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Former National Junior Team Star Shines Against Old Club

Former National Junior Team Star Shines Against Old Club

October 18, 2006

Last year’s Baseball Canada National Junior Team MVP, Nick Weglarz (Stevensville, Ont.) helped beat his former club yesterday as his Cleveland Indians’ instructional club cruised to an 18-2 win over the Canadian juniors at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex. Weglarz, who only one year ago was driving in runs to help Canada qualify for the 2006 World Junior Championships, was 2-for-4 on the afternoon. The third-round pick of the Cleveland Indians in the 2005 Major League Baseball draft also scored three runs. Meanwhile, Canada’s offence had difficulty getting into gear, collecting six hits in the game and scoring both of its runs on an error when a ball slipped through the wickets of the Indians’ shortstop in the bottom of the fourth inning to make it an 8-2 ball game. Collin Buckborough (Niagara Falls, Ont.) was the only Canadian pitcher to have mild success against a potent Indians line-up that banged out 20 hits. The 6’5” right-hander gave up two runs behind four hits and one walk over the first two innings. Daniel Lazarou (Newmarket, Ont.), Kyle Lotzkar (Delta, B.C.), Leslie Williams (Scarborough, Ont.) and Cameron Gray (Toronto, Ont.) also pitched for Canada. Carter Bell (Courtenay, B.C.), Chad Stang (Surrey, B.C.), Mitchell Delaney (Lasalle, Ont.), Chris Bisson (Ottawa, Ont.), Philippe Deslisle (Lanoraie, Qué) and Michael Mutcheson (Morden, Man.) collected the Canadian hits. Bell and Deslisle were the run scorers. Canada’s next match-up comes against the Atlanta Braves’ instructional Club, Wednesday at 10 a.m. EST.  

Junior Team in the Win Column at Fall Instructional League

Junior Team in the Win Column at Fall Instructional League

October 18, 2006

A strong showing by Canada's pitchers and a balanced attack from its hitters, paced Baseball Canada’s national junior team to an 8-4 win over the Atlanta Braves’ instructional team, today, at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. After right-handers Phillippe Aumont (Gatineau, Qué.) and Corey Pappel (Mississauga, Ont.) shutout the Braves over the first five innings, Canada exploded for a six-run sixth inning for all the offence they needed to lock-up their first victory in this year’s edition of the Fall Instructional League. The Canadians took advantage of three errors, one walk and a wild pitch from Atlanta’s pitching staff in the sixth inning. Daniel Reid (Nasonworth, N.B.) got it all started with a single to left-centre before Derek Sinke (Bowen Island, B.C.) reached on an error and Chris Bisson (Ottawa, Ont.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A groundball from the bat of Marc Bourgeois (Granby, Qué.) was muffed by the Braves’ first baseman and trickled into the outfield to score a pair for a 2-0 Canadian lead. Braden Bauml (Muenster, Sask.) singled to score Bisson, Canada scored on a double steal and the team added another marker on the second error of the inning to make it 5-0. Mitchell Delaney (Lasalle, Ont.) was then issued a walk to load the bases, setting up back-to-back singles by Leslie Williams (Scarborough, Ont.) and Chad Stang (Surrey, B.C.) to make it 7-0. Canada also scored on a wild-pitch for eighth and final run of the inning. Atlanta got two runs back in the bottom-half of the inning on a two-run homerun given up by reliever Ryan Kennedy (Calgary, Alta.).  Kennedy also gave up the final two runs of the game in the eighth inning although both were unearned. Aumont was credited with the win after allowing no runs on two hits and five strikeouts over the first three innings. Pappel did not allow a hit over the next two innings, setting up Canada’s big sixth inning.  After Kennedy threw three innings, Sinke threw a hitless ninth to close out the game. Canada got production throughout its line-up as no player had more than one hit or one run scored in the game. Canada’s next match-up comes against the Cleveland Indians’ instructional club, Thursday at 10 a.m. EST.  

