Alexis Brudnicki
Canadian Baseball Network
The second season of the Canadian Premier Baseball League is upon us, and the Fieldhouse Pirates, Great Lake Canadians, Ontario Blue Jays, Ontario Nationals, Team Ontario and Toronto Mets are set to start the oldest age groups in a big way with the circuit-opening showcase and tournament in Dorchester and St. Marys over the first weekend of May. 

Beginning on Thursday at the Field of Dreams, 28 of the programs’ top draft prospects – selected in conjunction with a number of area and national scouts – will run the 60-yard dash, throw from their respective catching, infield, and outfield positions, and then take batting practice before the first of three games on the opening day of the event. 

“All of us in the scouting community are looking forward to the CPBL showcase,” one American League evaluator said. “The timing of it gives us a chance to see these guys in between national team trips. And then to have the ability to see all of the top players, on their own turf, and all playing against each other is truly a special scouting opportunity.” 

Added another scout: “The tournament adds a ton of value. In a typical year, it can be tough to see Canadian players leading up to the draft, especially outside of the junior team facing professionals. But this is the best players in Ontario against the best players. It’s a unique perspective that Canadians didn’t have in the past and we’re lucky to have now.”

Coming off of their second trip of the spring with the Canadian Junior National Team, CPBL position players Dondrae Bremner, Cooper Davis, Adam Hall, Lucas Parente, and 2018-eligible hitters Denzel Clarke and Noah Naylor will headline the morning showcase.

Also selected to the morning event to kick off the tournament are 2017 draft-eligible players Rashad Collymore, Brett Corbeth, Jameson Hart, Tyrell Hebert, Owen Jansen, David Mendham, Noah Myers, Jacob Newton, Bryce O’Farrell, Mitch Osborne, Parker Walker and Malik Williams. They will be joined by 2018-eligible players Tyler Black, Blake Buckle, Daniel Carinci, Kurt Dawkins, Leo Markotic, David McCabe, Justin Raspontie, Aidan Safar, and Mackenzie Strong, and 2019 Zach Cameron.

The first game is set to get underway Thursday at one o’clock, featuring the league’s reigning champion Ontario Blue Jays against the Great Lake Canadians, with righties Nathan Holmes and Jonathan Burkhart squaring off. The following game between the OBJ and Toronto Mets will see Junior National Team southpaw Harley Gollert match up against Hayden Malenfant. The final contest of the first day of the four-day tournament will see Team Canada hurler Landon Leach and the Mets take on Noah Skirrow and the Canadians.

All 17U and 18U squads in the CPBL will play four games throughout the course of the weekend event, splitting time between the Field of Dreams in Dorchester and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Marys.

CPBL Showcase Roster
May 4th, 2017 - Dorchester, Ontario
(Invite Only)
First Last Team Position Class College
Tyler Black Toronto Mets INF 2018 N/A
Dondrae Bremner Toronto Mets INF 2017 Cincinatti
Blake Buckle Ontario Blue Jays C/1B 2018 N/A
Zach Cameron Fieldhouse Pirares INF 2019 N/A
Daniel Carinci Toronto Mets INF 2018 N/A

Denzel Clarke Toronto Mets OF 2018 N/A
Rashad Collymore Ontario Blue Jays OF 2017 Indian River CC
Brett Corbeth Great Lake Canadians C 2017 N/A
Cooper Davis Ontario Blue Jays OF 2017 Vanderbilt
Kurt Dawkins Ontario Blue Jays OF 2018 N/A

Adam Hall Great Lake Canadians INF 2017 Texas A&M
Jameson Hart Great Lake Canadians OF 2017 Indian Hills CC
Tyrell Hebert Great Lake Canadians OF 2017 N/A
Owen Jansen Ontario Blue Jays INF 2017 Purdue
Leo Markotic Toronto Mets INF 2018 N/A

David McCabe Team Ontario INF 2018 N/A
David Mendham Ontario Nationals C/INF 2017 N/A
Noah Myers Great Lake Canadians OF 2017 Wabash Valley CC
Noah Naylor Ontario Blue Jays C/INF 2018 Texas A&M
Jacob Newton Ontario Blue Jays OF 2017 Florida Tech

Bryce O’Farrell Ontario Blue Jays INF 2017 N/A
Mitch Osborne Toronto Mets C 2017 Polk State CC
Lucas Parente Great Lake Canadians OF 2017 N/A
Justin Raspontie Team Ontario C 2018 N/A
Aidan Safar Fieldhouse Pirares OF 2018 N/A

Mackenzie Strong Ontario Blue Jays OF 2018 N/A
Parker Walker Team Ontario C 2017 N/A
Malik Williams Ontario Blue Jays 1B 2017 Odessa CC

Schedule
Time Team 1 Team 2 Location
Thursday May 4
1PM GLC 18U OBJ 18U Dorchester
4PM Mets 18U OBJ 18U Dorchester
7PM GLC 18U Mets 18U Dorchester

Friday May 5th  
10AM GLC 17U Mets 17U Dorchester
1PM GLC 17U Mets 17U Dorchester
4PM OBJ 17U ON 18U Dorchester
5th 6:30PM OBJ 17U ON 18U Dorchester

Saturday May 6th
10AM GLC 18U OBJ 18U Dorchester
10AM ON 17U FH St. Marys
1PM GLC 18U Mets 18U Dorchester
1PM FH Team O St. Marys
4PM Mets 18U OBJ 18U Dorchester
4PM ON 17U Team O St. Marys

Sunday May 7th
10AM GLC 17U ON 17U Dorchester
10AM ON 18U FH St. Mary’s
12:30PM GLC 17U ON 17U Dorchester
1PM FH Team O St. Mary’s
3:30PM OBJ 17U Mets 17U Dorchester
4PM ON 18U Team O St. Mary’s
6:30PM OBJ 17U Mets 17U Dorchester

Games will run ahead of schedule when possible
No extra innings in tournament play
Infield will be taken by teams when time permits