***
Team Canada’s staff is hopeful that the strength of this year’s roster will not only help further the team’s success in 2010, but also in World University Championships to come. There’s no question that, despite the talent heading to Japan, the Canadian contingent is not a collection of the best 22 university-aged ballplayers from this country. It’s not a knock on the team, it’s just the current reality.

One of the reasons is due to scheduling conflicts. If given the opportunity, players often choose to play in elite collegiate summer leagues (like the Cape Cod League, for instance), leaving them unable to play in the University Games which runs at the same time. And on top of other summer team commitments, there’s also the issue of players simply wanting to take a break from the diamond to recharge for the following season.

That is likely to change, however, if Canada continues to have more success at the University Games. But perhaps the biggest impediment to fielding a team of the 22 best Canadian-born collegiate ballplayers is the financial aspect. Unfortunately, as was the case in 2002 when Canada first participated in the event, the team is still self-funded. And it’s not cheap to take part. This year’s trip to the Games -- in which the team will spend two and a half weeks in Japan -- will cost each player around $3,000.

Some players are able to receive financial assistance from their school’s athletic department, while others manage to find sponsors to fund their trip. But not everyone is able to make it happen.

It’s certainly a much different picture than that of the U.S. contingent at the University Games. The American squad is a prestigious fully-funded operation that plays a one-month schedule every summer and boasts many of the top young U.S. collegiate players in the country.

It’s unrealistic to think Canada can duplicate that type of program -- both in scope and resources -- anytime soon. But at least there’s been movement recently in the right direction.

For the first time, Canada’s entry to the World University Games this year has the ‘official’ backing of Baseball Canada, the national governing body for baseball in this country. And that’s a significant step.

“The last time [2008] we didn’t have Baseball Canada on board at all,” Ballantyne said. “We didn’t have Baseball Canada uniforms. But now we can use their logo, and we’re actually going to be a Team Canada through and through.”

According to Jim Baba (Ottawa, Ont.), Baseball Canada’s Director General, the governing body is also helping with some of the costs to send the coaching staff to the tournament, as well as providing funds for uniforms and some equipment. For his part, Baba is impressed with the roster Canada will be sending to Japan.
“It is really great to see the talent pool improving as far as what players are interested in attending,” he said.

With increased success at the tournament, that talent pool will only improve in the future. And who knows, maybe that success will lead to additional funding so that Canada can field the best possible team at World University Games down the road.

***
Background: Canada’s history at the FISU World University Games
Team Canada has come a long way from its humble beginnings at the inaugural World University Baseball Championship, a ten-team event that was held in Messina, Italy in 2002. That year, a group of coaches and support staff from Ontario University Athletics (OUA), including current Toronto Blue Jays amateur scouting director Andrew Tinnish (Ottawa, Ont.), put together a team to compete at that first championship.

No doubt, it was an important step for Canadian-born collegiate players to get the opportunity to compete against some of the world’s best. However, it was also an experiment of sorts. Because the entry came together quickly and a larger network of contacts was not in place, Team Canada that year consisted mostly of OUA players, with only a few players from U.S. colleges on the roster. In other words, it wasn’t truly indicative of a national team.

On the field, the team was largely overmatched, perhaps no more evident than against a U.S. squad that included future major-league all-stars Chad Cordero, Aaron Hill and Carlos Quentin, as well as Rickie Weeks and Huston Street. Team Canada was outscored 42-10 overall, going 1-4 at the tournament, their lone win a 3-0 shutout of France in the ninth-place game.

In 2004, under new manager McKaig, the team tapped into some Canadian talent playing south of the border, as approximately half the Canadian roster that took the field in Tainan City, Taiwan that year included players attending colleges in the U.S. Five of them were Division I players.

Still, it was an uphill battle in that second event, and Canada won just one game, a 6-5 win in 11 innings over Mexico. The U.S. rebounded from their 6-0 loss to Cuba in the 2002 gold-medal game to go a perfect 8-0 and take the 2004 championship. Their roster that year included Troy Tulowitzki, Ricky Romero, Mike Pelfrey and Ryan Zimmerman, who took home tournament MVP honours.

After taking a pass at the tournament in 2006 (held in La Habana Cuba), McKaig and the Canadian squad returned refueled in 2008 to the Czech Republic with a much stronger roster, one that included a dozen NCAA players, as well as six UBC players, including LHP Mark Hardy (Vancouver, BC), who was named pitcher of the tournament.

The Canadians had by far their best showing in 2008. Despite a 2-4 overall record, the team took both Japan and the U.S. to extras, losing both in the 11th inning. In fact, all four of their losses were by two runs or less. The Canadians ended the tournament with a 3-1 win over the host Czech Republic in the 5th-place game. For the third straight championship, the U.S. won the gold medal at the 2008 Games (an extra-inning win over Japan), and once again went a perfect 8-0.

