Baseball Canada Awards banquet and fundraiser set for January 12
Maple Ridge, B.C., native Larry Walker will be attending Baseball Canada’s annual awards banquet and fundraiser scheduled for January 12. Photo Credit: Baseball Canada
By Adam Morissette
Baseball Canada
OTTAWA - Canadian baseball stars from the past, present and future will take centre stage on Saturday, January 12 as the 17th annual Baseball Canada National Teams Awards Banquet & Fundraiser, presented by Rogers, is set to take place at the Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel inside Rogers Centre.
The pride of Maple Ridge, British Columbia, a former National League MVP (’97) and five-time MLB All-Star Larry Walker headlines the list of attendees for this year’s event with proceeds supporting Baseball Canada’s Senior and Junior National Team programs.
The evening will also honour the accomplishments of Canadian big-leaguer John Axford who will become the 10th member on Baseball Canada's Wall of Excellence presented by RBC Wealth Management.
A trio of young Canadians made their big league debuts during 2018 and all three will be in attendance on January 12th including St. Louis Cardinals slugger Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, B.C.), Atlanta Braves young phenom Mike Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) and San Diego Padres power arm Rowan Wick (North Vancouver, B.C.).
Brother combos Josh and Bo Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) along with Dalton and Tristan Pompey (Mississauga, Ont.) represent a wave of rising Canadian MLB stars will also be on hand to help celebrate an evening of Canadian baseball success.
Former MLB All-Star Paul Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) will be in attendance with son Cal Quantrill, a former first round pick who’s quickly rising up the organizational ranks with the San Diego Padres.
“It’s an exciting time to be a fan of Canadian baseball with so much young talent in or on its way to the big leagues,” said Greg Hamilton, Coach and Director of National Teams with Baseball Canada. “We look forward to celebrating these young players with our current National Team alumni in an environment that fosters future National Team success.”
Toronto Blue Jays President Mark Shapiro and National Team Manager Ernie Whitt will join Baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar on a list of distinguished guests that will also attend.
In addition to the annual awards presentation, the evening will include a cocktail hour (beginning at 6 p.m. E.T.) and silent auction featuring unique fantasy sports packages from the likes of former MLB All-Star Ryan Dempster (Chicago Cubs), Junior National Team alum and current Detroit Lions tight-end Luke Willson, tickets to the MLB All-Star Game Home Run Derby, NCAA college football games along with several autographed pieces of baseball memorabilia.
There will be a pre-banquet press conference beginning at 3:30 pm E.T., Saturday, January 12, in the Aurora Room of the Marriott City Centre Hotel at Rogers Centre (Aurora Room is adjacent to the Northern Lights Ballroom).
Tickets to the event are $500 per person and tables of eight and 10 guests are also available for purchase. Baseball Canada has registered charitable status.
For more information, please contact Greg Hamilton, Director of National Teams, at 613-748-5606 ext. 225 or via e-mail at ghamilton@baseball.ca.