EXTRA BASES X -- Past All-Canucks College Team pros
All-Canadian College Team SelectionMeans good things are coming
By BOB ELLIOTT
Who knows what lies ahead for those about to be honoured on our soon-to-be-announced ninth annual All-Canadian College team. Whomever makes the All-Canadian team -- the best from the spring of 2008 -- they certainly have some big shoes to fill Looking back, here are some former all-Canadians have either reached the top of their goal, are on their way or proceeded further down the road than most: OF Jason Bay (Trail, BC), of the Gonzaga Stags, a first team All-Canadian in 2000, a National League Rookie of the Year and patrols left field for the Boston Red Sox. LHP Jordan Gerk (Kelowna, BC), of the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles, and a first teamer in 2000, went on to pitch in the Detroit Tigers system. 3B Nom Siriveaw (Vancouver, BC), of the Eastern Oklahoma Mountaineers, a first teamer in 2000, signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. SS Shayne Ridley (Milton, Ont.), a first team selection in 2000 from the Ball State Cardinals, signed with the Kansas City Royals. RHP Rich Harden (Victoria, BC), of Central Arizona Vaqueros, earned first team honours in 2001 and now is the Chicago Cubs rotation. 2B John Cole (Kanata, Ont.) of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, a first-team selection in 2001, signed with the Seattle Mariners. SS Lee Delfino (Pickering, Ont.), a first-team selection in 2001 with the East Carolina Pirates, signed with the Jays. OF Danny Gibbons (Toronto, Ont.) of the North Central Texas Lions, a first team selection in 2001 and a third team selection in 2002, before signing with the Oakland A’s. OF Adam Stern (Port Stanley, Ont.), of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and named to the 2001 second-team, was released from the Triple-A Baltimore Orioles this summer. He’s looking for a job for the spring of 2009. RHP Chris Begg (Uxbridge, Ont.), of the Niagara Purple Eagles, a 2001 second teamer, pitched in the San Francisco Giants farm system. RHP Steve Carter (Woodslee, Ont.), of the Coastal Carolina Chantileers, a second team selection in 2001 and in 2004, signed with Oakland. OF Josh McCurdy (Thornhill, Ont.). of the Niagara Purple Eagles, a third team selection in 2001 and a first teamer in 2003, signed with the Orioles. RP John Ogiltree (Mississauga, Ont.). of the Martin Methodist Indians, an honourable mention in 2001, was signed by the Jays. RHP Judd Richardson (Caledon, Ont.), of the Miami Ohio RedHawks, an honourable mention in 2001, signed a contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. LHP Jeff Francis (North Delta, BC), of the highly-successful British Columbia Thunderbirds, proved you can stay near and go far, as a first-team All-Canadian selection in 2002, a first-round pick (ninth over-all) in the MLB draft and is a member of the Colorado Rockies rotation, winning 17 games in 2007. RP Jesse Crain (Toronto, Ont.), of the Houston Cougars, earned first-team honours as a closer in 2002 and a second team shortstop the same year. Now, he resides in the Minnesota Twins bullpen. RHP John Axford (Port Dover, Ont.), of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Canisius Golden Griffins, a second-team selection in 2002 and a third-team choice is 2003, is pitching in the New York Yankees system. C George Kottaras (Markham, Ont.), of the Connors State Cowboys, a second-teamer in 2002 and an honourable mention in 2003, a September call up with the Boston Red Sox. 3B Hyung Cho (Scarborough, Ont.), of the Houston Cougars, a third team selection in 2002 and a first teamer in 2003, went on to play in the Mariners system. SS Aaron Hornostaj (Waterloo, Ont.), of the Connors State Cowboys, a third-team pick in 2002, was signed by the Giants. OF Matthew Stocco (Guelph, Ont.), of the Spartanburg Methodist Pioneers and a third team selection in 2002, went on to play in the San Diego Padres organization. C Russell Martin (Montreal, Que.), of the Chipola Indians, a 2002 honourable mention and is the Los Angeles Dodgers No. 1 catcher and an NL all-star. LHP Adam Loewen (Surrey, B.C), of the Chipola Indians, a first teamer in 2003 as a pitcher and a third teamer as a DH, was in the Baltimore Orioles rotation. Now a recurring elbow injury means that he’s going to try the Rick Ainkel route and make it back to the majors as a hitter in the Jays system. RHP Brooks McNiven (Vernon, BC), of the British Columbia Thunderbirds, a first teamer in 2003 and is moving