Tigers Pounce Early to Top Canadian Junior Team

Tigers Pounce Early to Top Canadian Junior Team

October 17, 2006

The Detroit Tigers’ instructional club scored nine runs in the first two innings, yesterday, en route to a 13-1 win over Baseball Canada’s National Junior Team in Fall Instructional League action at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. Despite the gap in scoring, pitchers Shain Beaudreau (Cole Harbour, N.S.) and Daniel Reid (Nasonworth, N.B.) threw well and did not allow any runs. Beaudreau threw three innings allowing two hits, no walks and striking out two while Reid pitched two innings in which he was tagged for only two hits. The Tigers did most of their damage against Canadian starter Olivier Routhier-Paré (Montréal, Qué.), who gave up 9 runs behind 5 walks and 8 hits in 1.1 innings of work. Tanner Craswell (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) was Canada’s best offensive player on the day, going 2-for-3 with 1 run scored after being driven in by an RBI single by Michael Mutcheson (Morden, Man.) in the third inning. Leslie Williams (Scarborough, Ont.), Carter Bell (Courtenay, B.C.) and Warren Demoskoff (Langley, B.C.) collected the other Canadian hits. Right-hander Mitch Hodge (Vancouver, B.C.) gave up the final four runs of the game although only two were earned. The Tigers scored three runs in the sixth inning behind one hit, two walks and an error to make it 12-1 before another Canadian error in the seventh allowed Detroit to score the final marker of the game. Canada’s next match-up comes against the Cleveland Indians’ instructional team, Tuesday. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. EST.  

Indians Squeak by Canadian Juniors

Indians Squeak by Canadian Juniors

October 15, 2006

Baseball Canada's National Junior Team was edged 2-1 today by the Cleveland Indians’ instructional team, dropping its record to 0-2 at the 2006 Fall Instructional league at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. Leslie Williams (Scarborough, Ont.) drove in the only Canadian run thanks to a single that scored Chris Bisson (Ottawa, Ont.). Carter Bell (Courtenay, B.C.) had a pair of hits, while Steve Bone (Toronto, Ont.) and Chad Stang (Surrey, B.C.) also collected hits for Canada. Pitching kept Canada in the game as five hurlers combined to give up one earned run and five hits. Phillippe Aumont (Gatineau, Qué) and Corey Pappel (Mississauga, Ont.) split the first four innings, giving up one hit each. Daniel Britton-Foster (Ladysmith, B.C.) then threw a hitless fifth before Matt Jebb (Toronto, Ont.) gave up one run on three hits in two innings of work. Derek Sinke (Bowen Island, B.C.) worked the final inning, where Cleveland scored the final maker of the game without a base hit. Canada’s pitchers struck out a combined 12 hitters: Aumont (3), Pappel (3), Britton-Foster (2), Jebb (2), Sinke (2). The narrow defeat dropped Canada to 0-2 in the Fall Instructional League after a 10-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves’ instructional team in the league opener. Atlanta attacked early by scoring four runs in the second inning and two more in the fourth to jump out to a 6-0 lead. Canada got on the board in the top of the fifth when Kyle Fillier’s (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) single to centre field allowed Brian Ivan (Toronto, Ont.) to trot home from third to make it 6-1. The Braves extended their lead to 10-1 in the eighth inning. In the ninth, Braden Bauml (Muenster, Sask.) smacked a two-RBI single that scored Philippe Deslisle (Lonoraie, Qué.) and Williams to make it 10-3, but the Canadians wouldn’t get any closer. Williams was 2-for-4 with a run scored and Bauml was 2-for-4 with 2 RBI to pace the Canadians. Ivan was 1-for-3 with a run scored, Fillier was 1-for-2 with an RBI and Deslisle also scored to chip in. Canada’s next match-up comes against the Detroit Tigers’ instructional team, Monday.  Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.  

