May 11, 2024

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

DORCHESTER, Ont. _ There were a number of outstanding performances on Day II of the Canadian Premier Baseball League Showcase weekend.

If you listed them all, the day FieldHouse Pirates’ Quinn Carson’s day would be among them.

OF Carson (Oakville, Ont.) went 3-for-3 with a triple, double and a home run in an 11-8 win over Great Lake Canadians.

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Elliott, Day I: Glenn, Mathews, Sanders, Yankowich

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We talked to a few of the competitors ...

3B Jordan Jacob

Hometown: Maple, Ont.

Current Team: Ontario Blue Jays.

Previous teams: North Toronto, Scarborough Stingers, Vaughn Vikings.

Committed: Pitt University.

Who is the most influential person in your baseball life and why? “My Dad, Angus. He was always my coach in Scarborough. Of all the coaches he helped me when I was struggling. This summer he’s going to have me run a hill to lower my speed below 7.0. I haven’t been timed since last year I think I get under that.” (That’s exactly what Blue Jays scout Jorge Posada did with his son, also named Jorge, then a shortstop. He went to JUCO in Alabama, the New York Yankees drafted him and he became a catcher in the dynasty.)

Who are the most influential people in your baseball life besides your father and why? “Frank Gallo. I still talk to him today and I hope to continue talking to him for a long time. He’s a favourite coach of mine.”

Greatest day on the ball field? “I hit a home run against Great Lake Canadians 17U last year.”

Favourite player and why? “Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays. I get compared to him because of my hair.”

If not a pro player, what’s the next best job you’d want to have when you grow up? “Maybe coaching baseball. I want to stay involved as long as I can.”

The most important life lesson you’ve learned playing ball? “With success comes failure.”

What four people would you like to invite for special dinner (living or passed away) and why? “Frank Gallo, because I respect him so much as a coach, Brandon Crawford, of the St. Louis Cardinals, I’d like to know the routine he goes through and what makes him so great, Anthony Edwards, of the Minnesota Timberwolves, he has Kobe Bryant’s mentality and Joe Carter, the legend, because that is my first memory of the Toronto Blue Jays.”

LHP Russell Kwinter

Hometown: Etobicoke, Ont.

Current Team: Terriers.

Previous teams: Royal York Cardinals, Etobicoke Rangers.

Committed: University of Chicago.

Who are the most influential people in your baseball life and why? “My parents are the most influential people in my baseball life because of their unwavering support. My Dad, Richard, a business consultant, and my Mom, Marlene Yip, a walk coordinator for The Sashbear Foundation, a non-profit organization. Throughout all the ups and downs I have had playing they have always been by my side and I truly would not still be playing if it was not for them talking me out of quitting after I experienced true failure in the sport for the first time.”

Who are the most influential people in your baseball life besides your parents and why? “Besides my parents it would be the Terriers coaches and staff. Not only have I gained an immense understanding of the game from them but the Terriers family has shown me how to still enjoy this game despite competing at such a high level. They have supported me for the last four years and I hope to stay in touch with all of them for the years to come. If I had to choose one person though, I would not be who I am as a player today and even a person without Rick Johnston. Since I started as a Terrier, he has been the coach who has always had my back and taught me more knowledge than I could ever imagine about not just baseball but life as well. He is a wonderful person, storyteller, and mentor. The lessons he taught me will stick forever.”

Greatest day on the ball field? “July 22, 2023, when I threw a no-hitter against the South Jersey Young Guns in a tournament at Philadelphia. It was shortly after my grandfather (Monte Kwinter, a cabinet minister in the government of David Peterson, 1985-90, and Dalton McGuinty 2003-07) passed away.”

Favourite player and why? “Ben Abram, the former Terrier who pitched at Oklahoma State and Oklahoma because of his deep understanding in the art of pitching, his aspiring compete level, and his character as a person. There is not a single player I look up to more and if I had to model my game after someone it would most definitely be him. He is one of the best pitching coaches out there and an even better friend.”

If not a pro player, what’s the next best job you’d want to have when you grow up? “To be a philanthropist because I want to do something that I love doing and helping people is one of the only things that truly makes me happy. In particular, I would like to do work regarding helping people with mental health issues because that is a subject very personal to me and something that I believe I can make a real positive impact.”