his way up the Giants organizational ladder. RP Ryan Braun (Kitchener, Ont.), of the Nevada-Las Vegas Hustlin’ Rebels, a first teamer in 2003, has pitched for the Kansas City Royals. OF Alex Borgo (Cookstown, Ont.), of the New Mexico State Aggies, a first teamer in 2003 and signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. LHP Drew Taylor (Toronto, Ont.), of the Michigan Wolverines, a second-team All-Canadian in 2003 as well as earning honourable mention in 2005 and 2006. He signed with Jays, was released and then signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. RP Cory Stuart (White Rock, BC), of the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, a second team all-Canadian in 2003, went on to pitch in the Yankees system. OF Christopher Emanuele (Mississauga, Ont.) of the Northeastern Huskies, a second team selection in 2003 and in 2005 and a first teamer in 2006, patrols the outfield in the Jays system. RP John Hurd (Fruitvale, BC), of the Southern Idaho Golden Eagles, named to the third team in 2003 and signed with the White Sox. C Jake Elder (North Delta, BC), of the Minnesota Golden Gophers, selected to the third team in 2003 and 2004, plus the second team in 2005 was in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. INF Emerson Frostad (Calgary, Alta.), of the Lewis-Clark State Warriors, named to the third team in 2003, is in the Texas Rangers system. INF Matt Rogelstad (Coquitlam, BC), of the Arkansas State Trojans, elected to the third team in 2003, is with the Washington Nationals. LHP Adam Daniels (North Vancouver, BC), of the Oklahoma State Cowboys, an honourable mention in 2003, a third team in 2004 and a third teamer in 2005, signed with the St. Louis Cardinals organization. OF Reed Eastley (Brandon, Man.), of the Niagara Purple Eagles, named an honourable mention to the 2003 all-Canadian team, a second teamer in 2004 and an honourable mention in 2005, signed with Seattle. OF Sebastien Boucher (Ottawa, Ont.), of the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, an honourable mention in 2003 and earned third-team honours in 2004, before turning pro with the Mariners. OF Jimmy Van Ostrand (North Delta BC), of the Allan Hancock Bulldogs and the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Mustangs, earning honourable mention in 2003 and 2005 and a third teamer in 2006. He is with the Houston Astros. RHP Jordan Thomson (Ottawa, Ont.), of the Northeastern Huskies, a first teamer in 2004 and signed with San Francisco. RP Robbie Findlay (Etobicoke, Ont.), of the Texas Christian Horned Frogs, earned first team All-Canadian honours in 2004 and turned pro with the Tampa Bay Devils Rays. C Chris Robinson (Dorchester, Ont.), of the Illinois Fighting Illini, a first teamer in 2004 and 2005, is in the Chicago Cubs system. RHP John Mariotti (Toronto, Ont.), of the Gulf Coast Commodores and the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, voted to the first team in 2004 and earned honourable mention in 2005, 2006 and 2007. He’s pitching in the Orioles organization. SS Jonathon Malo (St-Roch-de-l’Achigan, Que.), a first teamer in 2004, is in the New York Mets organization. LHP R.J. Swindle (Vancouver, BC), of the Charleston Southern Buccaneers, a third teamer in 2004, pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008 and will get a World Series ring. RP Chris Leroux (Mississauga, Ont.), of the Winthrop Eagles, a third teamer in 2004 is with the Florida Marlins. RHP James Avery (Moose Jaw, Sask.), of the Niagara Purple Eagles, an honourable mention in 2004 and a first teamer in 2005, is with Double-A in the Cincinnati Reds system. RP Jason Blackey (Duncan, BC), of the North Central Texas Lions, an honourable mention in 2004, is pitching in the Boston Red Sox system. C Mike Nickeas (Vancouver, BC), of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, an honourable mention in 2004, before being drafted into the Texas Rangers system. SS Steven Condotta (Mississauga, Ont.), of the Florida Tech Panthers, earned honourable mention honours in 2004 and 2005 and a first teamer in 2006 and 2007 before signing with the Jays. OF Jon Baksh (Mississauga, Ont.), of Florida Tech Panthers an honourable mention in 2004, a first teamer in 2005 and 2006. He signed with the Jays as well. 1B Jared Schweitzer (Lethbridge, Alta.), of the Kansas Jayhawks, an honourable mention in 2004, made the second team in 2005 and in 2006. He turned pro with the St. Louis Cardinals. OF Tim Smith (Toronto, Ont.), of the Midland Chaparrals, a first teamer in 