Sept. 26, 2009

2010 -- Draft list

2009 -- Canadians drafted      

2009 -- Canadian draftees, links to stories, players signed, bonuses

Canadians drafted amongst the top 200 over-all  

2009 -- Canadians In the Minors, Gillies Hitter of Year, Leaders Sept. 24

2009 -- Canadians in College

2009-10 Letters of Intent -- updated Sept. 24

UPPER DECK XVIII -- Canada wins bronze, Humm baby! Canada beats Puerto Rico 6-2 at 38th World Cup for first-ever medal ... Jamie Richmond works four innings, leaves with 4-2 lead, Dustin Molleken and Trystan Magnuson work two scoreless each and Jim Henderson works scoreless ninth. ... Shawn Bowman double keys three-run 1st ... Jonathan Malo hits RBI-triple ... Jimmy Van Ostrand hits two-run homer ... BOX SCORE

BOB ELLIOTT

Larry Walker was there March 9 as Team Canada was rudely bumped from the World Baseball Classic after a 6-2 loss to Italy.
“I remember sitting in that coach’s room at the Rogers Centre long after the game was over and we just stared as each other, Ernie Whitt, Greg Hamilton and the rest of us,” Walker (Maple Ridge, BC) recalled.
And Canada’s greatest position player was there exactly 200 days ago coaching first base as Canada knocked off Puerto Rico 6-2 to win the bronze medal Saturday at the 38th World Cup in Grosseto, Italy in front of 1,000 fans.
It was Canada’s first medal ever in the World Cup and first since the 1999 Pan-American Games in Winnipeg, Man.
“A few nights ago we all had that down, dejected look when Italy took a 5-0 lead in the first inning with none out. We were all thinking the same thing: ‘Italy is going to beat us twice in one year?’”
Canada came back with three runs in the bottom of the first, but trailed 6-3 in the seventh before scoring 13 times in their final two at-bats for a 16-7 win.
The win over Italy was the fourth in a string of eight consecutive wins by Canada and manager Whitt to get into the bronze-medal game.
Once there, Canada scored three times in the first as lead-off man Adam Stern (Port Stanley, Ont.) singled to right and Rene Tosoni (Cotquilam, BC) was hit by a pitch. Shawn Bowman (Port Moody, BC) doubled in a run to chase Puerto Rico starter Melvin Pizarro. Jimmy Van Ostrand (Richmond, BC) hit a scoring fly ball and Tim Smith (Toronto, Ont.) singled.
Jamie Richmond (Mississauga, Ont.) was asked by Whitt to go four innings, he was tagged for a two-run homer by Jose Valentin in the second, one of three hits he allowed, and the score was still 3-2 when Richmond left after four innings. Richmond did a starter’s job -- gave his team a chance to win.
Thanks to Canada’s slam-the-door bullpen the score was still 3-2 in the eighth when Jonathan Malo (Joliette, Que.) tripled to right to score Adam Loewen (Surrey, BC) for a three run lead.
Van Ostrand hit the first pitch he saw from Rich Rodriguez for a two-run homer in the ninth, scoring Tosoni ahead of him.
Dustin Molleken (Regina, Sask.) pitched a scoreless fifth and sixth, Trystan Magnuson (Vancouver, BC) worked the seventh and eighth and Jimmy Henderson (Calgary, Alta.) ran the bullpen string to five scoreless pitching the ninth.
“This was such a young team that came together so quickly,” said Whitt (from the Windsor, Omt. suburb of Clinton Township, Mich.), as he relaxed in a hotel room with coaches Denis Boucher (Lachine, Que.), Tim Leiper (Altoona Pa.), Hamilton and Walker, plus buisness manager Bernie Soulliere (Windsor, Ont.).
Elton John’s Benny and the Jets played in the background as Whitt waited for D.J. Jay-Z Jazzy Jeff Walker to finally play some George Strait.
“This whole program has just been such a great feeling for me,” Whitt said. “People don’t realize the experience what it’s like for these guys to wear CANADA across their jerseys, to play for your country and I don’t know if people will ever comprehend. I know I don’t have enough words so explain it.”
So Whitt explains it in a story ...
Chris Begg (Uxbridge, Ont.) was there in 2003 when Canada beat Mexico to qualify for the 2004 Olympics in Panama. He was there in Athens. He was there at the 2005 Regional Olympic Qualifer, the 2005 World Cup, 2006 WBC, the 2008 Olympics in Bejing and the 2009 WBC team.
