By BOB ELLIOTT

The topic Steve Rogers chose was all about “getting an edge.”
Rogers the best pitcher in the history of the Montreal Expos and a member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame addressed the awards diner at the joint Baseball Ontario and Baseball Canada conventions.
How as a rookie with the Montreal Expos Rogers watched as reliever Chuck Taylor inserted pins into the edge of his glove.
How the Expos first 20-game winner Ross Grimsley used to touch his sideburns for K-Y jelly, load up and throw a sticky one.
“One night Larry Parrish went to his back hand at third to field the ball and threw it 15 rows up, he grabbed the ball on the K-Y jelly,” Rogers told the crowd at the airport Renaissance Hotel. “Parrish shrugged, Grimsley shrugged and the message was ‘you might get another one on the next pitch.’”
Rogers told of Gaylord Perry trying to get an edge with his spitball.
The fourth over-all player chosen in the June 1971 draft Rogers was selected out of the University of Tulsa.
“I felt wronged,” Rogers said “the first three guys went to the majors their first year.”
Right-hander Pete Broberg went to the Washington Nationals, right-hander Burt Hooton joined the Chicago Cubs and infielder Rob Ellis was called up with the Milwaukee Brewers.
“I went to Winnipeg, then Peninsula to face Triple-A Rochester with Don Baylor, Bobby Grich, Terry Crowley, Rich Coggins, Al Bumbry ... only about 100 years of future major league experience.”
Rogers made his debut July 18, 1973 under manager Gene Mauch, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks as the Expos beat the Houston Astros 3-2 in 10 innings.
Six days later after the all-star break, Rogers pitched a one-hit shutout to blank the Pittsburgh Pirates and finished the season 10-5 with a 1.54 earned run average.
“I thought I knew everything, life was good,” Rogers said. “The next year I was 15-22.”
Don Sutton, Mike Scott and others attempted to get an edge by scuffing the ball.
Rogers admitted he always threw the first pitch of an inning sometimes more with an old infield ball.
“The catcher would throw the new ball down to second at the end of my warm up,” Rogers said. “Chris Speier would switch the balls, throw the new ball to first which wound up in the dugout and threw the old ball around.”
Now, things have changed.
“There isn’t any scuffing any more,” Rogers said, “if a ball hits the dirt it is examined by an umpire. The game has come full circle. Steroids have come and gone. Now it’s hard work and talent make up the best 25-man roster.
“Getting an education is all about getting the edge for young people today .”
While Rogers allowed the ninth-inning homer to Rick Monday -- when closer Jeff Reardon couldn't go due to a bad back -- in the deciding game of National League Championship Series preventing the Expos from reaching the World Series, he also beat Hall of Famer Steve Carlton and the Philadelphia Phillies twice to allow Montreal to advance.
The first question Rogers was asked after beating Phillies to move the Expos into the NLCS was “Steve what about your reputation for not being able to win a big game.”
“Ah, next question,” Rogers said.
Rogers was asked who was the best player of his era?
“Probably ... myself,” deapanned Rogers, an executive with the Players Association. “Hey, I am in the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown twice. Once for allowing Pete Rose’s 3000th hit and for allowing Hank Aaron’s 704th extra-base hit, which allowed him to pass Stan Musial on the all-time record.”
The former Expo ace is the self-deprecating sort. He was always at his locker after a bad game. Never blamed an umpire or a teammate. Always gave credit to others.
Asked the best teammate he ever had, Rogers was fast on the draw.
“Andre Dawson,” said Rogers. “I had the chance to play with some great players, Tony Perez and Gary Carter who are both in the Hall of Fame. Plus Tim Raines, when you consider his whole body of work and Dawson, who deserve credit for the Hall of Fame.”
Rogers said he was not surprised at the success of the inaugural World Baseball Classic. Team USA, Canada, Venezuela and Italy will play in the Toronto pool at Rogers Centre in March.
“Venezuela will not be a push over,” Rogers cautioned. “Canada has Justin Morneau and a whole host of players and they have a proven track record.”
Canada knocked off Team USA 8-6 to move to 2-0 in the WBC, before losing to Mexico and being eliminated on run differential.
This year it is a double elimination tourney.
Rogers will be back in Toronto for the Jan. 24 Team Canada Fund Raiser at the downtown Renaissance Hotel.

