Elliott: Millas leads Langley Blaze migration south

Photo: David Zuskind.

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

Not to put any pressure on Theo Millas ... but after committing to powerhouse LSU Tigers, coach Paul Mainieri pointed out that while Millas is the first Canadian he brought to LSU, he recruited Canuck pitchers RHPs Ryan Dempster and John Axford when Mainieri was at Notre Dame.

“Theo has a chance to do the same,” said Mainieri of the Langley Blaze

Dempster (Gibsons, BC), a third round choice by the Texas Rangers, chose not to go to university and signed. He went on to win 132 times and saved 87 games pitching 2,387 innings in 579 games covering an 18-year career.

Axford (Port Dover, Ont.) did show at South Bend, Ind. and had two good seasons before being injured and switching to Mike McRae’s Canisius Golden Griffins program. Axford was 13-5 in 30 starts over the first two years for the Irish. After one season in western New York with McRae, the New York Yankees signed him as a free agent.

After being released by the Yankees, he was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers and scout Jay Lapp (London, Ont.). In all, he was 38-34 with 144 saves as in 13 years he pitched 525 1/3 innings in 543 games.

A member of the Canadian National Team and the Under Armour All-American team in 2019, Millas was the 199th ranked player heading into the 2020 draft by the Perfect Game Scouting Service.

“As you can imagine, playing ball in the cold weather of Canada is not an easy feat,” Mainieri said. “Theo also played hockey until he was 14, so you know he is a tough kid. He has also been on the Canadian Junior National Team since his sophomore year and pitched in big games and on big stages all over the world.”

The coach said with those type of experiences, it’s tough to imagine he will be intimidated in ‘The Box’ or by other SEC environments.

Millas is the tip of the Langley ice berg steered through the stormy recruiter-infested waters by manager Jamie Bodaly and general manager Doug Mathieson, who as usual is taking a team to Jupiter next month.

It’s another normal year for Langley when it comes to placing players with Division I schools. Except the players are headed to high ranked schools.

Also headed to four-year Division I schools are LHP Justin Thorsteinson (Richmond, BC) to Oregon State, RHP Ryan Scott (Quispamsis, NB) to Sacramento State, C Russell Young (Cloverdale, BC) is headed to Gonzaga College and OF Nick Holdershaw (Langley, BC) to the University of Dubuque.

INFs Jonny McGill (Richmond, BC) and Carson Chorpita (Surrey, BC) will both join the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds.

On the junior college front, INF Brody Alexandre (Swift Current, Sask.) is headed to the Clarendon Chaparrals, LHP Colby Ring (Langley, BC) is off to Antelope Valley, C Jayden Ring (Langley, BC) committed to Sierra College, LHP Lukas Frers (White Rock, BC) headed for Central Arizona, OF Daniel Martin (Langley, BC) to Yapavai College, C Holden Cumiskey (Surrey, BC) to Cuesta College, RHP Jacob Davies (Surrey, BC) to the Galveston Whitecaps and RHP Kyle Pfeifer (Langley, BC) to Western Nebraska.