He always took the ball for Canada and for Whitt. He always gave his team a chance. He always wore the same underwear. He was and is as a old coach used to say “just ... a great kid.”
“Chris Begg didn’t pitch an inning of pro ball this year,” said Whitt. Begg has been released by the San Francisco Giants in 2008. He was not asked back by the Quebec Capitales on the independent Can-Am League.
“He said “i’ll do what I can for you,” Whitt said. “I felt so bad for him against Italy when he faced five guys and didn’t get anyone out. So he pitches against Cuba in his next start. He gives us four great innings ... “
Whitt’s voice trails off as he composed himself, but from the reconstruction of the conversation it went something like this.
Whitt: “Good job Begger, you’re done. You’ve done your job.”
Begg “But Ernie, I can give you one more.”
Whitt: “Nope.”
Begg: “I can give you one more.”
Whitt sat down on the dugout bench beside Begg and said “I know how much you have done for me over the years and you know I love you, but that’s it.”
The Whitt hugged Begg and they both men sat on the bench and cried. Said Whitt “we really lost it.”
“He’s been with us since 2003 and he’s always been that stand up guy, someone you could always count on, that’s just the Canadian way.”
Begg shook hands with Whitt after the win over Puerto Rico and quickly said “don’t start on me tonight,”
For a team mostly of double-A calibre players Canada did just fine.
“The next generation of Canadian National Team talent arrived and made a strong statement in the international baseball world,” Hamilton said. “Everyone felt proud of accomplishing something which had never been done in the history of the program.”
Upon landing in Sweden, Canada played 15 games in 17 days.
The first three games were played at Sundbyberg, Sweden.
After a flight from Stockholm to Rome, they played that night in Reggio Emilla.
Next day they played in Novara and after an off day, Godo, then Bologna, then back to Godo, back to Reggio Emilla, then to Parma to conclude the second round.
Advancing to the third round. they opened in Nettuno, then Chieti, on to Grosseto, then Firenze and back to Grosseto for the bronze-medal game.
“I’ve been around a while (1970) and I’ve seen a teams go through a few grinds, believe me this was toughest grind I’ve ever seen,” Whitt said.
Canada, like every other team was seldom in one city for more than a couple of days.
“You get on the bus, travel 2 1/2 hrs, you get off the bus play, get back on the bus and travel three hours to somewhere else. You get up have a lunch and travel three hours to another city.
“Not once did I hear a complaint from any of these kids. We took the attitude that ‘we know what it is, we’re not going to let it beat us,’ and our guys held true to form.”
Whitt said Canada has a three-hour bus trip to Rome, an hour of free time and then a two-hour bus trip to Nettuno for the Team USA-Cuba gold medal game, where Canada will be presented its gold medals. “We’re all looking forward to that bus ride,” Whitt said. Then, it’s a bus back to Rome and a 4 a.m. wake up call.    
It has been quite a year for Whitt, who along with Walker and Soulierre were inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Marys in July, a successful season managing single-A Clearwater in the Philadelphia Phillies system and now Canada’s first bronze medal ... third out of 22 countries.
“This,” Whitt said, “tops it all.”
A recap of Team Canada’s Scandinavian-Europe trip, the yeomen work of the relievers, the late rallies and all the other drama:
In the first round ... Canada ran the table in the opening round:

_ Upsetting second-ranked Korea, scoring eight runs in the seventh for a 9-1 win before 661 fans, as Nick Bucci (Sarnia, Ont.), plus RPs Richmond, Henderson and Chris Kissock (Fruitvale, BC) gave an indication of how dominant Canada’s bullpen would be. Smith hits three-run HR in eighth.
Record: 1-0 in first round.