2005 and 2006 and a second team selection in 2007, signed with Texas. DH Mike Gosse (Pitt Meadows, BC), a first teamer in 2005 and 2006 with the New Mexico Thunderbirds, was drafted and is in the Tigers system. RHP Henry Mabee (Victoria, BC), a second teamer in 2005 with the Truman State Trojans, was drafted and in pitching in the Chicago White Sox minor-league organization. RP Chirs Kissock (Fruitvale, BC), of the Lewis-Clark State Warriors. a second teamer in 2005 and 2006 and a first teamer in 2007, was drafted and is in the Philadelphia organization. RP Chris Toneguzzi (Thunder Bay, Ont.), of the Purdue Boilermakers, a third teamer in 2005 and a second teamer in 2006, signed with the Brewers. RP Scott Richmond (Langley, BC), of the Oklahoma State Cowboys, a third teamer in 2005, signed with the Jays and made the majors this season. SS Taylor Green (Courtenay, BC), of the Cypress Chargers. a third team choice in 2005 and an honourable mention in 2006, is in the Brewers system. OF Brad McElroy (London Ont.), of the Charlotte ‘49s, a third teamer in 2005, a second teamer in 2006 and a first teamer in 2007, is in the Jays chain. LHP Scott Diamond (Guelph, Ont.), of the Binghamton Bearcats, an honourable mention in 2005 and 2006, pitches in the Atlanta Braves system. RHP Matt Kniginyzky (Mississauga, Ont.), of the High Point Panthers, an honourable mention in 2005, had a great 2008 season in the Royals chain. RHP Jamey Richmond (Mississauga, Ont.), of the Texarkana Bulldogs, an honourable mention in 2005, was dealt from the Atlanta Braves to the Oakland A’s in the Mark Kotsay deal. 1B Cole Armstrong (Swift Current, Sask.), of the Central Missouri State Mules, an honourable mention in 2005, now wears the tools of ignorance in the White Sox system. C Joel Collins (Richmond Hill, Ont.), of the South Alabama Jaguars, an honourable mention in 2005. a third teamer in 2006 and 2007, signed with the Blue Jays. 1B Jordan Lennerton (Langley, BC), of the El Paso Tejanos, a second team all-Canadian in 2006 and a third teamer in 2007, signed with the Tigers. 3B Devery Van De Keere (Barrhead, Alta.), of the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns, was a second team all-Canadian in 2006, signed with Kansas City. SS David Cooper (Edmonton, Alta.), of the Mount Olive Trojans, a second teamer in 2006 and voted to the third team in 2007, signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks. SS Marcel Champagnie (Bolton, Ont.), of the Kaskaskia Blue Devils, a third teamer in 2006 and a second team choice in 2007, signed with the Los Angeles Angels. OF Rene Tosoni (Port Coquitlam BC), of the Chipola Indians, a third teamer in 2006, was signed by the Minnesota Twins. LHP Kai Tuomi (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.), of the Evansville Purple Aces, an honourable mention in 2006 and 2007, signed with the Nationals. RHP Derek McDaid (Barrie, Ont.), of the Charlotte ‘49ers, earned honourable mention in 2006, signed with the Padres. RHP Brad Cuthbertson (Sherwood Park, Alta.), of the Midland Chaparrals, an honourable mention in 2006, signed with the Jays. RHP Aaron Cotter (South Slocan BC), of the Arkansas Monticello Boll Weevils, an honourable mention to the all-Canadian team in 2006, signed with the Mariners. Brock Kjeldgaard (London, Ont.), of the Indian Hills Falcons, an honourable mention to the all-Canadian team in 2006 as a pitcher and as a first baseman, signed with the Brewers RP Trystan Magnuson (Vancouver, BC), of the Louisville Cardinals, an honourable mention in 2006 and a first-team selection in 2007, signed with the Jays. RP Andrew Albers (North Battleford, Sask.), of the Kentucky Wildcats an honourable mention in 2006 and 2007 as well, signed with the Padres. C Lars Davis (Grand Prairie, Alta.), of the Illinois Fighting Illini, an honourable mention in 2006 and a first teamer in 2007, went in the third round to the Colorado Rockies. 1B Mitch MacDonald (freshman, Regina, Sask.), of the Monterey Peninsula Lobos, earned honourable mention to the 2006 and second team all-Canadian in 2007, signed with the Marlins. RP Tom Boleska (Burlington, Ont.), of the High Point Panthers, a second team all-Canadian in 2007, was drafted and signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates. 2B Skyler Stromsmoe (Bow Island, Alta.) a third-team all-Canadian in 2007, signed with San Francisco. RP David Francis (Mississauga, Ont.), of the Walters State Govenors, an honourable mention honours in 2007 was drafted and signed by Atlanta. All-Canadian Teams
2008 Stats