UPPER DECK XI -- Team Canada heads to World Cup in Sweden

Sept. 1, 2009 2010 -- Draft list -- Updated Aug.30 2009 -- Canadians drafted

2009 -- Canadian draftees, links to stories, players signed, bonuses Canadians drafted in the top 200 over-all  

2009 -- Canadians In the Minors, updated Aug. 26

2009 -- Canadians in College

2009-10 Letters of Intent -- updated Aug. 30

UPPER DECK XI -- Team Canada heads to World Cup in Sweden, Ernie Whitt's team 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.

Bob Elliott

If it is tournament time for Team Canada it can only mean one thing. Trouble with a capital T and that rhymes with P and that stands for pitching. Like the World Baseball Classic when Canada was decimated by injuries and no show the same holds true for Ernie Whitt’s Canadian team which heads to the World Cup qualifier in Sweden on Sept. 7. Canada will complete in Pool C at Stockholm, Sweden, along with Korea, Netherlands Antilles and host Sweden with action beginning on Sept. 9. The Canucks starting rotation consisted of the first three starters, but it quickly grew in depth and experience when the final two arms were added. RHP Nick Bucci (Sarnia, Ont.) Rookie-Class Helena Brewers (6-2, 3.95) of the Milwaukee Brewers organization. RHP Brooks McNiven (Vernon, BC), who was released by the San Francisco Giants after pitching for Double-A Connecticut (1-4, 4.84). RHP Chris Begg (Uxbridge, Ont.) who pitched for Team Canada in the past including the WBC but did not pitch this season. RHP Matt Kniginyzky (Mississauga, Ont.) of Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals (5-9, 5.39), who are bound for post season. Whether the Kansas City Royals grant permission for one of its better starters to make the trip remains in doubt. RHP Vince Perkins (Victoria, BC) of the Triple-A Iowa Cubs and the Chicago Cubs, who pitched the elimination game at the Rogers Centre when Italy knocked Canada out of the World Baseball Classic. Greg Hamilton (Ottawa, Ont.) director of national teams was hoping that LHP Scott Diamond (Guelph, Ont.) of the Double-A Mississippi Braves (5-10, 3.50) is given permission by the Atlanta Braves to pitch. Diamond injured his elbow on a fishing trip and it is uncertain whether the Braves will allow him to pitch.