_ A Canada 15-0 romp over the Neterlands Antillies as Matt Kniginyzky (Mississauga, Ont.) pitched six scoreless for the win, while Brett Lawrie (Langley, BC), Tosoni and  Malo all homered before 1,408 fans.
Record: 2-0 in first round.

_ A 19-1 win over Sweden before 2,901 fans as Tosoni knocked in five runs, with Loewen, Smith and Van Ostrand hitting homers as Brooks McNiven (Vernon, BC) pitches four innings for the win -- and we have the video evidence
Record: 3-0 in first round.

The field of 22 was cut to 16 and Canada began the second round in Italy ...
_ With an 8-0 loss to Team USA, with Begg taking the loss in front of 300 fans . Chris Robinson (Dorchester, Ont.) had the lone hit.
Record: 0-1 in second round.

_ Next came an extra-inning loss to 5-3 Australia as Tosoni had three hits in front of 200 fans. Henderson was charged with the loss.
“We had that good start in Sweden and now all of a sudden we are 0-2 in the second round and our backs are against the wall as the saying goes,” Whitt said.
Record: 0-2 in second round.

_ A 4-2 win over Mexico, as Bucci pitched 4 1/3 scoreless with Magnuson getting the win before 400 people. Stern, Tosoni and Bowman all had two hits apiece. Bucci struck out a hitter to end the second, the Mexican hitter yelled at Bucci, Bucci yelled back and the benches empties.
Record: 1-2 in second round.

_ A 3-2 extra-inning win against Japan before 450 fans as Tosoni cracked the catcher to score the winning run on an Emmerson Frostad (Calgary, Alta.) two-run single. The game was tied 1-1 after 10, Japan scored in the top of the 11th and Canada scored in the bottom half. “There was no way (Tosoni) was going to be safe, he was dead-red meat ... out,” Walker remembered. “Tosoni hit the catcher and the ball rolled lose. It’s different coaching at first, rather than jumping on piles you get to see them celebrate. I did see them carry the catcher off on a stretcher.”
Kniginyzky pitched six innings allowing an unearned run, Kissock worked two innings and Henderson pitched three innings allowing an unearned run for the won.
Record: 2-2 in second round.

_ A 19-2 crushing of the Netherlands Antilles before 650 fans. Van Ostrand had four hits in back of McNiven.
Record: 3-2 in second round.

_ A 16-7 win over Italy as Canada scored 13 times in the seventh and eighth innings in front of 817 fans. Kissock picked up the win to which guarantee Canada a spot amongst the final eight teams. Robinson with five RBIs, Stern and Van Ostrand all had three hits apiece. Kissock picked up win. Let’s go to the video evidence.
Loewen, the Jays farmhand, the former pitcher turned hitter, knocked in three runs
Record: 4-2 in second round.

_ A rain-shortened 5-3 win over Chinese Taipei to conclude the second round before 323 fans. Loewen drove in Lawrie with winner as Canada as Richmond pitches five inning with the win going to Magnuson in relief. Tosoni homers, while Cole Armstrong (Surrey, BC) had a pair of doubles.
Record: 5-2 in second round to finish third in its pool.

And in the third round, as the field was reduced to eight teams, Canada began with a 1-2 over a record  ... as only results against advancing teams were carried over -- losses to Team USA and Australia and a win over Chinese Taipei.

_ Canada beat Puerto Rico 3-0 to open the third round as Lawrie hit a towering home run over the left field fence to break the scoreless tie, with Walker watching in admiration along with 500 fans. Starter Bucci worked five innings to combine with Magnuson, Molleken and Henderson on one hitter. Tosoni knocked into two extra runs in ninth with double and Robinson had three hits.
Record: 2-2 in third round.

