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CANADIAN MEN'S BASEBALL TEAM NOMINATED FOR TORONTO 2015 PAN AM GAMES

TORONTO - The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Baseball Canada are pleased to announce the twenty-four (24) Men’s National Baseball Team athletes who have been selected to represent Canada at the 2015 Pan American Games from July 11 to 19 in Ajax, Ontario.

The Canadian roster features eight players from the 2011 Guadalajara Pan Am Games team in Andrew Albers (North Battleford, SK), Shawn Hill (Georgetown, ON), Brock Kjeldgaard (London, ON), Kyle Lotzkar (Delta, BC), Dustin Molleken (Regina, SK), Chris Robinson (Dorchester, ON), Tim Smith (Toronto, ON) and Skyler Stromsmoe (Bow Island, AB). Nine players named to the roster (Albers, Phillippe Aumont, Jeff Francis, Hill, Chris Leroux, Adam Loewen, Pete Orr, Robinson, Rene Tosoni) have Major League Baseball playing experience.

The Canadian Men’s National Baseball Team is coming off a gold medal performance at the 2011 Pan Am Games in Guadalajara after defeating the United States 2-1 in the deciding game. Prior to 2011, Canada last competed in the baseball competition at the Pan Am Games in 1999 when the event was held in Winnipeg and came away with a bronze medal. Other countries that have qualified for the 2015 Pan American Games are Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and the United States.

The coaching staff features a wealth of Major League Baseball experience in longtime Manager Ernie Whitt who led Canada to a gold medal performance in 2011, former National League MVP Larry Walker, Canadian baseball legend Stubby Clapp, former Toronto Blue Jay and Montréal Expo Denis Boucher and 14-year MLB veteran Paul Quantrill. Baseball Canada’s Director of National Teams, Greg Hamilton rounds out the staff.

The Canadian Men’s National Baseball Team will compete at the Americas Baseball Festival from July 5-8 in Cary, North Carolina leading up to the Pan American Games.

Canada will field the largest team in its Pan American Games history with over 700 athletes expected to be named to the Team at the Games in Toronto. With TORONTO 2015 providing a “Home Games” experience, as well as a number of qualification opportunities for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, these Games will provide a tremendous experience for Canada’s high performance athletes.

QUOTES

“Our men’s baseball team will head into these Games defending their gold medal from Guadalajara and I have full confidence they have what it takes to achieve victory again. Congratulations to the team who made it today – Canada is so proud of you.”

Marcel Aubut, President, Canadian Olympic Committee

“Canada’s baseball players have a reputation of always bringing their A-game and I have no doubt that these men will do just that. Congratulations to the athletes named to the team today, Canada will be behind you as you try to repeat as Pan Am Games champions.”

Curt Harnett, TORONTO 2015 Team Canada Chef de Mission

“We are excited about our group for the 2015 Pan Am Games and look forward to representing Canada in front of our own fans. It is an honour anytime you get to wear the Maple Leaf, and with the Games taking place on home soil it will truly be special.”

Ernie Whitt, Manager, Canadian Men’s National Baseball Team

“I am extremely honoured to represent Team Canada this year at the Pan American Games in Toronto. International baseball is always intense and with the Games taking place at home, in front of our own fans, the atmosphere will be electric at the ballpark.”

Shawn Hill, Men’s National Team Member

The Canadian Men’s National Baseball team that will represent Canada at the TORONTO 2015 Games includes:

Athletes:

Position

First

Last

Hometown

Pitcher

Andrew

Albers

North Battleford, SK

Pitcher

Phillippe

Aumont

Gatineau, QC

Pitcher

Shane

Dawson

Drayton Valley, AB

Catcher

Kellin

Deglan

Langley, BC

Pitcher

Jeff

Francis

Delta, BC

Outfielder

Tyson

Gillies

Vancouver, BC

Pitcher

Shawn

Hill

Georgetown, ON

Infielder

Jesse

Hodges

Victoria, BC

Infielder

Sean

Jamieson

Kitchener, ON

Outfielder

Brock

Kjeldgaard

London, ON

Pitcher

Colin

Kleven

Kamloops, BC

Infielder

Jordan

Lennerton

Langley, BC

Pitcher

Chris

Leroux

Mississauga, ON

Pitcher

Adam

Loewen

Surrey, BC

Pitcher

Kyle

Lotzkar

Delta, BC

Pitcher

Dustin

Molleken

Regina, SK

Pitcher

Jared

Mortensen

Abbottsford, BC

Outfielder

Tyler

O’Neill

Maple Ridge, BC

Infielder

Pete

Orr

Newmarket, ON

Catcher

Chris

Robinson

Dorchester, ON

Pitcher

Evan

Rutckyj

Windsor, ON

Outfielder

Tim

Smith

Toronto, ON

Infielder

Skyler

Stromsmoe

Bow Island, AB

Outfielder

Rene

Tosoni

Port Coquitlam, BC

Coaches:

Position

First

Last

Hometown

Coach

Denis

Boucher

Lachine, QC

Therapist

Dave

Blatz

Steinbach, MB

Coach

Stubby

Clapp

Windsor, ON

Coach

Greg

Hamilton

Peterborough, ON

Coach

Paul

Quantrill

Port Hope, ON

Equipment Manager

Keith

Sanford

Windsor, ON

Team Leader

Bernie

Soulliere

Windsor, ON

Coach

Larry

Walker

Maple Ridge, BC

Manager

Ernie

Whitt

Clinton, MI

Prior to being named to the final Canadian Pan American Team, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Federations towards the end of June 2015.


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