Elliott, Day IV: Burgess, Deblois, Dick, Green, Soke, Vassart
September 23, 2022
By Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network
OTTAWA - There was a power outage at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Park on Friday.
Yet, there was not a shortage of power when Team Red came to the plate against Team Royal in the fifth.
Lucas Alberti (Toronto, Ont.), of the Ontario Blue Jays, started things with a run-scoring double to left.
The next inning, C Jason Green (Georgetown, Ont.), whose father C Curtis Green went to camp with the 1992 Team Canada senior team and made the trip to Millington, Tenn., hit the first pitch he saw for a three-run homer. The third-base dugout erupted and Green, an Ontario Terrier, was able to wear the jacket like Danny Jansen.
He was the first to wear the blue home run jacket like the one in the Toronto Blue Jays’ dugout. For a moment, he was strutting and smiling like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Matt Chapman, Bo Bichette. George Springer, Teoscar Hernandez or Alejandro Kirk.
The difference was while the Jays jacket had names of countries sewn on the back this one had the name of all 10 provinces.
Robert Orr (Vancouver, BC), of the UBC Thunder, and Dylan Chopp (Calgary, Alta.), of the Webber Wildcats, followed with doubles. And in the seventh, B.J. Peart (Markham, Ont.) of the Toronto Mets doubled home a run.
Team Red had 21 hits, including six doubles, three triples and a homer in the 18-5 win. For the game, Team Red had an on-base mark of 1.053, a slugging percentage of .947 and an OPS of 2000.
That should come as zero surprise from a team manned by coaches Canadian Hall of Famer Matt Stairs (Fredericton, N.B.), former big leaguer Nigel Wilson (Ajax, Ont.), Jim Baba (Ottawa, Ont.) a member of the Saskatchewan Hall of Fame and Tanner Watson (Almonte, Ont.).
Stairs (265 in the majors, 69 in the minors and six in Japan) and Wilson (two in the majors, 136 in the minors and 119 in Japan) combined for 597 career professional homers. Watson was homerless in his seven at-bats in the minors.
We’re unsure how many Baba had but sources deep in Saskatchewan say Baba’s numbers playing for the Moose Jaw Demons were excellent. He won the 1974 batting title, hitting .379 in the Southern League, finished fifth in the Saskatchewan Major League (.358), ninth in 1977 (.308) and tied for sixth in 1979 (.333). As well, he played with the Eston Ramblers, Yakima College, Team North Battleford, who played for the national championship and Kindersley.
But we doubt hit as many as Erwin Doerksen (Moose Jaw, Sask.).
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No lights, no one home: With a power outage, the Friday final game between Team Grey and Team Navy was cancelled and shall be played Saturday morn at 8 o’clock. The home run derby will follow and next will be a prospects game.
A winner will not be declared.
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Toronto Mets RHP Parker Burgess (Douro-Drummer, Ont.)
Name: RHP Parker Burgess (Douro-Drummer, Ont.).
Team: Toronto Mets.
Who is the most influential person in your baseball life and why? “My dad Greg, he got me into baseball. He studied the game, how to step up, to push me to get better.”
Who is the most influential person in your baseball life, beside your father and why? “My grandfather Jim Burgess. He was an umpire, but he was always at my games. He was a big fan. He passed in the spring (at 72).”
Your greatest day on the ball field? “Pitching for the Canadian Junior National Team against Team USA in the Friendship Series. I pitched two innings (five runs -- four earned -- on three hits and four walks). It was the first time I had ever pitched on a big stage. I put the Canada jersey on and looked in the mirror. I was overcome with excitement and honor.”
Your favourite player and why? “Max Scherzer and Tyler Glasnow. Scherzer because of the mental game and his intensity. Glasnow because of his size, his presence and his mechanics.”
If not a pro player, what’s the next best job you’d want to have when you grow up? “Working as a financial advisor.”
What’s the most important life rule you’ve learned playing ball? “Always to stay in the moment. To take it one pitch at a time ... and to have fun.”
ABC’s Anthony Deblois (Saint-Isidore, Que.).
Name: Anthony Deblois (Saint-Isidore, Que.).
Team: Academie Baseball Canada.
Who is the most influential person in your baseball life and why? “My dad, Karl, he didn’t play baseball, but he played softball and slo-pitch. He pushed me toward baseball.”