2010 World University Games
Team Canada
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Year B/T Hometown College/University Affiliation
Pitchers
Eric Brown RHP 6-1 185 JR L/R Thunder Bay, ON University of British Columbia NAIA
Luis Castillo RHP 5-10 180 SR R/R Burlington, ON Bellevue University NAIA
Shawn Hetherington RHP 6-7 220 JR L/R Tsawwassen, BC University of British Columbia NAIA
Brandon Kaye RHP 6-4 205 JR R/R Langley, BC University of British Columbia NAIA
Kyle Kotchie LHP 6-3 210 JR L/L Pickering, ON Texas Pan-American NCAA D1
Christian Kowalchuk LHP 6-1 185 SR L/L Saskatoon, SK University of Arkansas NCAA D1
Sheldon McDonald LHP 6-1 200 JR L/L Spruce Grove, AB University of British Columbia NAIA
Drew Parker RHP 6-2 175 JR R/R Surrey, BC Brewton-Parker University NAIA
Adam Reynolds RHP 6-2 195 SR R/R Guelph, ON University of Guelph OUA
David Walkling RHP 6-4 205 SO R/R Nanaimo, BC Midland College, Texas NJCAA

Catchers
Aaron Johnson C 6-0 210 SR R/R Sussex Corner, NB University of Illinois NCAA D1
Dan Welch C 6-2 205 JR R/R Victoria, BC University of Dayton NCAA D1

Infielders
Carter Bell SS/3B 6-0 190 SO R/R Courtenay, BC Oregon State University NCAA D1
Mark Ellis INF 6-3 220 JR R/R Maple Ridge, BC Southern Mississippi State NCAA D1
Chad Marshall 2B/SS 5-10 185 JR L/R Paris, ON Stony Brook University NCAA D1
Carl Moniz UTL 6-1 185 SR L/R Laval, PQ Georgia State University NCAA D1
Garrett Regan 1B 6-4 210 SR R/R Calgary, AB Oklahoma City University NAIA

Outfielders
Blake Carruthers OF 5-11 190 FR R/R Calgary, AB University of British Columbia NAIA
Aaron Dunsmore OF 6-0 185 SR L/R Spruce Grove, AB University of Dayton NCAA D1
Ryan Fleming OF 6-3 210 JR L/R Whitby, ON Georgia State University NCAA D1
Nic Lendvoy OF 5-11 190 SR R/R Langley, BC University of British Columbia NAIA
Greg Wallace OF 6-3 198 SR L/R Nanaimo, BC Evansville University NCAA D1

Coaching/Support Staff
Todd Plaxton Head Coach Saskatoon, Sask. Baseball Canada
Cavanagh Whitely Assistant Coach Vancouver, BC University of British Columbia
Scott Balllantyne Assistant Coach Waterloo, Ont. Wilfrid Laurier University
Brent Crowther Pitching Coach Vancouver, BC Baseball Canada
Elemer Jerkovits Official/Umpire Regina, Sask.

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Profiles: To answer an email about players profiles ... we are having some problems with the rotation on the main page. As for the total ... 223 players in all have signed up -- feel free to update their stats, add a pictures and gain exposure.
From Alberta 15.
From British Columbia 26.
From Manitoba 5.
From New Brunswick 8.
From Newfoundland and Labrador 1.
From Nova Scotia 3.
From Ontario 157.
From Quebec 2.
From Saskatchewan 5.
And since we're still waiting for our first player from Prince Edward Island is pitching a shutout, we should point out we have one player from Florida.

IN YER FACE: The Canadian Baseball Network facebook group is up and running ... and running fast:
Mike Nitsos (Whitby, Ont.) of the Iowa Western Reivers, is the 400th to join.
Grant Kveder (Lethbridge, Alta.) of the Gonzaga Stags is No. 500.
Dan Chappel (Edmonton, Alta.) formerly of the Longview Lakers, the Mayville State Comets, the Southwest Mustangs, the Schaumburg Flyers and the Edmonton Cracker Cats is No. 600.
Drew Parker (Surrey, BC), who has signed a letter of intent to pitch for the Brewton-Parker Barons this fall and former ace of the JUCO World Series champion Chipola Indians, is No. 700.
Andrew Brock (Burnaby, BC) of the Idaho Coyotes is No. 800.
Derek Papp (Windsor, Ont.), who used to pitch for Judson, is No. 900.
Jonathan Lussier (Montreal, Que.), former C-DH with the Les Ailes du Quebec alongside Phillipe Alexandre Valiquette, Alexandre Periard and Mathieu Poirier is No. 1,000.
Ben TInklin (Kitchener, Ont.) of the Canadian Thunderbirds, who is headed to Kaskaskia College, is No. 1,100.
Catcher Curtis Davis (Surrey, BC), who played with the Fraser Valley Chiefs in 2008 and this year will play for the White Rock Tritons and Team BC is the 1,200th to join the group.
Kevin Bowes (Chatham, N.B.) who plays outfield for the Chatham Ironmen and coached the New Brusnwick Selects at the Canada Cup is No. 1,300.
Stephen Holland (Summerside, PEI), who in 2008 played for the Summerside Chevies and was picked up by Kings County for bantam nationals is No. 1,400. He pitched, played first base, and outfield.
Ian Robillard (Montreal, Que.), who coached the Montreal Orioles in junior (LBEQ) play and this year will coach Les Ailes du Quebec (U-17) is No. 1,500.
OF Mark Sleeman (Vancouver, BC), formerly with John Harr's North Shore Twins and who played for the Vancouver Cave Ducks in 2008, is our No. 1,600.
RHP Shawn Hetherington (Tsawwassen, BC), the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds closer, is No. 1,700.
RHP Craig Hucul (Saskatoon, Sask.) of Williston State College, is No. 1,800.
TJ Code (Vancouver, BC), a coach with the Langley Blaze is No. 1,900. Code played with the likes of Kyle Paul, Jordan Lennerton, Jon Hesketh, Matt Lesek, Justin Dyck, Jeff Thompson, Tyson Gillies, Shane Wilson and Jon Syrnk with the Blaze from 2003-05. He began coaching in the fall of 2007.
Our No. 2,000 is Cam Newitt (Barrie, Ont.). Cam's father, Gary Newitt played in Oshawa before joining the Pittsburgh Pirates minor-league system. Cam played for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Intercounty League until he retired and now coaches bantam baseball in Barrie.
RHP Ryan Oxford (Sussex, N.B.), who pitched for Vancouver Island University (VIBI) is No. 2,100.
Jorhn Kaluzniak (Brandon, Man.) of the Manitoba Youth Selects is No. 2,200.
RHP-OF Lucas Bannon (Grand Bend, Ont.) of the Ontario Nationals is No. 2,300.
Former 1B Adam Daniels (Yorkton, Sask.), who used to play for the Yorkton Cardinals is No. 2,400.
LHP Tyson Nesbitt (Willowbrook, Sask.) of the Waldorf Warriors is No. 2,500.
Future Blue Jays executive Jordan Milton (Bolton, Ont.) is No. 2,600.
And No. 2,700 is Geoff Bawart (Montreal, Que.).