_ A 9-2 win against Venezuela as Kniginyzky tossed six scoreless, with Bowman and Loewen hitting homers. Stern, Tosoni and Ostrand had a pair of hits each in front of 300 fans.   
Record: 3-2 in third round,

_ An 11-5 win over The Netherlands to wrap up second place in the pool behind Team USA and a berth in the bronze-medal game before 250. Down 5-4 in the seventh, Malo was hit by a pitch, was bunted to second by Stern and with two out Bowman hit a two-run homer to right for the lead. Lawrie led off the eighth with a triple on Loewen’s double. Van Ostrand and Smith also knocked in runs. 
Now for the video evidence.
Record: 4-2 in third round,

_ In a game which could not hurt nor harm Canada’s chances, Begg turned in a gutty performance in a 5-1 loss to Cuba as Stern homered in front of 1,100. Vince Perkins (Victoria, BC) was charged with the loss. On to the video evidence.

Walker, not one to give out cliches, gave one out.
“It was a team effort, guys pitched in every night, pitched in, we got big hits up and down the line, everyone jelled,” Walker said. “I enjoyed it, to play that many hours and to get something out of it was something I’ll remember.”
Long after the game was over the coaches sat in the dugout. They could look into the clubhouse through the windows. Elder statesman Stern began to belt out “O Canada.”
“It was pretty special sitting there watching it, I’m not expert, but they were saying it was ‘maybe the second best rendition of Canada ever sung by a ball team.’”
Could have it been that night when Justin Morneau (New Westminster, BC) and Stubby Clapp (Windsor, Ont.), Pete Laforest (Hull, Que.) and Mike Kusiewicz (Ottawa, Ont.) belted out the anthem?
Or was it when Pete Orr (Richmond Hill, Ont.), Steve Green (Longuiel, Que.), Loewen, Stern and Clapp began to sing in the clubhouse as Chase Field in Phoenix after beating Team USA 8-6 in the first WBC?
Then, organizers closed the night at the park with a 45-minute fireworks display. 
“You know what,” Walker said getting back to his normal straight-from his hip style, “good for Greg Hamilton. He works his tail off all year put this whole thing together. Good for Ernie Whitt, he does such a great job and gets everyone involved. They took a lot of crap when it wasn’t deserved after the WBC.
“We went a little farther than we did in the WBC ... about 13 games further.”
And the result was a bronze medal, farther than any Canadians have travelled in the World Cup.

Voting time: Online fan voting for 2010 ballot for Ford C. Frick award, which honors excellence in baseball broadcasting begins Dec. 1.
For the seventh consecutive year, the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will conduct online fan balloting to help determine the final ballot for the Ford C. Frick Award. By casting votes fans will select three of the 10 names on the 2010 ballot for the Frick award, presented annually since 1978. Online voting runs from Dec. 1 through Dec. 31, and fans can cast votes once per day through December for up to three baseball broadcasters will be posted.
 
Candidates must have a minimum of 10 years of continuous major league broadcast service with a ball club, network, or a combination of the two, and bios of each candidate will appear on the web site. Results of the fan voting will be announced in January, though updates will not be provided during the voting. The final ballot will be comprised of the three fan selections, along with seven other candidates, determined by a Hall of Fame staff research team.

The 2010 Ford C. Frick Award winner will be announced in February.
 
The Frick electorate includes all living award-winners and five historians appointed by the Hall of Fame. The voting electorate consists of 20 members, featuring 2009 Ford C. Frick Award winner Tony Kubek, former Blue Jays broadcaster and the other 14 living Frick Award winners: Marty Brennaman, Jerry Coleman, Gene Elston, Joe Garagiola, Ernie Harwell, Jaime Jarrin, Milo Hamilton, Denny Matthews, Dave Niehaus, Felo Ramirez, Vin Scully, Lon Simmons, Bob Uecker and Bob Wolff. Five historians and veteran media members are also part of the electorate, including Bob Costas (NBC), Barry Horn (Dallas Morning News), Stan Isaacs (formerly of New York Newsday), Ted Patterson (historian) and Curt Smith (historian).
 