OBA Player of the Year, Youth: Geoffrey Seto (Richmond Hill), Richmond Hill Phoenix, peewee.
Runners-up: Alex Brockman (Belle River) Belle River, bantam; Danny Dawson (Brantford), Brantford, peewee.
Seto was a finalist with Richmond Hil at the eliminations and was added to the Vaughan Vikings for the nationals. Seto was awarded a game MVP, awarded defensive player in another game and was named to the tournament All-Star team as the top catcher in the tournament. He was also a finalist in the peewee OBAs and was a YSBA All Star in 2007-2008.

OBA Player of the Year, Adult: Larry Balkwill (Chatham), Windsor Selects, midget, Ontario Youth Team, Canadian National Junior Team.
Runners-up: Trevor Barton (London), London Badgers midget, Ontario Youth Team; Andrew Firth (London), London Badgers, midget, Ontario Youth Team; Jeff Gibbs (Toronto) East York midget, Ontario Youth Team; Donovan Latour (Barrie), Barrie, midget, Ontario Youth Team; Chris Redfern (Stratford), Stratford, midget.
Balkwill hit .359 for the OBA midget champs. He had 17 doubles, two triples, three homers and 37 RBIs. Balkwill won the Fergie Jenkins award in 2003. He garnered a bronze medal in 2006 for Riverside and was MVP of the win over Quebec. Balkwill also won the defensive catcher award at the Nationals
With Sun Parlour he won a gold at the Ontario Summer Games. He travelled all over in 2008: to Medicine Hat, Alta. where he hit .421 and won the MVP as Ontario beat New Brunswick in the semi-final on the way to a gold medal; to Oklahoma with Team Ontario; to Florida with the Canadian National Junior Team.
Balkwill signed a letter of intent to attend Siena College in Loudenville, N.Y. next fall.

Former OBA players of the year:
Year Junior and Senior Players of the Year
1994 Chris Green Mike Kusiewicz
1995 -- Paul Brown and Shawn Pearson
1996 Dan Hansen Doug Vandecaveye
1997 Scott Thorman Jason Mandryk
1998 Bradley Gould Patrick Nailer
1999 Chris Emanuele Tanner Watson
2000 Derek Lowe BJ Richardson
2001 Dan Zehr Chris Robinson
2002 Kate Psota Jamie Romak
2003 Ian Choy Cherie Piper
2004 Trevor Barton Davey Wallace
2005 Cain Monaghan Kevin Long
2006 Tanner Nivins Greg Densem
2007 McCalla Sturgeon Robert Cooper

Complete list of previous winners

MLB Volunteer of the Year: Geoff Hughes (Saskatoon, Sask.)
Hughes first became involved in minor baseball in 1983 as an assistant for his son’s Mosquito team and he has been involved ever since. In 1988, he began is long administrative association with Saskatchewan peewees where he has held the positions of treasurer, vice-president and president over the years.
Hughes steered construction of the present park in Saskatoon through its planning process and approval by the City of Saskatoon. This three-diamond, city-owned, facility has been named the Geoff Hughes Complex in recognition of his efforts in obtaining the new park.
In addition to the recognition received by naming the park after him -- the greatest compliment anyone can give a true baseball man -- he was also awarded the Investors Group Volunteer Sports Administrator Award in 2005 and was inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008.

Lionel Ruhr Coach of the Year: Mark Noel (Chatham, N.B.)
Noel started his coaching in 1996 when he joined the Chatham Ironmen program in New Brunswick as a bantam coach. In this capacity his team won the 1997 provincial tournament and represented the province at the Nationals in North Bay, Ont.
In 2000 he joined the Ironmen midgets as assistant coach and subsequently took over as head man the following year. Under his guidance, his team represented New Brunswick at the Midget Nationals in 2002, 2003 and 2005, culminating with a silver medal at the 2005 championship in Trois Rivières, Qué.
In 2006 he joined the New Brunswick Canada Cup program as an assistant and later coached the New Brunswick Selects in 2007. Since joining the program, the team finished fourth, fifth and third respectively - resulting in a promotion to Pool A for 2009. His bronze medal team in 2008 was the first New Brunswick team ever to medal at the Baseball Canada Cup.
Noel believes in the benefit of continuing to improve through NCCP training and is a Level 3 coach. He is now an assistant coach for the Ironmen Mosquito AAA team where he coaches his son.
Former coaches of the year in the house: Remo Cardinale (Mississauga), Jason Chee-Aloy (Toronto), Rick Johnston (Peterborough) and Marc Picard, twice (Oshawa).