The most important life lesson you’ve learned playing ball? “That you need to experience failure before you can truly succeed.”

What four people would you like to invite for special dinner (living or passed away) and why? “(The late) John Coltrane, the saxophonist, (the late) Bob Ross, an artist who had a show (The Joy of Painting) where he did tutorials. Plus, my Mom, and Dad because I know that those are some of my parents’ favourite people ... seeing them in awe would put a bigger smile on my face than meeting any person could for me. Also, they seem like very interesting people who I am sure would tell some amazing stories.”

ABC RHP Jerome-Felix Lessard (Saint-Joseph-Du-Lac, Que. )

RHP Jerome-Felix Lessard

Hometown: Saint-Joseph-Du-Lac, Que.

Current Team: Academic Baseball Canada.

Previous teams: Red Sox Laurentides.

Uncommitted.

Who are the most influential people in your baseball life and why? “My dad Christian, who coached me my whole life (from 8-to-16) and my Mom, Julie. Both are paramedics.”

Greatest day on the ball field? “Last year in the quarter finals of a tournament in Atlanta. I pitched five innings against Memphis allowing one hit and striking out eight as we won ... think it was 6-1.”

Favourite player and why? “Tim (The Freak) Lincecum, former Cy Young award winner with the San Francisco Giants. He was my father’s fave pitcher. He was unorthodox and had some quirky mechanics. I tried to mimic him when I was younger.”

If not a pro player, what’s the next best job you’d want to have when you grow up? “A policeman. I was accepted into the police academy when I got the call from Mathieu Dion, who runs the ABC program, to come and pitch.”

The most important life lesson you’ve learned playing ball? “Never give up. The game is never over, it doesn’t matter. It could be bases loaded none out. You have to believe that you are the best ... and I think I am one of the best pitchers in Canada.”

What four people would you invite for special dinner (living or passed away) and why? “Kobe Bryant, I’ve watched documentaries on him and I admire his work ethic. My great grandfather, who passed before I was born -- he was a policeman. Eric Gagne, a kid from Quebec, I would like to know of his journey and Mike Trout because he’s the best. He’d be on my Mount Rushmore of the game’s best.”

OF Kenyon Sikkema

Hometown: Hamilton, Ont.

Current Team: FieldHouse Pirates.

Previous teams: Hamilton Cardinals.

Uncommitted.

Who is the most influential people in your baseball life and why? “My Mom, Evelina, a massage therapist in Burlington. Mom pushed me every day and keeps me humble.”

Who is the most influential people in your baseball life besides your parents and why? “(FieldHouse coach) Jimmy Richardson who is always trying to make me better. If I foul up and make an overthrow or miss a cut-off man, he takes me aside and explains things.”

Greatest day on the ball field? “Last year in Cincinnati, we won and I hit a home run plus a ground rule double. And being with the Canadian Premier team in Fort Myers it was quite an experience. Think I was 7-for-12 ... all singles.”

Favourite player and why? “Mookie Betts. He’s black. I’m black. It is good when you have someone similar to look up to, but I have not bowled in a long, long time (Betts has rolled a number of perfect games).”

If not a pro player, what’s the next best job you’d want to have when you grow up? “Maybe work construction or be a baseball coach.”

The most important life lesson you’ve learned playing ball? “Probably that your actions really matter when it comes to being a good person. You never know who is watching so don’t let one bad decision or bad action let other people form an opinion of you.”

What four people would you like to invite for special dinner (living or passed away) and why? “Mookie Betts of course. My Mom, I love my Mom. Jason Tatum of the Boston Celtics. And Edwin Encarnación, former Toronto Blue Jays slugger. He’s Dominican. My Mom’s Dominican.”

Scores

Ontario Royals 17U 19, Titans Baseball 11

FieldHouse Pirates 17U 9, Ontario Blue Jays Eck 17U 5

Great Lakes 17U 8, Ontario Blue Jays Eck 17U 1

Ontario Astros 18U 16, Titans 18U 10

OBJ 17U Wilson 9, ABC 17U - 8

Fieldhouse 17U 11, Great Lakes 17U 8

Ontario Astros 18U 10, Ontario Royals 18U 8

Ontario Royals 18U 16, Toronto Titans 18U 4

OBJ 17U Wilson 10, Toronto Mets 17U 1