PFPs I -- UPPER DECK BLOGS 07/14/09 -- 02/13/10.
PFPs II -- How could B.C. forget about Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, BC) Canada's best hitter when it came time to carry the torch and during the opening cermonies of the Olympics ... Carey Ashton (Montreal, Que.) nominated in Campbell’s coach of the year contest
PFPs III -- Baseball America ranks James Paxton (Ladner, BC) 21st amongst top 100 collegians -- but will be pitch this weekend? Chris Bisson (Orleans, Ont.) No. 98 ... Bisson earns Third Team All-American honours ... Eight earn all-Conference honours: Ali Simpson (Campbell River, BC) Bethune-Cookman; Chad Marshall (Paris, Ont.), Kyle Benoit (Brampton, Ont.), Ian Choy (Mississauga, Ont.), Shayne Wilson (Surrey, BC), Shane Davis (Belmont, Ont.), Matt Skirving (London, Ont.), Jesse Sawyer (Calgary, Alta.) ... UBC armed and dangerous as season opens with Sheldon McDonald (Spruce, Grove, Alta.), Mark Hardy (Campbell River, BC), Brandon Kaye (Langley, BC), Shawn Hetherington (Tsawwassen, BC) ... Jake Eliopoulos (Newmarket, Ont.) makes first two starts at Chipola ... Matt Rustulka (Windsor, Ont.) reaches Wayne State ... Jeff Cowan (Scarbrough, Ont.) signs with indy team ...
PFPs IV -- Yankees hire Denis Boucher (Lachine, Que.) to scout Canada ... BMOCs: 2B Chris Bisson (Orleans, Ont.), Kentucky, RF Sean Pisarski (Mississauga, Ont.), Nic Lendvoy (Langley, BC), David Otterman (Coquitlam, BC) UBC, Sean Bignall (Brampton, Ont.) Northern Oklahoma-Enid ... Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, BC) establishes Dempster Family Foundation to raise awareness of DiGeorge Syndrome ... It was risky trying to steal on Larry McLean (Fredericton, N.B.) ... Top this 3B Paul Lytwynec (London, Ont.) five championships in '09 ... 3B-RHP Carson Kelly, ex-Markham star, top 2012 prospect at Baseball Factory’s Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament ... Jim Lutton (Oshawa, Ont.) elected to Oshawa HOF ... Mike Lalonde (Montreal, Que.) seeks teams for Académie de Baseball Rive-Sud tourney.
PFPs V -- Burke Seifrit (Spruce Grove, Alta.) pitches, watches Bryce Harper go deep ... Jake Eliopoulos (Newmarket, Ont.) has rough outing ... BMOCs: Brandon Kaye (Langley, BC), Eric Brown (Thunder Bay, Ont.), Nic Lendvoy (Langley, BC), Blake Carruthers (Calgary, Alta.), Nic Lindsay (Coquitlam, BC), Alex White (Richmond, BC), Sheldon McDonald (Spruce Grove, Alta.), Andrew Firth (London, Ont.), Keaton Briscoe (North Vancouver, BC), Mike Elias (North Delta, BC) UBC; Greg Wallace (Nanaimo, BC), Nate Smith (Brampton, Ont.) and Trentt Copeland (Guelph, Ont.) Evansville; Chris Bisson (Orleans, Ont.) Kentucky; Matt Skirving (London, Ont.), Eastern Michigan ... Steve Kletke (Altoona, Man.) on Who Dat Nation ... Phil Savage (Hamilton, Ont.) coached Forest City Owls.
PFPs VI -- Perry Silverman (Montreal, Que.), Canisius, Metro Atlantic Conference Player of the Week ... BMOCs Kurtis McCallum (Thunder Bay, Ont.) Mesabi Range, Ryan LaPensee (LaSalle, Ont.) runs his way into Wayne State record books; RHP Desmond Sullivan (Scarborough, Ont.) Rio Grande; RHP Anthony Ricciardi (North York, Ont.) Alabama State ... Mike Walker (Guelph, Ont.) oins Jays as intern ... Lansing Community College loses scholarships for back-tracking on scholarships to four Canadians ... Tom Brokow on Canada-US relations.
PFPs VII -- James Paxton (Ladner, BC) leaves Kentucy Wildcats, headed to indy ball? ... Brian Simone West Alabama TIgers, POW ... Tessa Virtue, younger sis of Kevin, former O's draft pick ... BMOCs: Jason Barton (Qualicum Beach, BC), Paul Barton (Qualicum Beach, BC); Michael Page, Dany Deschamps, Luis Argumedes, Chris Bisson; Nic Lendvoy, Keaton Briscoe and Sammy Starr .