Dick Willis Memorial Umpire Award: Derrick Dubell (Winnipeg, Man.)
In a relatively short 18 year umpiring career, Dubell has officiated many provincial and Western Canada championships, along with 11 National Championships.
As his playing career began to wane, he started umpiring in 1990 and within four seasons had earned his Level 4 status and his first national assignment, the Baseball Canada Bantam Championships in Kelowna, BC.
He works games in the Manitoba Junior League, the Winnipeg Senior League and the Independent Northern League. This past season he was assigned to work the annual All-Star Game. Dubell worked the World Junior Championships in Edmonton, umpiring nine games in that tournament, including the gold medal game.

Women’s National Team MVP: Ashley Stephenson (Mississauga, Ont.)
Stephenson received the Women’s National Team MVP Award for the second time after winning the prize in 2005. A member of the National Team since its inception in 2004, Stephenson dominated most offensive categories in her three appearances at the World Cup.
At Matsuyama, Japan in August, Stepnenson hit .625 while driving in nine runs, had the most stolen bases and was also a major contributor in the victory over the defending champion Team USA.
Stephenson was selected to the 2008 International All-Star team.

Jimmy Rattlesnake Award: Kate Psota (Burlington, Ont.)
The Jimmy Rattlesnake Award is presented for the first time a member of the Women’s National Team. Like the men’s National team honour it goes to the player for on-field accomplishments, as well as their team spirit and leadership.
Psota is the first female winner, and has been a member of the team since 2004. She is one of the better pitchers on the international stage, in addition to being a feared hitter.

Province of the Year: Manitoba
Manitoba won this honour for the fifth time and it’s first since 1999. The province was a force in governance and program development, finishing first in both categories.
Manitoba placed second in coaching and fourth in officials’ development. Finally, the association placed fourth in player registration in a year that saw every province showing a slight increase in registration numbers.

National champs:   
            GOLD SILVER BRONZE
Peewee       Que   BC    Ont
Bantam       BC    Ont   Que-H
Bantam Girls BC    Que   Sask
Midget       Ont   Que   BC
Junior       Que   BC    Ont
Senior       BC    Que   Ont
Sr. Womens   Ont   Que   Alta
Canada Cup   Ont   BC    NB
(H-Host team)

Totals
BC            3-3-1
Ontario       3-1-3
Quebec        2-4-1
Alberta       0-0-1
N.B.          0-0-1
Sask.         0-0-1

Jays speak: Kevin Briand, Blue Jays director of Canadian scouting, spoke to the banquet and explained how the Jays had the fourth best run differential in the majors and finished 11th out of 30 teams in 2008.
Briand said that the Jays had made free-agent A.J. Burnett an offer and hoped to be competitive in 2009.

OBA award winners
Ferguson Jenkins Youth Pitcher of the Year: RHP Dane Gordon (Barrie), Barrie, bantam.
Runners-up: Joshua Grise (Keswick), Georgina Bulldogs.

Gordon pitched 55 innings with a 3.04 earned run average, walking 19 and striking out 62. He also pitched 33 innings in tournaments with a 1.87 marks, walking 11 and striking out 34. Gordon, who started all the important game for Barrie, started once for the Ontario Summer Games team.
Gordon won the A.J. Burnett Bantam Player of the Month for August.

