UPPER DECK XXV -- Baseball woos a Ralph, Canada loses

Oct. 12, 2009

Canada wins bronze at World Cup

Who were those guys who won bronze?

2009 Final Canadians MiLB stats, Jim Henderson, John Axford, Tyson Gillies honoured

2009-10 Letters of Intent -- updated Sept. 28

2009 -- Canadians in College

2010 -- Draft list

2009 -- Canadians drafted      

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

Canadians drafted amongst the top 200 over-all


UPPER DECK XXV-- Baseball woos a Ralph, 2B Jimmy ... Canucks lose to Houston Astros on eighth-inning error

Bob Elliott

Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
-- Baseball is entering the second decade of its love affair with the Ralph family of Raymond, Alta.
And the Ralph family has returned the admiring glances from baseball.
But not one of Jim and Shelly Ralph's boys have signed a pro contract.
Football has always been their love:
Dustin Ralph, was a running back and a wide receiver, who was red-shirted with the Brigham Young University Cougars, transferred to the University of Wyoming Cowboys where he played in 1999-2000 and finished his football career with the University of Alberta. He played baseball for the Lethbridge Elks.
Brock Ralph, was a wide receiver with Wyoming from 1999-2002 and now plays for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, after playing for the Edmonton Eskimos -- winning two Grey Cups -- and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Wayne Norton (Port Moody, BC) drafted the 6-foot-4, Brock in the 15th round for the Baltimore Orioles in 1999 but could not sign the speedy centre fielder.
Brett Ralph was wide receiver with Wyoming in 2000 before transferring to the Boise State Broncos and now plays for the Calgary Stampeders. Brett played shortstop for Team Canada at the World Junior championships and made all the plays turning down offers from scout Bill Byckowski (Georgetown, Ont.) to turn pro with the Toronto Blue Jays. His teammate at the Worlds in Edmonton was C Russell Martin (Montreal, Que.) of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
And now along comes Jimmy Ralph.
Ralph may be the best point guard in Alberta, he plays wide receiver for Raymond High School Comets, coached by his father Jim and two years ago was only playing high school baseball.
Now, he’s one of the best middle infielders in Canada and that’s why he’s here with the Canadian Junior National Team.
Ralph was hitless but was in the middle of some play action along with SS Brandon Dailey (Brantford, Ont.) as the Team Canada National Junior Team fell 3-2 to the Houston Astros instructional league team Monday at Champion Stadium.
Will baseball finally win one love affair with the Ralph family?
“I don’t know,” Ralph says politely. “I’ve talked to six schools about football, two about basketball and one about baseball.”
The five schools interested in Ralph the football players are Brigham Young, Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska and Boise State; the schools interested in him are BYU and Portland and the baseball interest has come from former Montreal Expos second baseman Vance Law, who coaches BYU.
“Ideally I’d like to go to school and play two sports,” Ralph said. “I’ll go for one semester and once I turn 19 I’ll go on a mission, wherever the Mormon church sends me and then go to school.”
Ralph arrived to fall camp late as his Raymond Comets, the No. 2 ranked high school team in Canada -- despite having an enrollment of 210 students -- played Friday night against the Sand Point High School Bulldogs in Sand Point Id. losing 34-14. He caught 10 passes for 155 yards.
“They got us this year, but we beat then last year,” Ralph says with a smile. Seven of the eight graduating Raymond Comets moved on to play college football.
The best receiver in the Ralph family?
“Brock had 4.2 (40-yard dash) and 6.3 (60-yard dash) speed,” Jimmy says, “they are different receivers. Brock made the NFL New York Jets practice roster. Brett was a more agile receiver who ran better routes.”
Asked to name the top three reasons to play football and the top three reasons to play baseball, Ralph begins:
“No. 1, I’m comfortable playing football, No. 2 football has been part of my family and No. 3 ....” Ralph comes to a halt. “In baseball No. 1 would be what a challenge it is to get hits rather than TDs, No. 2 would be it is probably a better lifestyle, with a longer career and less risk of injury and ....”
Ralph stops after two.
He’s told if he’d come up with a third good reason to play baseball, he’d have to pick baseball over football. Ralph responded with a laugh.
An unearned run put the lead run ahead for the Astros in the eighth.
Rowan Wick (North Vancouver, BC) hit three doubles to pace Canada’s seven-hit attack.
Canada scored in the second when Justin Atkinson (Surrey, BC) singled and scored on a triple to right by Phil Diedrick (Mississauga, Ont.) triple to right.
And Canada went up 2-0 in the fourth as Wick doubled to rick and Kellin Deglan (Langley, BC) reached on an error. After a walk to Diedrick loaded the bases, Wick was forced at the plate on a ground ball. Simon Brisebois (Masouche, Que.) singled home Deglan.
RHP Mike Ellis (Surrey, BC) pitched three scoreless innings allowing one hit and striking out three.
RHP Levi Westerlund (Oyen, Alta.) worked three innings allowing two runs on five hits and a walk.
LHP Brian Smith (Pickering, Ont.) allowed one unearned run on three hits and a walk, while fanning three.