PFPs VIII -- Why James Paxton (Ladner, BC) left Kentucky ... BMOCs: Marcus Knecht (Toronto, Ont.), Connors State; Greg Wallace (Nanaimo, BC) Evansville; Jeffrey Gibbs (Toronto, Ont.) Maine; Ryan Thompson (Fort McMurray, Alta.) UConn; Aaron Johnson (Sussex Corner, N.B.) Illinois; Josh Voth (Altoona, Man.) Wayne State; Chris Bisson (Orleans, Ont.) Kentucky; Kyle Kotchie (Pickering, Ont.) Texas Pan-American; Mark Hardy (Campbell River, BC), Eric Brown (Thunder Bay, Ont.), Andrew Firth (London, Ont.), Brandon Kaye (Langley, BC) UBC ... Cole Armstrong (Surrey, BC) grape of wrath ... Continental Baseball League tryouts ... John Morris (Chestermere, Alta.) former Laurier Golden Hawk wins Olympic gold ... Scott Thorman (Cambridge, Ont.) almost misses hockey game ... Scott Ballantyne (Kincardine, Ont.) named to Team Canada coaching staff at the World University Games.
PFPs VIV -- Nick Weglarz (Stevensville, Ont.) goes deep for the Cleveland Indians ... BMOCs: Evan Zerff (Regina, Sask.), Brodie Ross (Markham, Ont.), Marcus Knecht (Toronto, Ont.), Mike Reeves (Peterborough, Ont.), Keaton Briscoe (North Vancouver, BC), Mike Elias (North Delta, BC) 3B Carter Bell (Courtenay, BC), Billy Martin (Mississauga, Ont.) ... Jeffrey Gibbs (Toronto, Ont.) POW ... Mike Steed (Burlington, Ont.) has seven Canucks for Thunder Bays Border Cats ... Coaches wanted in UK.
PFPs X -- Canucks talking proud watching gold-medal game in the U.S., Justin Morneau (New Westminster, BC), Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, BC) ... Tim Smith (Toronto), Brett Muron (Winnipeg), Jon Saporsantos (Simcoe, Ont.), Chris Bisson (Orleans, Ont.), Carter Morrison (New Westminster, BC), Kyle DeGrace (Toronto), Michael Cardinale (Mississauga, Ont.), Pierre Miville-Deschenes (Montreal, Que.), Brad McElroy (London, Ont.), Peter Grouios (Toronto), Lionel Morrill (Edmonton), Jeff Crinklaw (Cambridge, Ont.), Brent Mitchell (Paris, Ont.), Brendan Gillies (Shallow Lake, Ont.), Bill Neale (Collingwood, Ont.), Jason Bay (Trail, BC), Sean Bignall (Brampton, Ont.), Curtis Smith (Calgary, Alta.), Adam Stern (London, Ont.), Trentt Copelenad (Guelph, Ont.), Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.), Ryan Lennerton (Langley, BC).
PFPs XI -- Damon Loewen (Abbotsford, BC), David Walkling (Nanaimo, BC) at home in Tex. ... 2B Chris Bisson (Orleans, Ont.) hit in nose, out a month ... C Kellin Deglan (Langley, BC) moves up Baseball America HS list ... Dusty Baker on Phillipe Valiquette (St-Laurent, Que.) ... BMOCs: CF Greg Wallace (Nanaimo, BC) 2B Trentt Copeland (Guelph, Ont.), Paul LaMantia (Tecumseh, Ont.), Brian Ivan (Toronto, Ont), Tanner Craswell (Charlottetown, PEI), Lucas Waddell (Ladner, BC) ... Kyle Kotchie (Pickering, Ont.) goes Prime Time, Prime Time.
PFPs XII -- MLB camps east to west, Even Grills (Whitby, Ont.) and Evan Rutckyj (Windsor, Ont.) to Kellin Deglan (Langley, BC) and Steve McKinnon (Duncan, BC), from Mississauga, to Waterloo, to Montreal, to Vauxhall, to Lethbridge, to Langley.
PFPs XIII -- Jesse Sawyer (Calgary, Alta.) stays hot, Agent Josh Kusnick has six Canucks -- Taylor Green (Comox, BC), Chris Dennis (La Salle, Ont.), Alexandre Periard (St-Eustache, Que.), Philippe-Alexandre Valiquette (St. Laurent, Que.), Jeff Hunt (Cambridge, Ont.) and John Suomi (Etobicoke, Ont.) ... BMOCs: Brendan Emmett (Mississauga, Ont.), Carson Vitale (Victoria, BC), Michael Carbone (Montreal, Que.), J.R. Robinson (Burnaby, BC), Dan Welch (Victoria, BC), Craig Coupland (Lanark, Ont.), Carl Moniz (Laval, Que.), Brian Ivan (Toronto, Ont.), RHP Brandon Kaye (Langley, BC), Eric Brown (Thunder Bay, Ont.), Paul LaMantia (Tecumseh, Ont.).