A total of 23 roster spots were named with the final spot still pending. The timing of the tourney is not ideal as it overlaps with playoffs in the minor-leagues and possible September callups. Pitchers who Hamilton counted on earlier in the season who are either injured or were not given permission by their parent organizations to play include RHP John Axford (Port Dover, Ont.) with Triple-A Nashville Sounds and RHP Alexandre Periard (St. Eustache, Que. of Single-A Brevard County Manatee, both in the Brewers system; RHP Steve Green (Longueuil, Que.), who had season-ending surgery with the Triple-A Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs; RHP Scott Mathieson (Aldergrove, B.C.) with Double-A Reading Phillies, both with the Philadelphia Phillies; RHP Phillippe Aumont (Gatineau, Que.) with Double-A West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx and RHPJeff Zimmerman (Kelowna, BC) Rookie-Class Arizona League Mariners, both in the Seattle Mariners system; LHP David Davidson (Thorold, Ont.) with Triple-A New Orleans Pelicans and RHPChris Leroux (Mississauga, Ont.) Double-A Jacksonville Suns, both from the Florida Marlins farm system; RHP John Mariotti (Toronto, Ont.) with the Double-A Bowie Baysox and the Baltimore Orioles; RHP John Blackey (Squamish, BC) of Single-A Salem Red Sox and the Boston Red Sox; RHP Henry Mabee (Victoria, BC) of the Double-A Birmingham Barons and the Chicago White Sox; RHP James Avery (Moose Jaw, Sask.) of Double-A Carolina Mudcats and the Cincinnati Reds and RHP T.J. Burton (Ottawa, Ont.) of Double-A Corpus Christie Hooks and the Houston Astros; RHP Blake Hawksworth  (North Vancouver, BC) of Triple-A Memphis Redbirds with the St. Louis Cardinals; LHP Philippe Alexandre Valiquette (St. Laurent, Que.) at Double-A Carolina Mudcats with the Single-A Sarasota Reds in the Cincinnati Reds chain, who was on the original roster before being injured and Eric Gagne (Mascouche, Que.) is in the playoffs with the Quebec Capitales. RHP Tom Boleska (Burlington, Ont.) of the Single-A Lynchburg and the Pirates will pitch for Great Britain. Whitt will have a more experienced bullpen than a starting group in: LHP R.J. Swindle (Vancouver, B.C.) who was with the Brewers and Triple-A Nashville (3-1, 1.03, two saves) this season and was pitching for Triple-A Columbus Clippers (1-0, 4.76) and the New York Yankees. RHP James Henderson (Calgary, Alta.) now at Double-A Huntsville Stars (1-0, 1.50) in the Brewers system after registering 21 saves with Single-A Brevard County (3-0, 2.76, four saves) and the Single-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (0-0, 1.07, 17 saves). RHP Trystan Magnuson (Vancouver, BC) at Double-A New Hampshire (0-0, 0.00) and Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays (4-1, 2.77, one save) in the Jays system. LHP Bryan Dumesnil (Nanaimo, BC) recently released by the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats (0-0, 0.00) and the Blue Jays after beginning the season with Double-A Mississippi Braves (1-7, 4.41, two saves). RHP Chris Kissock (Fruitvale, BC) who pitched for Whitt at the Single-A Clearwater Threshers (3-5, 4.16) and the Philadelphia Phillies. RHP Dustin Molleken (Regina, Sask.) who pitched for Double-A Altoona Curve (1-1, 4.89, one save) and Single-A Lynchburg Hillcats (3-1, 3.48, one save) in the Pittsburgh Pirates chain. RHP Jamie Richmond (Mississauga, Ont.) from Single-A Stockton Ports (2-0, 5.04, one save) and Single-A, Kane County Cougars (4-3, 2.70, four saves) in the Oakland A’s chain. The rest of the roster ... Catchers: Chris Robinson (Dorchester, Ont.) Triple-A Iowa Cubs (.326, 2, 47), where he was Iowa’s MVP and a Triple-A All-Star this season. Cole Armstrong (Surrey, BC) Triple-A Charlotte Knights (.249, 10, 32). Infielders Emerson Frostad (Calgary, Alta.) Triple-A Oklahoma City RedHawks (.229, 1, 20); Double-A Frisco Roughriders (.295, 3, 8), Texas Rangers. Brett Lawrie  (Langley, BC) Double-A Huntsville Stars (.314, 0, 0); Single-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (.268, 11, 59), Milwaukee. He was the highest drafted Canadian position player. Terrence Dayleg (Surrey, B.C.) Rookie-Class Gulf Coast Marlins (.274, 1, 16); Single-A Greensboro Grasshoppers (.167, 0, 0), Marlins. Jonathan Malo (Laval, Que.) Double-A Binghamton Mets (.240, 1, 27); Triple-A Buffalo Bisons (.186, 0, 3). Shawn Bowman (Coquitlam, BC) Double-A Binghamton Mets (.297, 8, 41), New York Mets. Outfielders Tim Smith (Toronto, Ont.) Rookie-Class, Arizona League Rangers (.250, 0, 1); Double-A Frisco Roughriders; (.333, 4, 19) Single-A Bakersfield Blaze (.309, 3, 32), Texas. Rene Tosoni (Coquitlam, BC) Double-A New Britain Rock Cats (.274, 15, 70), who was named All-Star Futures Game MVP in St. Louis. Jimmy Van Ostrand (Richmond, BC) Double-A Corpus Christie Hooks (.280, 15, 67), Astros. Adam Stern (London, Ont.) Triple-A Nashville Sounds (.333, 1, 5); Double-A Huntsville Stars (.280, 3, 32), Brewers. Adam Loewen, (Surrey, BC) Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays (.243, 4, 31), Jays. Loewen is continuing his transition from pitcher to outfielder Whitt managed Team Canada in the 2006 and 2009 WBC, the 2004 Olympics and the 1999 Pan-Am Games. On Whitt’s staff will be Canada’s all-time major league hits leader and like Whitt a Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, Larry Walker. The remainder of the coaches are pitching coach Denis Boucher, third base coach Tim Leiper and Hamilton. Team Canada headed to Raleigh-Durham, N.C. for a training camp and exhibition series against the United States from Sept. 1-7. The World Cup will feature 22 teams in seven different countries across Europe. The first round will be five pools of four teams in five different cities Barcelona, Spain; Regensburg, Germany; Zagreb, Croatia; Prague, Czech Republic and Stockholm. The Netherlands and Italy automatically advance to the second round as they will be the host countries in the round of 16. The top two teams in each Pool plus the top four third place finishers will advance to the second round of the tournament in the Netherlands and Italy beginning on Sept. 13th. The top four teams in each pool in the second round will advance to the medal round, which will take place in Italy starting on Sept. 22, with the final taking place on Sept. 27th.

