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HOUSTON, Texas- Baseball Canada announced today the 20-player Junior National Team roster that will represent Canada at the COPABE 18U Pan American Championship in La Paz/Los Cabos, Mexico from September 5th-14th.
The event is being used as a qualifier for the 2015 IBAF 18U World Cup that will see the top four teams earn a spot in the event that will be held in Koshien, Japan.
“I like our team a lot,” said Head Coach Greg Hamilton. “I believe we’re going to be where we need to be and finish in the top four to qualify - that is the goal.”
The Junior National Team program has been in Houston for the past week where they have held a selection camp including exhibition games against San Jacinto Junior College and the United States’ 18U National Team.
Canada will play the United States today at Cougar Field on the campus of the University of Houston before travelling to Mexico tomorrow.
On September 5th, Canada will open the 10-team tournament against Venezuela at 4pm ET in Todos Santos.
The tournament format will feature a full round-robin (nine games) followed by bronze and gold medal games taking place on September 14th.
The Junior National Team selection camp roster features:
-Five players that were members of 2013 Junior National Team that finished 7th at the IBAF 18U World Cup in Taichung, Taiwan (Mitch Bigras, Gareth Morgan, Josh Naylor, Demi Orimoloye, JP Stevenson)... Morgan and Naylor are holdovers from the 2012 JNT that won silver at the IBAF 18U World Cup in Seoul, South Korea
-Six players chosen in June’s MLB First Year Player Draft (Robert Byckowski-Reds, Gareth Morgan-Mariners, Ben Onyshko-Brewers, Louis-Philippe Pelletier-Padres, Zach Pop-Blue Jays, Mitch Robinson-Marlins)
-Morgan signed with the Mariners in June and has since began his professional career in the Arizona Rookie League
-The coaching staff features Head Coach Greg Hamilton (Ottawa, ON) along with Pitching Coach Chris Reitsma (Calgary, AB) and Coaches Shawn Bowman (Port Moody, BC) and Mike Johnson (Sherwood Park, AB)