PFPs XIX -- Phillippe Aumont (Gatineau, Que.) has new team, new job, new arm slot in the Phillies system ... Jays scout Jamie Lehman (Brampton, Ont.) signs RHP Nick Purdy (Grafton, Ont.) ... BMOCs: Lucas Waddell (Ladner, BC), Paul LaMantia (Tecumseh, Ont.), Trentt Copeland (Guelph, Ont.), Greg Wallace (Nanaimo, BC), Tyler Patzalek (Burlington, Ont.), Chris Bisson (Orleans, Ont.), Sean Bignall (Brampton, Ont.), Eric Brown (Thunder Bay, Ont.), LHP Sheldon McDonald (Spruce Grove, Alta.).
ALLAN SIMPSON -- Chase For Draft’s No. 1 Pick Appears to be Two-Man Race, Bryce Harper or Jameson Taillon ... LHP James Paxton (Ladner, BC) ranked No. 37, OF Marcus Knecht (North York, Ont.) No. 62, INF Chris Bisson (Orleans, Ont.) No. 103, C Kellin Deglen (Langley, BC) No. 144, LHP Evan Grills (Whitby, Ont.) No. 149, LHP Jake Eliopoulos (Newmarket, Ont.) No. 207 and RP Jay Johnson (Sussex Corner, NB) No. 233, RHP Evan Rutckyj (Windsor, Ont.) is No. 326, RHP Steve McKinnon is No. 339 and RHP Corey Pappel (Mississauga, Ont.) is No. 354, on new top 500 list.
DEVON TEEPLE -- James Paxton (Ladner, BC) Signs With Grand Praire AirHogs of Indy American Association.
PFPs XVI -- Desmond Sullivan (Scarborough, Ont.) throws second no hitter ... Players of the Week: Greg Wallace (Nanaimo, BC), Kyle Kotchie (Pickering, Ont.) ... Carey Ashton (Montreal, Que.) Campbell’s Chunky Soup Most Valuable Coach ... Kellin Deglan (Langley, BC) gets face time at MLB.com ... Dougals Royals headed to WMBL ... BMOCs: Larry Balkwill (Chatham, Ont.), Ryan Saunders (Surrey, BC), Eric Sim (Abbotsford, BC), Ryan Lapensee (LaSalle, Ont.), Michael Carbone (Montreal, Que.), Andrew Firth (London, Ont.), Mike Elias (North Delta, BC), Nick Senior (Surrey, BC).
MIKE HARDILL -- Andrew Tinnish (Ottawa, Ont.) from Badger bopper to Blue Jays scouting director. ALLAN SIMPSON -- Canucks at JUCOs power No. 1 Connors: Marcus Knecht (North York, Ont.), C Peter Bako (Mississauga, Ont.) INF James Kottaras (Markham, Ont.), C Jeremy Kral (Prince George, BC), Brodie Ross (Markham, Ont.), Tyler Wheeler (Guelph, Ont.), Nick DaSilva (Toronto, Ont.), Cam Gray (Toronto, Ont.) and Chris Nagorski (Mississauga, Ont.).
PFPs XI -- Shawn Schaefer (Pitt Meadows, BC) NAIA National Pitcher of the Week ... 2B Jonathan Slattery (Mississauga, Ont.) CAA POW ... AMC POW: Tyler Tamayose (Lethbridge, Alta.) ... Connors State rolls thanks to Peter Bako (Mississauga, Ont.), Marcus Knecht (North York, Ont.) and Chris Nagorski (Mississauga, Ont.) ... VIBI players off to Swift Current ... Dayton Dawe impressive in N.C. ... BMOCs Mathieu Beauchesne (Quebec City, Que.), Aaron Dunsmore (Spruce Grove, Alta.), Trevor Hall (Mississauga, Ont.), Chris Bisson (Orleans, Ont.), Jesse Sawyer (Calgary, Alta.), Zach Rhodes (Champion, Alta.), Joel Blake (Langley, BC), Greg Wallace (Nanaimo, BC), Trentt Copeland (Guelph, Ont.), Brandon Kaye (Langley, BC), Sammie Starr (Toronto, Ont.), Nic Lendvoy (Langley, BC), Jerome Werniuk (Toronto, Ont.) and Corey Pappel (Mississauga, Ont.). ... Baseball Ontarip March trip a success.
SHI DAVIDI -- Can James Paxton (Ladner, BC) move higher than 37th in draft?
WILLIAM HUMBER -- Like the Weather, Base Ball Didn’t Stop at the Border: Observations and Sources on 19th Century Baseball in Canada
PFPs XVII -- 1B Brian Burton (Kitchener, Ont.) National POW, RHP Matt McGovern (Ottawa, Ont.), 2B Jon Cotter (Moose Jaw, Sask.), Lucas Waddell (Ladner, BC) earned coference POWs ... Langley wins the Best of the West tourney ... R.I.P. Gary Whiteman ... Todd Blair (Ajax, Ont.) ROW ... Wayne State POW: RF Ryan LaPensee (LaSalle, Ont.) ... Minor league, Indy Comings and Goings ... BMOCs: Marcus Knecht (North York, Ont.), Chris Bisson (Orleans, Ont.), LHP Mark Hardy (Campbell River, BC), Brandon Kaye (Langley, BC), Nic Lendvoy (Coquitlam, BC), RF Nate Smith (Brampton, Ont.), Brett Bousquet (Calgary, Alta.).