Who is the most influential person in your baseball life, beside your father and why? “My first coach at my Sport-Étude, Remi Dave in Saint-Joseph.”
Your greatest day on the ball field? “I hit two bombs, a single and drove in five but we lost 15-13 to Saint-Frédéric.”
Your favourite player and why? “Mookie Betts. He’s my shape. He does the job like me.”
If not a pro player, what’s the next best job you’d want to have when you grow up? “My father has a landscaping company, I would continue.”
Vauxhall Academy Jets C Cardel Dick (Abbotsford, BC)
Name: C Cardel Dick (Abbotsford, BC).
Team: Vauxhall Academy Jets.
Who is the most influential person in your baseball life and why? “My brother (Carlin Dick, who attends Canisius College). He was at Tournament 12 in 2018. He pushed me every day. I learned a lot from him.”
Who is the most influential person in your baseball life, beside your brother and why? “My coaches at Vauxhall -- Les McTavish and Jim Kotkas. I’ve been with them the last two-plus years. Both have given me tons of baseball knowledge. I’m better both as a player and a person. I’m extremely grateful.”
Your greatest day on the ball field? “Every day that I go out and play is a great day because I know I can’t play ball forever.”
Your favourite player and why? “Mike Trout. Not because he’s one of the best, but he plays the game the right way. He’s never cocky.”
If not a pro player, what’s the next best job you’d want to have when you grow up? “I’m looking to become an engineer ... I’d also like to coach when I have a child.”
What’s the most important life rule you’ve learned playing ball? “Not to let the days ruin the days. If you lose a game it’s not the end of the world.”
Okotoks Dawgs RHP Ben Soke (New Maryland, NB)
Name: RHP Benjamin Soke (New Maryland, NB)
Team: Okotoks Dawgs.
Who is the most influential person in your baseball life and why? “Matt Stairs. He was the assistant coach on our hockey team. He played defence. I was a defenceman. Our family always focussed on hockey and my dad Craig played. Matt runs some camps this summer. He knew he’d be at some showcases. He taught me about the mentality I needed to have to compete. And now I have been in Okotoks for 2 1/2 weeks, pitching for Tyler Hollick and Jeff Duda.”
Your greatest day on the ball field? “In the Canada Games, we played against Quebec in the first game. It showed players and coaches I could compete at the next level. I threw 80 pitches in five innings. I knew the team was leaning on me. I allowed two runs -- one earned -- and we lost 4-2.”
Your favourite player and why? “Corbin Burnes. I grew up a Milwaukee fan. I was really into Christian Yelich. He throws hard. I like his long hair and he won a Cy Young award.”
If not a pro player, what’s the next best job you’d want to have when you grow up? “Probably work with kids, to help out in the community and run some camps. It could be baseball or hockey.”
What’s the most important life rule you’ve learned playing ball? “Control what you control. You have to remember that every day you are not going to have your best stuff. That every day the umpire is not going to call every strike a strike.”
Winnipeg South Wolves INF Tyson Vassart (Lasalle, Man,)
Name: SS Tyson Vassart (Lasalle, Man.)
Teams: Winnipeg South Wolves/Home Run Sports Academy.
Who is the most influential person in your baseball life and why? “My father, Drew. He played at Thompson Rivers for Ray Chadwick. He got me into the game at a high level and coached me from about 11 to 17.”
Who is the most influential person in your baseball life, beside your father and why? “Owen Harms, who went to the Canada Cup with Manitoba. He’s eight years older but he coached me, too.”
Your greatest day on the ball field? “Beating Alberta in the Summer Games 13-1 at Niagara Falls. Our pitcher (Ethan Giesbrecht, Altoona, Man.) lost to them at the Western Canadians and he wanted to get even. I was 2-for-3 with a double, a single and two RBIs.”
Your favourite player and why? Troy Tulowitzki. I modelled my swing after him. Can I throw on the run like the way he used to do? I try to throw on the run the way he did.
If not a pro player, what’s the next best job you’d want to have when you grow up? “Probably the agriculture business ... selling grain.” “
What’s the most important life rule you’ve learned playing ball? “Have fun ... don’t think about it too hard.”
What’s the most important life rule you’ve learned playing ball? “Never ever judge a book by its cover.”