Elliott: Langley Blaze vs. Langley Blaze in Junior National intra-squad game - Updated
RF Jacob Zibin (Langley, BC) of the Langley Blaze went deep in Saturday’s 5-5 intra-squad tie. Photo: Christian Bender
August 28, 2021
By Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network
AJAX, Ont. - There are always some square pegs jammed into round holes on a 25-man roster.
As the Canadian Junior National Team selection camp unfolds, coach Greg Hamilton and his staff, try to fit 38 players into 30 roster spots.
There has been competition the first 10 days of workouts and intra-squad games but nothing like the sixth inning of Saturday.
Lefty Reece Usselman was pitching in the sixth inning. RF Jacob Zibin pulled an inside pitch over the left field fence at Pan Am Field for a home run. Zibin touched first, looked in at the mound and pulled at the words CANADA across his chest.
There is competition for jobs that will lead to decision-day on Wednesday and then there is competition that will last all season ... and maybe next.
You see Usselman (Langley, BC) pitches for the Langley Blaze. And Zibin (Langley, BC) is his Blaze teammate in the British Columbia Premier League. It was one piece of the puzzle in a game that ended in a 5-5 tie.
“Ah, he got me today,” Usselman said, “but he’s 0-for-3 against me at home during intra-squad games. He’s picked it up a little since we got to Ontario ... he’s 3-for-4 with two singles and the homer.”
It was good-natured teasing between the two. Zero glares and zero stare down. Both were laughing, although Zibin likely enjoyed it more.
“I forget if it was a 2-1 or 3-1 count -- but it was a hitter’s count,” Zibin said. “The ball was middle in ... sort of up in the zone. I gave it to him ... but we’re good pals.”
LHP Reece Usselman (Langley, BC) ran into an old pal at the Pan Am Games park Saturday. Photo: Christian Bender
Usselman, who pitched 3 2/3 innings allowing two runs on four hits, while striking out four, and Zibin, whose knock was the solo homer, play for Blaze coach Jamie Bodaly and general manager Doug Mathieson, who runs the Blaze trips to Arizona and Florida.
“We won last year and we plan on winning again this year,” said Usselman, whose personal highlight was hitting 91 mph, after sitting at 89 mph in BC.
How the extra oomph?
“Maybe it’s the heat, maybe it’s the logo on our jerseys,” said the 6-foot-3, 175-pounder.
The best part of the trip east for Zibin, who is a two-way player spending time on the mound as well: “Spending time and getting to know all the players from all over the country ... the home run was a bonus.”
Zibin went south to train so — when fields were not open — so he has hit six homers … in 12 games. He has two each against the Abbotsford Cardinals and Victoria Mariners plus one against the Langley Junior Blaze and one other in the Premier League.
Why is Bodaly such a good coach?
Zibin: “He connects with all the players, we’re close with him. When he talks to you, he gives you the news straight.”
Usselman: “Jamie is one of the guys.”
Ontario Terriers LHP Jordan Woods (Oakville, Ont.), left, pitched five innings allowing one run sits on the bench with Zibin.
Bodaly on Zibin: “Jacob is the best guy I’ve had In 10-to-15 years,” said Bodaly. “He has the ‘it factor.’ He is confident in his abilities and is the best hitter in our program since Tyler O’Neill. On the mound it’s been some time since I have seen someone with his smooth mechanics, a feel for a change up which is a plus pitch, he has a good curve ball.
“He fools around with a slider and used to have a nasty splitter but we shut the down to save his arm. His fastball velocity for his age is something I haven’t seen in my 21 years of coaching. He hit 94 multiple times this season. It’s going to be a bright future for Jacob.”
Bodaly on Usselman: “He has made HUGE gains this year. He has not pitched a lot the past few years due to some injuries from growing so much. This is his first year in two years he has been able to throw every time it was hit turn and his fastball has developed but more importantly his feel for pitching. He has a plus curve and is working on a change up that will be a good pitch down the road.
“He is one of the nicest kids I have ever had and I know all the younger players look up to him, mention how he treats them well and doesn’t blow them off.”
Nuts and bolts: ABC LF Alexis Gravel (Repentigny, Que.) had three hits, including a double and an RBI, while FieldHouse Pirates SS Nathaniel Ochoa (Burlington, Ont.) hit a solo homer and a single for the Red team, while Great Lake Canadians LHP Caleb Clark (Orillia, Ont.) pitched 4 2/3 innings allowing three unearned runs on two hits and a walk, while striking out four ... Ontario Terriers LHP Jordan Woods (Oakville, Ont.) looked strong, pitching five innings giving up two runs -- one earned -- on five hits and a walk, as he whiffed three for the Grey ... Terriers CF Cameron Chee-Aloy (Toronto, Ont.) tripled while SS Tyrus Hall (Victoria, BC) had a pair of singles … BOX SCORE
William the ball hawker: There is one person who has made more workouts at the Pan Am Fields than some of the coaches and that’s William Coggins.
William is 12 and plays for the Ajax Spartans 13U. Some days he bikes over to the Pan Am Fields and some days like Saturday his mom Victoria Kingsley Coggins brings him to the park.
He is the fiercest, fastest ball hawk when foul balls clear the screen. He sits and watches every at-bat. When Canadian Junior National Team pitchers warm up in the bullpen, William squats -- outside the screen -- and follows the flight of the ball, whether it’s in the turn, high or low.
From his up-close look, he admits no one on his team throws with the same velocity or has the same movement, although Shawn Beharell would be the best of the Spartan hurlers he has caught for coaches Dave Murray, Ron Crozier and Bill Coggins.
The biggest lesson he has learned the past 10 days of watching the best high schoolers in Canada?
“I should hit with my arms here (as he takes a normal stance), not with them up high,” says William. Does William catch with one knee in the dirt.
“Yes,” he says “when there is no one on base.”
His best games this year were a two-hit effort with an RBI against Clarington and a double facing Peterborough.
His favourite player is Okotoks Dawgs’ 1B Tyler Doucette (Dartmouth, NS) because Doucette wears No. 44 ... the same number as William.
He also plays hockey for the Ajax Knights. His sister MacKenzie skates for the Durham West Lightening and does corner kicks for the Pickering FC. He has been given a couple of balls by players who notice his hard work and has acquired seven autographs.
William hopes to play for the Junior National Team one day. With his attentiveness, hustle and passion it might not be a dream.
Still no statue: Peter Orr (Newmarket, Ont.) who scored the winning run of the 2015 Pan Am Games in Ajax was in the third base dugout -- just as he was that night when they played Oh Canada.
Down two runs after a failed bunt attempt with one out, Orr singled home a run to make it a one-run difference. Skyler Stromsmoe (Bow Island, Alta.) was on second when lefty reliever David Huff decided to try to erase Orr with a back-door pick at first.
Huff, who had seven years in the majors, watched his pick off sail past first baseman Casey Kotchman into foul ground as Stromsmoe to scored. Right fielder Brian Bogusevic picked up the ball and threw wildly to third, allowing Orr to race home. The ball beat Orr home, but catcher Thomas Murphy didn’t hold onto the ball, making Orr trip around the bases golden.
So where is the statue or Mr. Orr?