Baseball Canada unveils Pan Am team that will defend back-to-back titles

Photo: Baseball Canada

June 25, 2019

By Adam Morissette

Baseball Canada

TORONTO – Baseball Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee have announced Canada’s men’s baseball team nominated to compete at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games.

“We are excited about our team for the 2019 Pan Am Games and look forward to representing Canada in Lima,” said manager Ernie Whitt. “Anytime you represent your country it is truly an honour and we know that our team will compete knowing how truly special it is to play in such a prestigious event like the Pan Am Games.”

“Competing and winning back-to-back Pan Am Games gold medals are among the highlights of my baseball career so I’m thrilled with the opportunity to represent Canada once again,” said pitcher Scott Richmond. “International baseball makes for an incredible, competitive environment and I know our team will be ready when the games begin.”

The list of nominated athletes features nine players from the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games team in Phillippe Aumont, Kellin Deglan, Tyson Gillies, Jordan Lennerton, Chris Leroux, Jasvir Rakkar, Scott Richmond, Evan Rutckyj and Rene Tosoni while Michael Crouse , Jonathan Malo , Dustin Molleken and Richmond were part of the Guadalajara 2011 Pan Am Games team. Six players named to the roster (Aumont, Leroux, Adam Loewen, Molleken, Richmond and Tosoni) have Major League Baseball playing experience.

The Canadian men’s baseball team is coming off back-to-back Pan Am Games gold medal performances, winning the 2015 event in Toronto and the 2011 tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico, with victories over the United States in the final both times.

In addition to Canada, countries competing in the eight-team 2019 Pan American Games baseball competition include Argentina, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and host Peru.

The coaching staff features a wealth of Major League Baseball and international baseball experience in longtime men’s baseball team manager Ernie Whitt, who has led Canada to two gold (2011 & 2015) and one bronze medal (1999) at previous Pan Am Games, former Toronto Blue Jays first base coach Tim Leiper, former Toronto Blue Jay and Montréal Expo Denis Boucher and 14-year Major League Baseball veteran and former All-Star Paul Quantrill. Baseball Canada’s Director of National Teams, Greg Hamilton, rounds out the coaching staff.

The Pan Am Games baseball competition does not have a direct impact on qualification for Tokyo 2020 but will serve as an important step in preparing for November’s WBSC Premier 12, the first in a series of qualifiers for the Olympic Games.

The Canadian men’s baseball team that will represent Canada at the Lima 2019 Games includes:

1. Ben Abram (Georgetown, Ont.) – Pitcher

2. Phillippe Aumont (Gatineau, Que.) – Pitcher

3. Jordan Balazovic (Mississauga, Ont.) – Pitcher

4. Eric Cerantola (Oakville, Ont.) - Pitcher

5. Michael Crouse (Port Moody, B.C.) – Outfield

6. Wes Darvill (Langley, B.C.) – Infield

7. Kellin Deglan (Milton, B.C.) – Catcher

8. RJ Freure (Burlington, ON) – Pitcher

9. Tyson Gillies (North Vancouver, B.C.) – Outfield

10. Dustin Houle (Penticton, B.C.) – Catcher

11. Edouard Julien (Québec, Que.) – Infield

12. Ryan Kellogg (Whitby, Ont.) – Pitcher

13. Jordan Lennerton (Langley, B.C.) – Infield

14. Chris Leroux (Mississauga, Ont.) – Pitcher

15. Adam Loewen (Surrey, B.C.) – Pitcher

16. Jonathan Malo (Saint-Roch-de-l'Achigan, Que.) – Infield

17. Dustin Molleken (Regina, Sask.) – Pitcher

18. Connor Panas (Etobicoke, Ont.) – Outfield

19. Tristan Pompey (Mississauga, Ont.) – Outfield

20. Jasvir Rakkar (Brampton, Ont.) - Pitcher

21. Scott Richmond (North Vancouver, B.C.) – Pitcher

22. Evan Rutckyj (Windsor, Ont.) – Pitcher

23. Rene Tosoni (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) – Outfield

24. Eric Wood (Oshawa, Ont.) – Infield

1. Ernie Whitt (Clinton, Michigan) – Manager

2. Denis Boucher (Lachine, Que.) – Coach

3. Paul Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) – Coach

4. Tim Leiper (Whittier, California) – Coach

5. Greg Hamilton (Peterborough, Ont.) – Coach and Director National Teams

Lima 2019, which will run from July 26 to August 11, will bring together approximately 6,700 athletes from 41 nations of the Americas and feature 62 disciplines in 39 sports. It will be the largest sporting event ever held in Peru.