More than 615,000 votes were cast during the first six years of online balloting, including a record 145,138 votes cast online in 2008. For the second consecutive year, former Reds broadcaster Joe Nuxhall paced all broadcasters in the fan-voting, totaling 19,547 votes. Former Expos broadcaster Jacques Doucet (10,282) and former Expos and Blue Jays broadcaster Tom Cheek (8,992) also earned spots on the final ballot.
 
A complete list of recipients includes:
1978  Mel Allen, Red Barber.
1979  Bob Elson
1980  Russ Hodges
1981  Ernie  Harwell
1982  Vin Scully
1983  Jack Brickhouse
1984  Curt Gowdy
1985  Buck  Canel
1986  Bob Prince
1987  Jack Buck
1988  Lindsey Nelson 
1989  Harry Caray 
1990  By Saam 
1991  Joe Garagiola 
1992  Milo Hamilton 
1993  Chuck Thompson
1994  Bob Murphy  
1995  Bob Wolff 
1996  Herb Carneal 
1997  Jimmy Dudley 
1998  Jaime Jarrin
1999  Arch McDonald 
2000  Marty Brennaman
2001  Felo Ramirez
2002  Harry Kalas
2003  Bob Uecker
2004  Lon Simmons
2005  Jerry Coleman
2006  Gene Elston
2007  Denny Matthews
2008  Dave Niehaus
2009  Tony Kubek

Never too early to shop for Christmas: The 2010 Justin Morneau calendar is now on sale for $15. Nine dollars of each program go to support Baseball Canada amateur and BC baseball progams.
You can order of the BC baseball website: playballbc.com with all of the key dates for 2010 marked.
We've seen most of the months and the photography is excellent.

Help: Want to write on baseball ... Canadian baseball that is? We have the room, we have the space, all we are is missing is money to pay you. If you want to become a scribe -- Canadians in the minors, Canadians in college, Canadians on the sandlots, whatever, you want to promote Canadian baseball.
Send us your story ideas and suggestions and we’ll consider them all.
See your name up in lights -- just like us -- without the pay cheque.
Contact us at (bobelliott49@gmail.com).

Help I: We're still looking for help on college news and notes. If you know someone mentioned on the school page, please send us the link at (bobelliott49@gmail.com) and we'll post it under In College.

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.
Our No. 2,100 is RHP Ryan Oxford (Sussex, N.B.), who pitched for Vancouver Island University (VIBI) and plans on playing for New Brunswick at the Canada Summer games this year.
And our No. 2,200 is Jorhn Kaluzniak (Brandon, Man.) of the Manitoba Youth Selects.
Our group has representation from all 10 provinces led by Ontario, which has 757 members. B.C. has 340, Quebec has 175, Alberta has 127, Saskatchewan 67, Manitoba 47, New Brunswick 52, Nova Scotia 23, Newfoundland 20 and Prince Edward Island 15, plus 35 states led by Michigan, plus nine other countires.