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.

More than 200 active and retired broadcasters are eligible for the 2010 Frick Award, which is named in memory of Hall of Famer Ford C. Frick, renowned sportswriter, radio broadcaster, National League president and Baseball commissioner.   The 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

Cats hire a Steed: Mike Steed (Burlington, Ont.) former GTA Stars coach and Minnesota Twins scout has been hired to manage the Thunder Bay Border Cats in the Northwoods summer college league next summer. Steed is the first ever Canadian to manage the Cats and is the eighth manager in franchise history. Steed an assistant coach with the Border Cats in 2009. “As assistant coach in 2009, Mike is very familiar with the league and the organization, and he has the ability to maximize the number of returning players,” said general manager Brad Jorgenson. “Through his contacts Mike has the opportunity to recruit some of the top Canadian talent as well.” Steed, 39, coached in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League managing the Lake Erie Monarchs in Toledo, Ohio and was pitching coach with the Michigan Panthers in Ypsilanti, MI. He was pitching coach at Madonna University in Livonia, Mich. associate head coach at Concordia University in Ann Arbor, Mich. and worked Toronto Blue Jays youth summer camps. Steed replaces Joel Barta.

Bunnies hop: One of the best kept secrets about baseball in eastern Ontario are the Brockville Bunnies. Richard (Bunny) Bradfield and Jack Giffin began the program 44 years ago which has seen dozens of players go on to play at the college level in the United States and Canada. In 1965, Bradfield and Giffin started the Connie Mack team which competed against the Ottawa-Nepean Canadians, the Alta Vista Ritchies and Cornwall. Over the years under the astute knowledge of one of the best technical minds in the country, former Team Canada coach and ex-pro Brian McRobie, the Bunnies program has evolved. In the 1960s to 1970s, Wayne Amyotte and Wayne Crowder signed pro contacts as did Joe Leeder. Three players in a nine-yer period. Few sandlot programs can match that success rate. In the early 1980s, Dan Collison, who played for Brockville’s 1972 Canadian champion Little League team, attended the University of Toledo. Chris Grill, Dan Burns, Sean Ogilvie, Tim Wilson and Kevin Harper played at Ithaca College. Peter Hoy, who would go on to play for the Boston Red Sox and is now a pitching coach for Division I Lemoyne College in Syracuse, N.Y. Former LeMoyne coach Dick Rockwell hd major leaguers in Tom Browning, Scott Cassidy, Jim Deshaies and former No. 1 pick Jon Ratliff was once asked who his best pitcher was. “If I had to win one game on the weekend I’d give the ball to Peter Hoy,” said Rockwell. Andy Stewart began in Brockville and he went on to make it to the pro level with the Kansas City Royals. Because of the collapse of senior little league, baseball in Brockville almost ended. Josh Craig from Lombardy provided the spark again by going to prep school and then on to play for two college schools ending in Kentucky. In 2008 and 2009 the Bunnies have sent all graduating players to U.S. or Canadian schools to continue their studies and play baseball. The most recent grads from coach Roger Hodgkinson's team include Matt Hummel (Daytona College), Jerry Coleman (Clarkson) Jordan Herbison (British Columbia), Matt Wing (Monroe) and Kyle Barclay (Mississippi Valley). The new wave going out this fall include at Genesee Community College, Ross Graham, Josh Leavitt and Chad Brisbois, plus Cody Mombourquette at Lake Sumter Communtiy College in Florida and Kory Chamberland at Jefferson Community College. This past season Brockville entered the Quebec Major Midget League and In previous two years have won 75 games out of 105, while winning tournaments in New York State, Pennsylvania and, New Hampshire and the Upper New York State region championship.