Baseball Canada Announces Fall Instructional League Roster

Baseball Canada Announces Fall Instructional League Roster

October 04, 2006

OTTAWA – Baseball Canada will begin its selection process for the 2007 national junior team when it conducts a training camp and participates in the Fall Instructional League Oct. 12 to 22 at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla. A total of 30 players aged 16 and 17-years-old have been invited to take part in the camp, which will include practices and an eight-game schedule featuring games against the fall instructional league teams of the Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians as well as one match-up against the Stetson University  Hatters. The camp will serve as the first of four steps in the selection process for the 2007 national junior team that will participate in next summer’s Americas Qualification Tournament for the World Junior AAA Championships. Baseball Canada will also hold a selection camp next spring with various MLB clubs’ extended spring training teams before participating in the Dominican Summer League and staging a final training camp and exhibition series, all of which will culminate in the selection of the national junior team’s 18-player roster. Roster Schedule  

Four Canadians in Major League Baseball Post-season

Four Canadians in Major League Baseball Post-season

October 02, 2006

Four Canadians, including three former Baseball Canada national team members, have extended their seasons into the Major League Baseball Playoffs. First baseman Justin Morneau (New Westminster, B.C.), catcher Russell Martin (Chelsea, Qué.), right-hander Jesse Crain (Toronto, Ont.) and right-hander Rich Harden (Victoria, B.C.) will all try to help their teams to a World Series title when the playoffs begin tomorrow. A four-time national team member, Morneau is considered one of the front-runners for the American League MVP award after a career year in which he led the Minnesota Twins to the American League Central division championship by batting .321 with 34 homeruns and 130 RBI. The 25-year-old has represented Baseball Canada at the 2006 World Baseball Classic, the 2003 Olympic Qualifier, the 2001 World Cup and was also a member of the 1999 National Junior Team. Morneau’s team-mate in Minnesota, Jesse Crain, who made his first appearance on a Canadian national team at the 2006 World Baseball Classic will bolster the Twins’ bullpen as they hope to move on to the American League Championship Series. Now in his third season in the Major Leagues, Crain pitched in 68 games in 2006, posting a 4-5 record with 1 save and a 3.52 ERA. Rookie Russell Martin burst onto the scene this season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. After an outstanding spring training, Martin was called up to join the Dodgers on May 5th and quickly took over as the team’s No. 1 catcher. In addition to being rock solid behind the plate, Martin hit .282 with 10 homeruns, 26 doubles and 65 RBI in 121 games. After starting the season 12-17 for last place in the National League West, the Dodgers went 76-57 after Martin’s arrival to capture the National League Wild Card title. Martin has most recently represented Canada at the 2005 Regional Olympic Qualifier and the 2003 Olympic Qualifier. He also donned the red and white for the National Junior Team in 1999, 2000 and 2001. After spending most of the season on the disabled list with a strained elbow ligament, Rich Harden is healthy again just in time to help the streaking Oakland Athletics in the post-season. The A’s starter is 4-0 with a 3.35 ERA this season and 46 strikeouts in 43.0 innings pitched. St. Louis Cardinals coach Dave McKay (Vancouver, B.C.) will also add to the Canadian content in the MLB playoffs. MLB PLAYOFF SCHEDULE  