Ferguson Jenkins Senior Pitcher of the Year _ Jordan Prosper (Oshawa), Oshawa, midget.
Runners-up: Steven Carter (Windsor), Windsor Stars, senior; Kevin Gardner (Stratford), Stratford, midget; Brandon Puccio (Windsor), Tecumseh Thunder,  midget; Jordan Townshend (Ilderton), Ilderton, junior.
Prosper pitched 41 innings allowing 12 earned runs (2.63 ERA) as he walked 10 and struck out 102.

Youth Coach: Clare Osborne (Whitby), Whitby Chiefs, peewees.
Runners-up: Nick Carnovale (Maple), Vaughan minor bantam; David Gilroy (Burlington), Mississauga North, bantam girls; Dean Franklin (Richmond Hill), Richmond Hill, mosquito; Rod McKenzie (Listowel), Listowel, bantam, Rob Murphy (Tecumseh) Windsor Riverside, Gary Wood (Kitchener), Waterloo, peewees.
Osborne coached the Whitby Chiefs peewees to their fourth consecutive OBA title, a feat we’re not sure has happened before. Osborne was also  an assistant with the Rookie Ball team in Whitby which also won the OBA Championship for the first time in 2008. While Whitby did not win the eliminations four of his players were picked up for the Nationals at Vaughan.
Osborne runs seminars for coaches with instruction and guest speakers. Osborne pitched for Little Britain, Oshawa (for the legendary Jim Lutton), Kingston and Ottawa (where he learned from the legendary Conrad Young).

Adult coach: Jim Sheppard (Ajax), Oshawa Legionaries, junior.
Runners-up: Jeff Amos (Brantford), Brantford juniors; Steve Campbell (Thornhill), East York, midget;
Sheppard coached the Oshawa Legionaires to an undefeated season in the Leaside Junior League, won two junior tournaments and were runners-up in the eliminations. He has coached the Legionaires since 2001 and has been the boss for seven years leading the
Legionaires to eight successful seasons with an overall record of 343-96-10 (.775).

Special recognition of merit: To brothers Elliott and Jason Kieffer (Richmond Hill) who were umpiring a game in Vaughan promptly called the came when lightening was off in the distance and cleared the field. Moments later lightening struck the field.

Junior umpire of the Year: Ian McKee (Belle River).

Senior umpire of the Year: David Attridge (Burlington).

Don Gilbert award (Level 4/5) Umpire of the Year: Trevor Grieve (Toronto).

Team of the Year: Windsor Stars, senior.
They won the Can-Am League (21-5), were undefeated at the Oshawa tournament (3-0), the Rick Wiseman Memorial tournament (2-0), won the eliminations and won bronze at the nationals with a 43-9 record.

George Spalding award for association of the year: Sun-Parlour Association.
Windsor-area teams won: City TV Rookie Ball Sr. C: Leamington Lakers; City TV Rookie Sr. D: Essex Yellow Jackets; Rogers Digital Cable Minor Peewee AA: Tecumseh Rangers; Rogers Digital Cable Peewee AA: Tecumseh Rangers; Jays Minor Bantam AAA: Riverside Royals; Rogers Wireless Minor Midget AAA: Tecumseh Thunder; Rogers Wireless Midget AAA: Windsor Selects; Junior D Harrow Blues; Senior A: Windsor Selects; Senior D: Leamington.

President's Award: Steve Virtue (Ottawa).
Virtue was responsible for running the 2006 and 2008 Ontario Summer Games.

Jack Middlemass Award: Doug Sutton (Thornhill).

Barrie Salt Memorial award: Dirk Drieberg (Vaughan).

And the new OBA board: Oshawa's Mark Orton takes over as OBA president from Don McKnight (Newmarket).
Advising the new president will be first vice-president David Huctwith (Mississauga), second vice-president Dirk Drieberg (Vaughan), treasurer Ed Quinlan (Oshawa) and McKnight.
The board of directors consists of Jeffrey Albaum (Richmond Hill), Allan Ebert (Sarnia), Bob Humphries (London), Tony Jasinski (Mississauga), Stan Pagonis (Richmond Hill) and Bobbi Reive (Kingsville).
The registrar remains Howie Birnie (Leaside) and Quinlan remains supervisor of umpires.
John Milton (Bolton), a Blue Jays scout is director of coach and player development.

   -- With files from Andre Cormier.