Don't forget Delaware: So says Blair Hains. The former Intercounty umpire (1991-2006) worked the memorable semi-final playoff game between the Brantford Red Sox and the Toronto Maple Leafs, after the great power outage in 2003, when the CIty of Toronto couldn't turn the lights on at Christie Pitts. The game was resumed in Brantford, The defining moment came late in the game when three Leafs went down swinging.
Now Hains works NCAA DIvision II and Division III games where the best teams are John Hopkins and West Cheste.
UPPER DECK I -- Rene Tosoni, Futures Games MVP, Best of the four Canucks in St. Louis, plus MLB Scouting Bureau reports ... Looking for Chatham Diamonds ... Final roster for Ontario camp ... R.I.P. Ron Steele.
UPPER DECK II -- Year I, 50 EXTRA BASES blogs ... from Brett Lawrie signing to James Paxton being drafted ... from the Nationals in 2008 to the Mizuno Camp to the World Baseball Classic ... to Canadian promotions to the 40-man (Alexandre Periard) to Canadian promotions to the big league (Chris Leroux). It's all here and more for you to check on ... and links to what has been going on in the Majors, the Minors, in College, with Team Canada and on the Sandlots. Plus in out first year of the site we've had excellent contributions by Kevin Glew, Jonathan Hodgson, Allan Simpson, Bob Broughton, Shi Davidi, Adam Morrissette.
KEVIN GLEW -- David Corrente, eight-year Blue Jays minor leaguer attends HOF ceremonies at St. Marys ... William Bargel helps keep Mississauga North unbeaten at eliminations ... Anthony Ricciardi heads south.!
ADAM MORISSETTE -- Okotoks Dawgs Academy opens this fall ... Rare double for Colin McKean ... Ontario senior eliminations draw ... In the Majors ... Jason Bay shines in limelight ... Pat Gillick involved with Philies ... Erik Bedard to DL ... Mark Teahen like a turkey sandwich ... Avril Lavigne tosses first pitch ... Larry Walker: True Canadian hero ... San Diego Chicken, 35 ... Ron Piche, Canadian HOFer injured in car crash ... Brian Ostrosser, former Met ... In the Minors ... Four Canucks to Futures ... Nick (Eggs) Weglarz ... Brockville's Wayne Amyotte, 1969 Bristol Tiger ... Vancouver Canadians 25 big leaguers and counting ... Erie Gagne rebuilds shoulder, reputation ... Tyson Gillies a burner ... Karl Gelinas shuts down centre of universe ... Justin Randall disappointed with deal ... FA Jeremiah Sammy signs with Rockies ... Kyle Dhanani joins Brewers ... In College ... Chris Bisson leads the Cape in SBs ... Mike Mokriy does it all for Prospects ... Tanner Brotzel coaching Regina ... Adam Reynolds keeps hair ... Team Canada ... World Cup 2009 ... Rowan Wick in the Dominican ... On the Sandlots ... The Legend that is Bill Green ... Vauxhall's 2009-10 roster ... London master plan panned by Mike Lumley ... Riverview's Jon Loughery home from down under ... Kenny McIlroy pitches Kingston to win ... Ron Baron Manitoba HOFer ... Carl Matheson, Nova Scotia legend.
TODD DEVLIN -- Chris Robinson has an Iowa average attractive to the Cubs ... Geoff Wendt's wise men select Ontario Youth Team ... Welland's Royce Consigli signs with A's ... In the Majors ... Russell Martin reason for Dodgers success ... Scott Richmond took the right fork ... Jason Bay becomes dual citizen ... Felipe, Moises Alou back in Montreal ... Matt Stairs opened doors ... Joey Votto candid about absence ... Chris Leroux recalled by Marlins ... In the Minors ... Eric Gagne on comeback trail ... Pete LaForest hits for Quebec cycle ... Nick Weglarz helps Indians to 5th place ranking ... Marc Bourgeois, Twins draft ... In College ... Adam Loewen, Russell Martin, Rene