OTTAWA – Baseball Canada, along with Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) are on the lookout for players to fill the roster for Team Canada to compete at the 2010 World University Games in Tokyo, Japan from July 29th to August 8th.
Only student-athletes currently participating full-time in post secondary education in Canada or the United States and who are active on a college/university roster are eligible to apply for one of the 22 roster spots available.
Leading the team in to the Games will be Todd Plaxton, a Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native who has previously coached with the Junior National Team, helping lead Canada to a bronze medal at the 2006 World Junior Baseball Championship.
“I’m very excited and very honoured,” says Plaxton of his opportunity to manage Team Canada. “A big help will be having Cavanagh Whitely on the coaching staff. He has been through this before so he’ll know all that is involved leading up to the tournament.”
The World University Games are held every two years. At the last edition of the tournament in 2008 in the Czech Republic, Team Canada finished with its highest ever placing in the tournament (5th).
In the past, the tournament has featured some up and comers who are now stars in the Major Leagues, such as Tim Lincecum, Dustin Pedroia, Aaron Hill, Troy Tulowitzki, Jacoby Ellsbury and Alex Gordon among others, as well as first overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft Stephen Strasburg.
“We are lookingto bring a team to Japan that can compete with the best amateur baseball players in the World,” says Cavanagh Whitely, who is a coach with the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds. “It will truly be a once-in-a-lifetime event.”
If you would like to be considered for this team in 2010, please send an email with a baseball resume to cwhitely@interchange.ubc.ca to indicate your interest and availability for the tournament.
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