Lawrie and Larsson Named to World Championship All-Star Team

Lawrie and Larsson Named to World Championship All-Star Team

September 28, 2006

The first two hitters in Baseball Canada’s bronze medal-winning line-up at the World Junior Championships have been named to the tournament all-star team. Lead-off man Brett Lawrie (Langley, B.C.) and two-hole hitter Chase Larsson (Vancouver, B.C.) were two of the three outfielders to be selected to the squad following the end of the championship yesterday. Lawrie, Canada’s left fielder hit .415 with 4 doubles, 2 homeruns, 7 RBI, and 9 runs scored over eight games in addition to posting a .699 slugging percentage and collecting 27 total bases. With the centre fielder, Larsson, hitting directly behind Lawrie, Canada had a deadly one-two punch at the top of their order. Larsson hit .350 with 2 doubles, 5 RBI, 8 runs scored and 16 total bases in the tournament. Other top performers for Canada included right fielder Shayne Willson (Surrey, B.C.) who hit .379 with 4 RBI, catcher Jordan Wideman (Mississauga, Ont.) who hit .358 with 5 RBI, as well as pitchers Cory Hall (Regina, Sask.), Drew Parker (Surrey, B.C.) and Sheldon McDonald (Spruce Grove, Alta.). Hall was 2-0 with 15 strikeouts and a 1.13 ERA in 16 innings of work while Parker threw 11.2 scoreless innings with 7 strikeouts to post a 1-0 record. McDonald was equally effective, going 1-0 with 5 strikeouts and a 1.36 ERA in 13.0 innings pitched.  All-Star Team Catcher: Kyle Botha – South Africa1st Base: Doo Hwann Lee – Korea2nd Base: Christian Colon – United States3rd Base: Dayan Viciedo – CubaShortstop: Xavier Gonzalez – SpainOutfield: Dariel Alvarez – CubaOutfield: Brett Lawrie – CanadaOutfield: Chase Larsson – CanadaDesignated Hitter: Leandro Lamadrid – CubaRight-handed pitcher: Freddy A. Alvarez – CubaLeft-handed pitcher: Yang Hyeon Jong – Korea.  

Canada Wins Bronze Medal at World Junior Championships

Canada Wins Bronze Medal at World Junior Championships

September 27, 2006

Baseball Canada’s three-run eighth inning helped put away Mexico 6-2 today to win the bronze medal at the World Junior AAA Championships in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba. With Canada leading 3-2 going into their half of the eighth, a single by Kyle Orr (Victoria, B.C.) and walks to Jordan Wideman (Mississauga, Ont.) and David Narodowski (Vancouver, B.C.) loaded the bases. Orr then scored on a sacrifice fly by Kyle Gilligan (Toronto, Ont.) to make it 4-2 before Brett Lawrie smacked a 2-RBI single to go ahead 6-2. Reliever Drew Parker (Surry, B.C.), Canada’s third pitcher of the day came into the game with one out and the tying run on second base, but induced two straight ground outs to preserve Canada’s 3-2 lead going into the bottom of the eighth. Gilligan scored Narodowski from first with a double to left-centre field in the bottom of the sixth for the eventual winning run. For the second straight day, Canada opened the scoring before the opposition registered an out. Lead off man Brett Lawrie (Langley, B.C.) and Chase Larsson (Vancouver, B.C.) both singled and scored on double by Jonathan Waltenbury (Bowmanville, Ont.) for an early 2-0 lead. Mexico came back to tie the game 2-2 thanks to an RBI single by Noris Rogelio in the fourth inning and a lead-off homerun deep down the left field line by Angel Ramirez in the sixth inning. Cory Hall (Regina, Sask.) got the win for Canada going seven innings strong while giving up the two Mexican runs behind eight hits, one walk and five strikeouts in replacement of starter Mehdi Djebbar who faced four batters in the first inning. Lawrie was 2-for-5 with 2 RBI, Gilligan was 1-for-3 with a double and 2 RBI and Waltenbury was 1-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI to do most of the damage for Canada. The Bronze medal is Canada’s fifth-ever medal at the World Junior AAA Championships and its first since 1997. Baseball Canada also took the gold medal in 1991 as well as the bronze medal in 1983, 1987 and 1997. Box Score