Tosoni ex Chipola Indians ... LSU recruit Chad Stang signs with Milwaukee ... Luis Castillo is all-Nebraska ... Bob Broughton: Okotoks, Swift Current lead divisions ... Andy Williams, Andre O'Conner join Regina ... Team Canada ... Evan Grills, National Junior Team veteran ... On the Sandlots ... R.I.P. Roméo LeBlanc, Canada's 25th GG, Expo fan ... Brodie Ross helps Blue Jays win Heartland ... Alan Cattrysse hits like machine ... Moncton's Serge Vatour leads batting race ... Chris Sorensen slam helps Fredericton beat Chatham ... Taylor Phillips, Kevfin Sawatzky honoured at Campbell River.
UPPER DECK III -- Lansing scholarship offers collapse -- must read if your son is headed off to school.
UPPER DECK IV -- London Badgers waltz past Tecumseh Thunders to win OBA midget eliminations in Sarnia ... Windsor Stars beat Leaside twice in London to take seniors ... Georgetown scores late to beat Windosr Stars at Mississauga ... Jeff Hutton big deal at NBC World Series with game-winning double in the 8th.
JONATHAN HODGSON -- WMBL playoff wrap.
UPPER DECK V -- Canada Cup goes to BC ... Canada Cup award winners ... National Junior Team selections.
UPPER DECK VI -- Steven Inch signs with Phillies ... Chris Bisson all-conference ... Deadline looms for James Paxton, Jake Eliopoulous and other unsigned Canucks ... Brian Smith pitcher of tourney at NABF juniors ... Cory Pappel wins NY State college honours.
SHI DAVIDI -- Baseball Canada adjusts focus with Olympic ouster.
UPPER DECK VII -- Jays go 1-for-9 signing Canuck draftees, James Paxton, Jake Eliopoulos unsigned, head to school
UPPER DECK VIII -- Quebec beats Ontario II at junior nationals.
UPPER DECK IX-- Ontario, represented by London Badgers beats Quebec 7-1 to win midget nationals.!
UPPER DECK X -- Ontario wins boys bantams, Quebec takes girls bantams ... MVPs, all-star team ... Medal standings ... Saskatoon wins peewee West ... Chris Bisson ranked 39th best prospect in Cape Cod League ... Jay Johnson, Corey Pappel, Nathan Forer also ranked by PG after their summers ... Aaron Dunsmore and Aaron Johnson help Rochester Honkers win Northwoods League title ... Marlins farmhand Chris Leroux interviewed.
TIM SMITH BLOG -- Day one with Team Canada, by Rangers minor-league OF Tim Smith.
TIM SMITH BLOG -- Day two with Team Canada, by minor-league OF Tim Smith, dealt to Kansas City Royals ... Adam Loewen 2-for-3, Nick Bucci leaves with lead, Canada loses opener to Team USA by 6-4 score in exhibition ... Box score ... Vince Perkins, Matt Kniginyzky join team, Philippe Valiquette injured. UPPER DECK XI -- Team Canada heads to World Cup in Sweden shy of starting pitching -- Again -- 23 named to roster, one spot to fill ... Online fan voting for 2010 ballot for Ford C. Frick award soon to begin with former Expos broadcaster Jacques Doucet and former Expos and Blue Jays broadcaster, the late Tom Cheek bidding to make ballot ... Mike Steed hired to manage Thunder Bay ... Bunny Bradfield and Jack Giffin's Brockville Bunnies live on ... Brantford beats Barrie in Intercouty 20-inning marathon, including 10 scoreless by Chris England, Red Sox win title in four games. 
UPPER DECK XII -- Blue Jays honour late Jim Ridley ... Brett Lawrie homers, Shawn Bowman has two hits, Chris Kissock, Vince Perkins, R.J. Swindle have scoreless outings in 11-2 loss to Team USA ... Box score ... Jonathan Malo has three hits, Trystan Magnuson, Bryan Dumesnil, Jamie Richmond, Vince Perkins, Jim Henderson have scoreless outings in Canada's 6-5 loss to Team USA ... Box Score ... Three hits, including home run by Cole Armstrong, Tim Smith triples and singles as Canada loses 7-4 to USA  ... Brewers recall John Axford from triple-A Nashville.