SHI DAVIDI -- National team heads south, Dates announced for world juniors up in north in Thunder Bay ... Jonathan Paquet (Ancienne Lorette, Que.), Kellin Deglan (Langley, BC) show well in 4-3 loss to Astros ... Mike Ellis (Surrey, BC) hits 90, Jordan Boston (Brampton, Ont.) with two hits in 4-3 loss to Braves ... Evan Grills (Whitby, Ont.), Emmanuel Forcier (St-Hyacinthe, QC) impressive in 8-2 loss to Astros.
PFPs XVIII -- Leaside scout Jim Stevenson signed Dana Eveland ... Team Canada: Evan Rutckyj (Windsor, Ont.) three perfect innings with 5 K's in 1-0 loss to Bravos ... Kellin Deglin (Langley, BC) hits walk-off, two-run homer in 3-2 win over Astros at ESPN ... Tom Robson (Ladner, BC) and Iannick Remillard (Valleyfield, Que.) impressive in 4-0 loss to Tigers ... Jalen Harris (Toronto, Ont.) drives in only run in 11-1 loss to Nationals ... RHP Joel Pierce (Windsor, Ont.) throws three scoreless in 3-0 loss at Dunedin.
PFPs XVIV -- Greg Wallace (Nanaimo, BC), Daniel Morari (Saskatoon, Sask.) POWs, No-no for Jason Rubinstein (Thornhill, Ont.) ... ROW: Tanner Nivins (Kitchener, Ont.) and Tyler Patzalek (Burlington, Ont.) ... Free-agent signing and minor-league movements ... BMOCS: Paul Wilson (Richmond Hill Ont.), Myles Koebel (Surrey, BC), Owen Leflar (Edmonton, Alta.), Tyler Tamayose (Lethbridge, Alta.), Chris Bisson (Orleans, Ont.), Eric Brown (Thunder Bay, Ont.), Sheldon McDonald (Spruce Gruce, Alta., Jeff Smith (Oshawa, Ont.,), Colin McKeen (Orangeville, Ont., Brad Cochrane (Burlington Ont., Liam Foran (North Vancouver, BC), Josh Herback-South (Regina, Sask.)... JUCO looks for SS.
PFPs XX -- Chris Leroux (Mississauga, Ont.) in Marlins pen to stay?
ROBERT BROUGHTON -- Garrett Regan (Calgary, Alta.) an Oklahoma City Star once again ... World Juniors: If Bryce Harper comes Thunder Bay's tourney won't be a secret.
ADAM MORISSETTE -- Carl Enns (Richmond, BC) hopes to bring baseball to Ghana.
TODD DEVLIN -- Draft time = Brewers time, for Milwaukee, Canada's team.
PFPs XXII -- Mike Goemans (Guelph, Ont.) triple award winner ... Baby Nats add RHP Emerson Savage (Bartibog Bridge, N.B.), RHP Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.), OF Keenan Chanin (White Rock, BC) for Dominican tour ... C Kellan Deglan (Langley, BC) a first rounder? ... Connors slips after injury to 3B Tyler Wheeler (Guelph, Ont.) ... Chris Leroux (Mississauga, Ont.) update ... BMOCs: 2B Chris Bisson (Orleans, Ont.), Ryan LaPensee (LaSalle, Ont.), Tyler Tamayose (Lethbridge, Alta.), Kevin Challoner (Winnipeg, Man.), Bob Foerster (Langley, BC), Nic Lendvoy (Coquitlam, BC), Mike Elias (North Delta, BC), David Walkling (Nanaimo, BC).
TODD DEVLIN -- Peter Orr (Richmond Hill, Ont.), oldest of 63 Canadians hot at Syracuse ... Canucks in D.R. ... Two hits for Kellin Deglan (Langley, BC), Brandon Dailey (Brantford, Ont.) in 9-7 loss to NY Mets ... Tom Robson (Ladner, BC), Jesen Dygestile-Therrien (Montreal, Que.) work two scoreless each in 6-4 loss to Dodgers ... Jimmy Ralph (Raymond, Alta.) doubles, singles in 6-6 tie vs. Rays ... Rowan Wick (North Vancouver, BC) singles in 8-1 loss to Giants ... Ricky Bertrand (Surrey, BC), Philip Diedrick (Ajax, Ont.) two-RBI games in 8-5 loss to Rangers, Joel Pierce (Windsor, Ont.) works 4 IPs, 7 Ks, Two hits each for Keenan Chanin (Surrey, BC), Emmanuel Forcier (St-Hyacinthe, Que.) ... RBI double for Jordan Boston (Brampton, Ont.), two-run triple for Jerod Bartnik (Surrey, BC), Dailey drives in tying run with second hit in 5-5 tie with Jays ... Kellin Deglan (Langley, BC), Dailey double in 3-2 win over Phillies, Brian Bardis (St-Constant, Que) records save ... Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, Ont.) has two hits behind Evan Grills (Whitby, Ont.) in 9-1 loss to Mariners ... Dailey two-run double in 10-8 win over Brewers ... Five scoreless for Mike Ellis (Surrey, BC) in 3-2 win over Twins.