                                Linescore
                            123 456 789        R   H   E
Team Canada      010 100 000   --   2   7    1
Houston Astros   000 101 01x   --   3   9    3
Mike Ellis, Levi Westerlund (4), Brian Smith (7) and Kellin Deglan.
LP-Smith.

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
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.
UPPER DECK XVIV -- Adam Stern went to World Cup to fill Stubby Clapp role, played centre, hit lead-off and hit .327 for Canada's bronze-medal winning team ...RP Trystan Magnuson, 3B Shawn Bowman make all-World team ... Matt Kniginyzky wins ERA title, with 18 scoreless ... Rene Tosoni leads in runs scored award ... USA beats Cuba for gold ... Brandon Kaye headlines UBC bllue chip class ... Billy Ralston second to commit for fall of 2010 ... Shaun Valeriote transfers to Yavapai.
SHI DAVIDI -- Canada's fortunes turn Sept. 29, 2009 ... World Cup notes, All-World team, ratings ... UBC recruit class.
UPPER DECK XX -- Who were those guys in bronze? The 24 men who brought home Canada's first medal from the World Cup with a 6-2 win over Puerto Rico in the bronze-medal game ... Former Markham C Carson Kelly one of eight selected to 2010 Team USA 16U National Trials.
ALLAN SIMPSON
-- Uninspiring ’09 Season Can’t End Soon Enough ... LHP James Paxton, LHP Jake Eliopoulos, LHP Evan Grills, INF Chris Bisson, C Kellin Deglan and RHP Steve McKinnon make Perfect Game's top 300 prospects for 2010 draft ... C Eric Sim, RHP Corey Pappel, RHP Nathan Forer, Bisson and LHP Jay Johnson impress in college summer leagues.
ADAM MORISSETTE -- College Baseball Connect helps place Canadians in school ... Canada wns -- intra-squad game ... Three hits for Jalen Harris, Brandon Dailey homers.
UPPER DECK XXI -- After watching Phillippe Aumount, Brett Lawrie and Jake Eliopoulos go through the process, now it is Evan Grills' turn ... Canada beats Washington Nationals instructional league team 6-4 ...
R
ene Tosoni, Adam Loewen, Nick Weglarz, Scott Mathieson, Phillippe Aumont  and Philippe-Alexandre Valiquette  headed to Arizona Fall League.
UPPER DECK XXII -- Stubby Clapp visits old haunt ... Canucks lose 2-0 to Houston Astros instructional league team.
UPPER DECK XXIII -- Braves beat Canucks, BC boyos 2-hit Seminole ... Marcus Knecht impresses at Connors State ... Jays sandlot players of the month.
UPPER DECK XXIV
-- Dr. Al, Canada's pal, Canucks drop pair to Sumter