KEVIN GLEW -- Canadian Ball Hall lands historic Jackie Robinson ball.
SHI DAVIDI -- Canada set for World Cup opener in Sweden.
UPPER DECK XIII -- Canada upsets Korea with eight in the 7th for 9-1 win in World Cup lid lifter as Nick Bucci, Jamie Richmond, James Henderson and Chris Kissock combine on five hitter ... DH Tim Smith singles and hits three-run HR in 8th ... Venezuela upsets Team USA ... Japan edged Great Britain ... Nicaragua, Cuba, Mexico win ... Canada thunps Neterlands Antillies by 15-0 score ... Matt Kniginyzky tosses six scoreless. Homers by Brett Lawrie, Rene Tosoni, Jonathan Malo ... Canucks mercy Sweden in 19-1 romp  ... Rene Tosoni knocks in five runs, Tim Smith, Jimmy Van Ostrand, Adam Loewen go deep ... Brooks McNiven pitches four innings for the win ... Second round begins with 8-0 loss to Team USA in Italy ... Chris Begg takes loss. Chris Robinson has sole hit.
DEVON TEEPLE -- New GBL Champs: Calgary Vipers Expect More Than A Title ... Team Canada ... Jimmy Van Ostrand collects four hits in 19-2 win over Netherlands Antillies ... Canada 3-2 in second round of World Cup ... Homers by Shawn Bowman, Brett Lawrie and Van Ostrand ... Brooks McNiven gains win ... Emerson Frostad delievers clutch single as Canada edges Japan 3-2 in 11 innings at the World Cup ... Rene Tosoni cracks catcher to score winning run, catcher taken off on stretcher ... Jimmy Henderson gets win working three innings ... James Paxton tabbed as seventh best college prospect heading into 2010 draft by Baseball America ... Jeff Lounsbury has successful recruiting class at Brock ... Jason Rubinstein tosses three scorelss for the Niagara County College win ... Know any BMOCs?
UPPER DECK XV -- Jays Double A, Alex Anthopoulos, follows Team Canada ... Adam Loewen drives in Brett Lawrie with winner as Canada beats Chinese Taipei 5-3 ... Jamie Richmond pitches five, win to Trystan Magnuson in relief ... Rene Tosoni homers ... Two doubles by Cole Armstrong ... Emmerson Frostad hits game-winning slam in seven-run 7th as Canada rallies to beat Italy 16-7 ... 13 runs in its final two at-bats ... Three hits, five RBIs for Chris Robinson ... Three hits for Adam Stern, Jimmy Van Ostrand ... Chris Kissock picks up win.
UPPER DECK XVI -- Matt Kniginyzky pitched six scoreless, Canada beats Venezuela 9-2 ... Shawn Bowman, Adam Loewen hit homers ... Two hits each for Adam Stern, Rene Tosoni, Jimmy Van Ostrand ...  Brett Lawrie homers in top of 9th to break tie ... Nick Bucci works five scoreless in Canada's 3-0 win over Puerto Rico as third round begins at World Cup ... Bucci, Trystan Magnuson, Dustin Molleken, Jim Henderson combine on one hitter ... Rene Tosoni knocks into two extra runs in 9th with double ... Three hits for Chris Robinson ... World Cup news and notes and results ... Tom Boleska, Matt McGraw, Brian Essery all with Great Britain ... Brawl in the Fall go to host Intercounty Terriers in 18U as Aaron Bain pitches the win, Christian Fearon knocks in four ... Team Ontario wins 16U as Brandon Collins pitches win, 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs.
UPPER DECK XVII -- Canada plays Puerto Rico for bronze ... Canada loses nothing game to Cuba 5-1 ... Adam Stern, Jonathan Malo have only hits ... Far from a nothing start for Chris Begg ... Box Score ... Best World Cup ever assured ... Rally late to beat the Netherlands by 11-5 score ... Shawn Bowman, Jonathan Malo homer as Canada Rallies from 4-0 deficit ... Trystan Magnuson picks up third win ... Adam Loewen, Bowman knock in three apiece