PFPs XXIII -- Wray Upper (Cambridge, Ont.) hung with best: Hank Aaron, Willie Mays ... Blake Robson (Nanaimo, BC), Myles Ethier (Carvel, Alta.) lead Vancouver Island Baseball Institute to Canadian College Baseball Conference title ... HONOURS: Josh Marshall (Saskatoon, Sask.), Perry Silverman (Montreal, Que.), Corey Pappel (Mississauga, Ont.), Sammie Starr (Toronto, Ont.), Sheldon McDonald (Spruce Grove, Alta.), Brian and Jarrod Ivan (Toronto, Ont.), Danny Moore (Victoria, BC), Jordan Broatch (White Rock, BC), Brant Stickel (Veteran, Alta.), Brad Regehr (Linden, Alta.), Cody Malloy (Pickering, Ont.).
ROBERT BROUGHTON -- Canucks at the NAIA Series ... LHP Shawn Schaefer (Pitt Meadows, BC), INF Greg Appleton (Port Coquitlam, BC), OF Garrett Regan (Calgary, Alta.), 1B Ian MacMaster (Surrey, BC) and RHP Matt Brennan (London, Ont.) with pictures.
PFPs XXIV -- Marcus well-Knecht-ed (North York, Ont.) Connors slugger making the rounds for private workouts ... 5 Canucks in Perfect Game’s top 100 NA draft list: Kellin Deglan (Langley, BC), James Paxton (Ladner, BC), Knecht, Evan Rutckyj (Windsor, Ont.) and Chris Bisson (Orleans, Ont.) ... No-Nos: Ryan Forletta (Vaughn, Ont.) and Nick Szmczyk (Mississauga, Ont.) for Team Ontario ... Jason Rubinstein (Thornhill, Ont.) does same for Thornhill ... Honours: Jim Lutton (Oshawa, Ont.), inducted into Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame ... Northern light: RHP Nick Bucci (Sarnia, Ont.) ... Champs Ryan LaPensee (LaSalle, Ont.), Paul LaMantia (La Salle, Ont.), record setters, all-Conference honours too ... Eric Brown (Thunder Bay, Ont.) signs with Thunder Bay Border Cats ... LDBA renamed Dan Pulham Memorial Field ... Phil Van Horne (Scarborough, Ont.) Train for a Cure tourney ... BMOCs: Greg Wallace (Nanaimo, BC), Trentt Copeland (Guelph, Ont.), Nate Smith (Brampton, Ont.), Tyler Graham (Stratford, Ont.), Chris Bisson (Orleans, Ont.), Kyle Bolton (Burlington, Ont.).
ALLAN SIMPSON -- Perfect Game's top 50 detailed reports, 7 Canucks in 186 ... No. 2 Jameson Taillon (The Woodlands, Tex.), No. 29 C Kellin Deglan (Langley, BC), No. 31 LHP James Paxton (Ladner, BC), No. 50 OF Marcus Knecht (North York, Ont.), No. 80 LHP Evan Rutckyj (Windsor, Ont.), No. 96 2B Chris Bission (Orleans, Ont.) and No. 186 LHP Evan Grills (Whitby, Ont.).
ALLAN SIMPSON -- Perfect Game's top 300 prospects for draft.
PFPs XXV -- Jamo Taillon Canuk citizenship could go third, mom Christie from Toronto, Dad Mike from St. Andrews West, Ont.
TODD DEVLIN --- University baseball update: OUA All-star beat Western at Rogers Centre ... David Fallico (Toronto, Ont.) POG ... Adam Reynolds (Guelph, Ont.) watch ... World University Game update.
SHI DAVIDI -- Kellan Deglan (Langley, BC) in good position heading into the draft.
PFPs XXVI -- Born to play ball -- Marcus Knecht (North York, Ont.) takes next step when he hears name at MLB draft.
PFPs XXVII -- Taillon, Deglan, Knect lead drafted Canucks ... Deglan, Knecht, Bisson, Skirving and Forer sign; Grills, Pompey agree to terms.
PFPs XXVIII -- Who had the best year? ABC and the Toronto Mets, with four current or alumnus selected in draft.
TODD DEVLIN -- Jamie Romak (London, Ont.) rolling as Blue Rock.
PPFs XXXIV -- Draft goes by the book Jays call on Marcus Knecht (North York, Ont.) -- just like 1994 bedtime story.
PFPs XXXX -- Milwaukee Brewers scout Jay Lapp (Brewers), winner of Jim Ridley award ... 17 years of scout's honour roll ... Kellin Deglan (Langley, BC) wanted to be a Jay ... 15 Canucks in NCAA tourney ... BMOC: Kyle Kotchie (Pickering, Ont.), Ian Choy (Mississagua. Ont.) ... Minor league POW RHP Scott Mathieson (Aldergrove, BC).
PFPs XXXXI -- Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, Ont.) quickly surfaces in February, drafted in 16th, signed by Jays ... Signings: Marcus Knecht (North York, Ont.), 3rd, Jays; Matt Skirving (London, Ont.), 30th, Pirates, RHP Nathan Forer (Brampton, Ont.), 46th, Yankees ... Northern Light: Skyler Stromsmoe (Etzikom, Alta.) ... Summer ball: Kevin Gifford (London, Ont.) healthy playing summer ball for Lima.
