The President of the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), Dr. Harvey Schiller, announced that Miquel Ortin, the IBAF Executive Director, has been relieved of his duties as Executive Director effective immediately. “We have received advice from Miquel and his medical advisors that Miquel will be unable to return to work for at least the next 12 months and that he will require long-term recuperation,” says Dr. Schiller in a written statement. “This was a most difficult decision as Miquel has been the IBAF Executive Director since 1993,” adds Dr. Schiller. “But with the lead up to the Beijing Olympic Games and campaign for baseball to be re-admitted as an Olympic Sport in the 2016 Olympic Games, the IBAF faced no other alternative as a full time, focused Executive Director was required.” Dr. Schiller also added that John Ostermeyer will replace Mr. Ortin as Executive Director on an interim basis.
Baseball Canada would like to congratulate Phillippe Aumont of Gatineau, Québec who was chosen 11th overall by the Seattle Mariners in the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft. The 18-year-old right handed pitcher is 6’8” and 230 lbs and scouted heavily with his fastball reaching speeds up to 97 mph. Phillippe has been a member of the Junior National Team since 2006 and was part of the Junior Team that won the bronze medal at the World Junior Baseball Championships in Cuba in September, 2006. He is the fifth Canadian taken in the first round since Canadians have been eligible to be drafted in 1985.
Baseball Canada would like to congratulate Kyle Lotzkar of Delta, B.C. who was chosen by the Cincinnati Reds 53rd overall as a sandwich pick in the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft. A right-handed pitcher, the 6’3”, 180 lbs Lotzkar can reach speeds over 90 mph with his fastball The 17-year-old was with the Junior National Team for the Fall Instructional League and Spring Training Camp in Florida this season.
Minnesota Twins first baseman and former Junior and Senior National Team member Justin Morneau was named the American League's player of the month for May. The native of New Westminster, B.C., hit .380 in 27 games with 10 home runs, 29 RBIs, 21 runs scored and a slugging percentage of .667. Morneau had a 10-game hit-streak from May 13-27 and three multi-homer games over the course of the month. This is the first career AL Player of the Month award for Morneau. Overall, the defending AL MVP is hitting .283 with 16 home runs and 44 RBIs.
Amanda Asay of Prince George, B.C. has established herself comfortably in the Prince George Senior Baseball League. She is the only girl in a league of men and she hasn’t been intimidated. In three games with the Big League Citizen Knights and the Westwood Sports Pub Royals this season, Amanda is hitting .429 (3-for-7) with one RBI, two runs scored and three walks. The catcher/first baseman with the Women’s National Team is not only talented on the field, but is exceptional off the field. “She’s pretty happy-go-lucky,” says teammate and friend Kate Psota. “She’s a joker. She likes to joke around and she’s a good friend.” On the field, Amanda is like a horse. She is powerful, strong, agile, quick and imposing. “She’s the type of player that inspires you to be a better player,” says Psota. “She works really hard. She’s very intense, very focused.” Amanda continues to succeed at all levels while she helps destroy the stereotype that girls can’t play baseball. “She didn’t back down one iota,” says Jim Swanson, a teammate in the Prince George Senior League. “Her first at-bat, she battled for something like 10 pitches against a tough pitcher, finally drawing a walk. Next time up, she hit a sharp single to right. Next time, drew another walk.” “Hopefully she’ll bring a little more attention to (the women’s) program and what we’re doing and just prove to everyone that girls can play the game,” adds Psota. Amanda is certainly doing that.