Korea Stumps Canadian Juniors in World Championship Semi-final

Korea Stumps Canadian Juniors in World Championship Semi-final

September 26, 2006

Baseball Canada’s national junior team had no answer for Korean pitchers today in a 6-1 loss to Korea at the World Junior Championships semi-final in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba. Canada managed only four hits against Hyeon Jong Yang, Kwang Hyun Kim, Jae Gon Lee and Tae Hoon Im. Although Korea wasn’t swinging the bat all that well either, they were able to pull out their second straight win at the championship with only seven hits in two days. Hyeon Jon Yang gave up the only Canadian run when lead-off man Brett Lawrie (Langley, B.C.) took a first pitch fastball over the left-field wall to open the scoring in the bottom of the first, but Korea countered on an RBI fielder’s choice from Sun Bin Kim after starter Phillippe Aumont (Gatineau, Qué.) walked two hitters and beaned another to load the bases in the top of the second. Korea never looked back. Korea took its first lead of the game when first baseman Doo Hwan Lee got the green light on a 3-0 count and crushed a two-run blast to left field to put his team up 3-1 in the top of the fifth inning. The Koreans extended their lead to three runs the next inning after Canadian starter Phillippe Aumont (Gatineau, Qué.) walked the lead off batter and reliever Sheldon McDonald (Spruce Grove, Alta.) issued the second walk of the inning to put Korean runners on first and third. Korea then put on the double steal where the trailing runner got caught in a rundown between first and second allowing the lead runner to score from third for a 4-1 lead. Canada issued seven walks and committed three errors as Korea continued to slowly gain momentum, scoring once more in the seventh and once more in the eighth to go ahead 6-1. Meanwhile, the Korean pitchers were keeping Canada’s offence at bay and Kwang Hyun Kim got the win in relief by allowing only 1 hit in 4.2 innings of work. Aumont was tagged with the loss after giving up four runs on three hits, five walks and three strikeouts. McDonald gave up one earned run behind three hits, two walks and two strikeouts in relief. Canada will now face Mexico in the bronze medal game tomorrow at 2 p.m. EST, while the United States and Korea will face off for the gold. Box Score

One-hitter Sends Canada to World Junior Championship Semi-final

One-hitter Sends Canada to World Junior Championship Semi-final

September 25, 2006

James Paxton (Delta, B.C.), Leslie Williams (Scarborough, Ont.) and Drew Parker (Surrey, B.C.) combined for a one-hitter in a 5-3 win over Panama, today, in quarter final action at the World Junior AAA Championships in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba. Paxton, who started the game for Canada, no-hit Panama over the first 2.1 innings of work before being replaced by Williams. Williams was tagged for two earned runs after allowing four of 11 walks handed out by Canadian pitchers and the lone Panamanian hit – an RBI single from lead-off man Ruben Tehada that cut the Canadian lead to 5-3 in the fourth inning. However, Parker earned the win in relief by no-hitting Panama and striking out five hitters over the final 5.1 innings and send Canada to a semi-final match-up against Korea, tomorrow at 2 p.m. EST. First baseman Kyle Orr (Victoria, B.C.,) helped Canada jump out to an early 5-0 lead as Canada scored three runs in the first inning and two more in the third. Orr was 1-for-2 with a homerun, 3 RBI and 1 run scored. Shayne Willson (Surrey, B.C.) was 2-for-3 with 2 runs scored, Jonathan Waltenbury (Bowmanville, Ont.) was 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored, Jordan Wideman (Mississauga, Ont.) was 2-for-3 with 1 RBI and Mark Ellis (Maple Ridge, B.C.) was 1-for-4 with an RBI. Canada now has its sights set on Korea for tomorrow’s semi-final match-up. Despite collecting only two base hits, Korea beat Chinese Taipei 1-0 yesterday to earn the right to face Canada. On the other side of the bracket, the United States upset the host Cuban squad to draw Mexico in the other semi-final. Mexico beat the Netherlands 5-3 to keep their hopes alive.  The match-up will be the second of the tournament between the two teams after Mexico surprised the U.S. 3-0 on the second day of the Championship. Box Score



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