DEVON TEEPLE -- Father's Day weekend includes Hall.
TODD DEVLIN -- Robbie Alomar, Paul Quantril (Port Hope, Ont.), Calvin Griffith (Montreal, Que.) and Allan Roth (Montreal, Que.) et al at the Hall.
PFPs XXXXII -- Our 2010 Canada Day lineup and past teams.
PFPs XXXXIII -- MVP Ivan Hartle (North Vancouver, BC) leads Iowa Western to JUCO WS with three lead-off homers ... NAIA All-American: LHP Shawn Schaefer (Pitt Meadows, BC) ... NJCAA Baseball Div. II Second-Team All-American: OF Sean Bignall (Brampton, Ont.) ... NJCAA Baseball Div. III First-Team All-American: RHP Matthew Whidden (Hamilton, Ont.) ... First team NAIA All-Conference Canucks: Greg Appleton (Port Coquitlam, BC), Nolan Bracken (Regina, Sask.), Luis Castillo (Burlington, Ont.), Kurri Darby (Swift Current, Sask.), Owen Leflar (Edmonton, Alta.), Sheldon McDonald (Spruce Grove, Alta.), Tyler Plumpton (Peterborough, Ont.), Alex Ponich (Penticton, BC), Ryan Saunders (Field, BC), Brian Simone (Amherstburg, Ont.), Sammie Sarr (Toronto, Ont.), Shawn Schaefer (Pitt Meadows, BC), Tyler Tamayose (Lethbridge, Alta.) ... Second Team All-Americans: Kerry Boon (Red Deer, Alta.), Jordan Gilmour (Gatineau, Que.), Mike O’Dwyer (Innisfail, Alta.), Scott Peters (Altona, Man.), Paul Thompson (Pearson, Man.) ... Gold glovers: Nolan Bracken (Regina, Sask.), Blake Carruthers (Calgary, Alta.), Matt Denney (Florence, N.S), Mark Hardy (Campbell River, BC), Cody Pifer (Montreal, Que.), Garrett Regan (Calgary, Alta.), Sammie Sarr (Toronto, Ont.), Alex White (Richmond, BC) ... All-Academic: Colin McKeen (Orangeville, Ont.), Brian Simone (Amherstburg, Ont.), Ian Choy (Mississauga, Ont.), Shane Davis (Belmont, Ont.), Mike Goemans (Guelph, Ont.), Josh Marshall (Saskatoon, Sask.) and Perry Silverman (Montreal, Que.).
TODD DEVLIN -- From Brampton to T-Birds to NYY system, Nathan Forer (Brampton, Ont.).
PFPs XXXXIV -- Jason Dickson (Chatham, NB) climbs Baseball Canada ladder ... Team Canada juniors on the road to Thunder Bay and Worlds: ... Tom Robson (Ladner, BC) pitches six innings, two earned runs, 8 Ks in 4-3 win over Torrington ... Joel Pierce (Windsor, Ont.) impresses in 2-0 loss to Bay Sox.
PFPs XXXXV -- Terriers' Graham Tebbit steps up, Pinch-hitter belts a three-run homer to lead his club to Canada Day victory ... Team Canada leads up to Worlds ... Team USA thumps Team Canada 9-0 in final tune up ... Tom Robson (Ladner, BC) works four solid innings in 4-0 loss to Taiwan ... Jonathan Paquet (Ancienne Lorette, Que.) works five impressive innings in 4-3 win over Team USA ... Jesen Dygestile-Therrien (Montreal, QC) dominated in 7-4 win over Twin City High School All Stars ... Emmanuel Forcier homers in 7-2 loss to Team USA.
ADAM MORISSETTE -- Canada thumps Netherlands in opener ... Jesen Dygestile-Therrien (Montreal, Que.) pitches six, Brandon Dailey (Brantford, Ont.), Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, Ont.) go dee.
ADAM MORISSETTE -- Canucks lose pitcher's duel to Cuba ... Tom Robson (Ladner, BC) works six scoreless, Evan Grills (Whitby, Ont.) puts up zero in 7th, Cuba scores two in 8th for 3-0 win.
ADAM MORISSETTE -- Slam helps Canucks beat defending champs ... Phil Diedrick (Ajax, Ont.) hits first-inning gram slam, game winner scores on wild pitch, Brian Smith (Pickering, Ont.) gets win.
ADAM MORISSETTE -- Mike Ellis (Surrey, BC), Rowan Wick (North Vancouver, BC) lead Canucks vs. Panama.
ADAM MORISSETTE -- Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, Ont.) leads Canucks to walk off and 1st place in pool ... Canucks trail 4-1, 6-2 and 7-6 entering the bottom of the ninth