A game to remember: It took a while, but the Brantford Red Sox defeated the Barrie Baycats 7-5 to go up 3-0 in the best-of-seven Intercounty final. How long did it take? Just 20 innings. Just five hours and five minutes of baseball. Al Stephens hit a two-run homer in the top of the 20th to give the Red Sox the marathon win. Brantford can clinch its third IBL title in four years and second straight with a win in Game 4 in Brantford on Tuesday. The Baycats had a 4-2 lead going to the top of the ninth when Brantford scored twice in the ninth and a single run in the 12th to lead 5-4, but the Baycats answered back with a run in their 12th. Next came seven scoreless innings before Wayne Forman singled and scored on Stephens two-run blast with one out. The Red Sox had 20 hits and left 17 men on base, while Barrie had 16 hits and stranded 15 runners in the game, which finished after midnight despite a 7 p.m. start time. Hyung Cho, Stephens and Forman all had three hits for the Red Sox, with Stephens driving in three runs and Cho two. Five other Red Sox all had two hits each. Brantford manager Adam Clarke used six pitchers in the game, including starter Gabe Ribas, who allowed four runs –- three earned –- on nine hits with six strikeouts and three walks in eight innings. Reliever Scott Robinson won the game with 5 2 /3 shutout innings of relief. He allowed just four hits, striking out four and walking one. Paul Spoljaric started for the Baycats and went eight innings, allowing two runs on eight hits with six strikeouts. Barrie used four pitchers including Chris England, who pitched an astounding 10 innings of relief, allowing one run on seven hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. Scott Price was the final pitcher and took the loss, allowing the 20th inning home run. Todd Betts and Jordan Lundberg both homered and drove in two runs for the Baycats, while Steve Lewis and Dave Latour both had four hits. Brantford lead-off man Josh McCurdy was 2-for-10 in the game.

Brantford 000 000 202 001 000 000 02 – 7-20-3 Barrie    200 000 200 001 000 000 00 – 5-16-4 Gabe Ribas, Brad Hogeterp (9), Stefan Strecker (10), Jon Ogiltree (13), Jordy Alexander (14), Scott Robinson (15) and Wayne Forman; Paul Spoljaric, Jake Hines (9), Chris England (10), Scott Price (20) and Jordan Lundberg. WP-Robinson, LP-Price. HRs-Stephens, Betts, Lundberg.

And the finale: Brantford defeated in the Barrie 3-2 on a two-out, 10th inning single by Cho to repeat as IBL champions and winners of the Jack and Lynne Dominico Trophy.  It was Brantford’s third championship in the last four years.

The Baycats forced extra innings by tying the game 2-2 in the ninth inning when Donovan Latour’s one-out single off reliever Stefan Strecker scored Lewis. The Red Sox then came back in the bottom of the 10th when Stephens stroked a one-out double. McCurdy then was walked intentionally after which Tyler Burnell fouled out to set-up Cho’s run scoring single to left-centrefield.

Mike Meyers of Brantford and Barrie left-hander Brad Bissell hooked up in a pitchers’ duel a game played in two hours and 40 minutes. Bissell took the loss (2-2), allowing only eight hits and going the distance. He struckout two and walked only two including one intentionally. Meyers went 8 1/3 innings, allowing nine hits and both Barrie runs. He struckout two and walked one before being relieved by Strecker in the ninth. Strecker (3-0) picked up the win, pitching 1 2/3 innings and giving up three hits.

Red Sox jumped out to a 2-0 lead with single runs in the first and fourth innings before the Baycats got on the board with a run in the sixth on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Lundberg. The Red Sox’s first run came on a sacrifice fly by Lee Delfino in the first and in the fourth, Bryon Bell’s double scored Jason Gotwalt from first base to give the Sox their 2-0 lead. Bell led the Red Sox with three hits and an RBI while Cho added two hits and the game winning RBI.

Strecker won the Max Roseman Trophy as playoff MVP for his 3-0 record and five saves in the playoffs. He made 11 appearances in the playoffs, pitching 18 innings and allowing only one run (earned) for a 0.50 ERA. 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 Poirieris 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. And 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. 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