The Stetson University Hatters shutout Baseball Canada’s national junior team 13-0 behind only nine hits, Sunday, in the final game of the 2006 Fall Instructional League in Deland, Florida. The Instructional League, which serves for Baseball Canada as the first of four steps in the selection process for the 2007 National junior team, allows Canada’s stars or the future to face elite-level athletes from Division I college teams and developmental professional teams who belong to Major League Baseball Organizations. For the second straight day, seventeen-year-old Chad Stang (Surrey, B.C.) was 2-for-3 in a losing effort while 16-year-old Michael Mutcheson (Morden, Manitoba) was a perfect 2-for-2. They were the only Canadian players to collect hits. Canada issued 11 walks, hit five batters and committed three errors, allowing the Hatters to score 13 runs on nine hits even though they stranded 12 runners on the base paths. Stetson jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the first inning behind one walk, two hit batsmen and three consecutive singles allowed by starter Cameron Gray (Toronto, Ont.). However, Stetson pulled away when they scored three runs with two away in the second inning. After the two first batters were retired, a hit batsman was followed by a single, two walks and a throwing error to make it 6-0. A wild pitch allowed the seventh run to score Two walks, another plunked batter and a single made it 9-0 in the third before Stetson added two more in the fourth and solo markers in the sixth and seventh. The second step in the selection process for the 2007 National Junior Team will take place during Baseball Canada’s Spring Training program slated for April 18 to 29, 2007 at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.
“Baseball has been in my soul for as long as I can remember. My grandpa put a baseball in my crib when I was a baby and something must have rubbed off.” John HindleAuthor: Jackrabbits in the Outfield In the newest book that delves into Canadian baseball history, John Hindle, the original general manager of the high-flying Winnipeg Goldeyes and two-time Northern League General Manger of the year, tells the story of how a highly successful professional baseball team surprisingly sprouted from the farmlands of Manitoba. After picking up his first call from a phone sitting on the floor of an empty room which was to become his club’s front office, Hindle helped the Goldeyes become a model organization in a time where minor league baseball teams were disappearing from the Canadian landscape. After his departure from professional baseball in 2004, Hindle began typing into his computer stories about the people he met and events that shaped his decade-long journey as general manager in the Northern League of Professional Baseball – predominantly the years in which he helped the Goldeyes become one of most successful baseball teams in Canada. “Eventually I looked at all of it and I thought I’d turn it into a book because there was so much of it,” said Hindle, whose position with the Goldeyes gave him a behind-the-scenes vantage point as the Winnipeg club become increasingly popular. Hindle’s story of how he virtually instantly went from small business owner selling baseball equipment to top-dog in the Goldeyes’ organization makes Jackrabbits in the Outfield a tale that resonates far beyond the foul lines or the outfield fence. “Not only does this book provide a glimpse of what it’s like to be on the inside of a phenomenally successful pro sports team, but also of what it’s like to live your dream,” said Hindle. The author’s chronicles capture the mystique that lures in baseball fans like the sound of the crack of a bat or the smell of fresh cut grass. However, it is also a story about the pursuit of a dream as well as the magical and unforgettable journey one takes to make that dream come true. “Readers are going to see the kind of passion that can arise from living out your dream job,” said Hindle. “It doesn’t matter if it’s in sports or baseball or any other avenue. Everybody can relate to the hope of working in something they have a tremendous amount of passion for. That’s what shines through in this book.” Jackrabbits in the Outfield is available in stores throughout Manitoba including McNally Robinson Book Sellers, Chapters, Coles, and Homerun Sports. Readers outside of Manitoba can purchase the book at www.jackrabbitsintheoutfield.com.
Baseball Canada’s national junior team prospects ran into tough pitching, Friday, in a 10-0 loss to the Atlanta Braves instructional team at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando, Florida. Marc Bourgeois’ (Granby, Qué) 2-for-3 effort at the plate couldn’t spark Canada’s offence as Chad Stang (Surrey, B.C.) was the only other Canadian to collect a hit. Atlanta did most of its damage in a five-run fourth inning where six hits, including a two-run homerun, and one error allowed the Braves to take a 7-0 lead. Atlanta scored solo markers in the first two innings and added three more in the sixth. Daniel Lazarou (Newmarket, Ont.), Corey Pappel (Mississauga, Ont.), and Ryan Kennedy (Calgary, Alta.) no-hit the Braves over the final three frames – Lazarou pitching the seventh, Pappel the eighth and Kennedy closing out the game. Starter Olivier Routhier-Paré (Montréal, Qué.), and Kyle Lotzkar (Delta, B.C.) gave up five runs each over the first six innings. Canada’s next match-up comes against the Stetson University Hatters, Sunday, at 2 p.m. in Deland, Florida.
Baseball Canada’s national junior team stranded 11 runners and dropped a 6-0 decision to the Cleveland Indians’ instructional team, Thursday, at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. After winning their first game in the 2006 Fall Instructional League on Wednesday, Canada was unable to take advantage of six walks issued by the Indians’ pitching staff. Cleveland, however, had more success in converting 50 per cent of its base runners into runs. The Indians first struck with three runs in the third inning highlighted by a two-run triple and an RBI-single off of reliever Daniel Britton-Foster (Ladysmith, B.C.). A pair of walks and a hit batsman loaded the bases for Canada in the bottom half of the inning, but with one out Chad Stang (Surrey, B.C.) struck out and Leslie Williams (Scarborough, Ont.) grounded out to end the inning. It was the first of two occasions where the Canadians had three men on base with one out, but were unable to score. Cleveland pulled away in the sixth inning when Nick Weglarz (Stevensville, Ont.) drew a two-out walk and scored on a double to left-centre before an RBI single made it 5-0. The Indians added a final marker in the eighth inning on an infield single and an error. Canadian starter Shain Beaudreau (Cole Harbour, N.S.) was impressive over two shutout innings, allowing two hits and striking out two. Britton-Foster gave up three runs over the next two innings, Matt Jebb (Toronto, Ont.) gave up two runs on three hits while pitching the fifth and sixth innings and Mitch Hodge (Vancouver, B.C.) threw the eighth and ninth, allowing one run on one hit. Daniel Reid (Nasonworth, N.B.) threw a hitless ninth. Williams was 2-for-3 at the plate for Canada while Brian Ivan (Toronto, Ont.), Kyle Fillier (Toronto, Ont.) and Stang also collected hits. Canada’s next match-up comes against the Atlanta Braves’ instructional team, Friday at 10 a.m. EST.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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, 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
