OTTAWA – Baseball Canada will host some of its most distinguished Major League alumni, corporate partners and friends at the Northern Lights Ballroom of the Renaissance Toronto Hotel at Rogers Centre on Saturday, January 24th, 2009. The National Teams Awards Banquet and Fundraiser will honour the accomplishments of alumni, such as Larry Walker, Jeff Zimmerman, Rheal Cormier and Chris Reitsma. National League Rookie of the Year runner-up Joey Votto, Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Scott Richmond, Olympians Nick Weglarz and Brett Lawrie will be recognized for exceptional achievements in 2008. Paul Beeston, J.P. Ricciardi, Steve Rogers, Jim Fanning and Ernie Whitt will join a host of MLB and National Team stars such as Russell Martin, Shawn Hill, Peter Orr, Paul Quantrill, Stubby Clapp, Adam Loewen, Adam Stern, Mike Saunders and Phillippe Aumont for an evening of Canadian baseball celebration, emceed by Blue Jays radio voice Jerry Howarth. In addition to an elaborate awards presentation, social hour and formal dinner, this evening will feature many interactive opportunities with the stars and an extensive auction of sports memorabilia and sporting event packages. With Sportsnet, TSN and The Score covering the Awards Presentations, this event will have a very strong media presence. This evening will also serve as a very important fundraising source for Baseball Canada’s National Junior and Senior Teams. With the World Baseball Classic, World Cup and World Junior Qualifier, Baseball Canada’s National Teams will be very active on the world baseball stage in 2009. Tickets for the gala cost $400 per person, $3,200 for a table of eight guests or $4,000 for a table of ten guests. Baseball Canada has registered charitable status. There will be a pre-banquet press conference covered by Sportsnet, TSN and The Score at 3:30 pm, Saturday January 24th, in the Aurora Room of the Renaissance Toronto Hotel at Rogers Centre (Aurora Room is adjacent to the Northern Lights Ballroom). The press conference will begin with opening statements from Baseball Canada President Ray Carter and Director of National Teams Greg Hamilton. This will be followed by a scrum style question and answer period with the players and MLB management personnel attending. For more information concerning the gala, please contact Greg Hamilton, Coach and Director of National Teams, at 613-748-5606 ext. 225 or via e-mail at ghamilton@baseball.ca. For media interested in covering the press conference, please contact André Cormier, Manager of Media & Public Relations, at 613-748-5606, ext. 221 or via e-mail at media@baseball.ca. 2009 National Teams Awards Banquet & Fundraiser Program2009 National Teams Awards Banquet & Fundraiser Registration Form
Meagan Cornelssen’s 2008 was a lot like her 2007. Both years she medaled with Team Alberta at baseball nationals, represented Alberta for hockey and played with the female midget AAA Storm. Those accomplishments alone would rank Cornelssen as one of the top junior athletes in Grande Prairie. The fact that she added being a key member of Canada’s silver-winning team at the Women’s Baseball World Cup to her list of accomplishments makes her a more than worthy selection as Grande Prairie’s Female Athlete of the Year for 2008. “I didn’t expect it. I didn’t even know you guys had this,” she said. “I’ve had female athlete of the year at school, but this, for the city, is kind of cool.” Cornelssen earned a spot on Team Canada after a strong performance with Team Alberta at nationals in Cape Breton, N.S. She was given the news during the medal ceremony after leading Alberta to a bronze medal with an 11-6 win over Quebec. She knew being named to Team Canada was a possibility heading into the tournament, but it wasn’t something she was expecting. “I didn’t want to think about it because I’d be more nervous when I was in Nationals. If that was all I thought about it would have affected my game. I kind of just lived in the moment,” she said. Cornelssen made the most of her time with the national team in Japan as well. “It was definitely an honour. Playing with the best girls in Canada was awesome,” she said. “I made lots of new friends, not just in my age group because it was 17 and up. It was just a great experience.” Cornelssen was the second youngest, and one of only three 17-year-olds, on the team. Don’t think because she was young that she spent her time in the dugout watching her more experienced teammates. Cornelssen played a pivotal role as the starting left fielder and rotated between the five and six spots in the lineup. She repaid her coaches for their confidence by batting .294 and stealing four bases – one behind the tournament leader. Cornelssen’s highlight of the tournament shows how important she was to the team making it to the finals – a first for either the men or women’s national team at a Baseball World Cup. “It was probably tying the game against U.S.A. and then us going on to win that game to go into the semi-finals,” she said. With Canada down one run, Cornelssen started the seventh and final inning with a single. She stole second before reaching home on a Stephanie Savoie single. Canada won the game, 7-6 and beat Australia by an identical score in the semis before losing to the host-country, Japan, 11-3 in the finals. Cornelssen was able to take plenty out of the experience despite not taking home a gold medal. “There were some girls who were on their fourth run for that team,” she said. “Their experience through the whole thing taught me some stuff, and just little fundamental things. I learned a lot.” Even though the local teams she plays on compete at a lower level, Cornelssen brings the same attitude to every game she did as a member of Team Canada. “Meagan is a workhorse,” said Storm coach Guy Anthony. “I have yet to see her play against anyone in our major midget league that can manhandle her. She out-muscles everyone she plays against whether they’re bigger or smaller. A lot of that has to do with her attitude that she won’t be beaten.” Cornelssen’s strength of character has led to her being looked at as a leader with the Storm. She was named team captain and was listed as the best player they’ve ever played with by eight of 12 teammates who took a team survey. “She is looked upon in the room as the girl who takes the team on her shoulders,” Anthony said. “That’s what they expect her to do and that’s what she attempts to do. She attempts to be everything she can be for her team.” Cornelssen leads the team in scoring to this point in the 2008-2009 season, with 20 points, including 10 goals. She has already left her stamp on 2009, less than a week into the New Year. Cornelssen was named top forward for the North after scoring a goal and an assist during the Alberta Major Midget Female Hockey League all-star game, Jan. 4. “It was fun. I got two points and I got top forward for the North,” she said. “It was a good experience.” With more than 11 months remaining in 2009, Cornelssen is looking to spend the rest of the year adding to her already impressive resume. “I definitely want to make the national team again for baseball,” she said. “Maybe decide where I want to go to school. Those are my two main goals.”
OTTAWA – Baseball Canada announced today that the city of Vaughan, Ontario was awarded the Bantam Boys Championship for 2009, 2010 and 2011. This is a first for Baseball Canada, who has been in discussions with the board of directors to attempt such a venture to help promote the championships with sponsorship partners. “Vaughan’s application was perfect timing to test this measure as they felt it necessary to have the Bantam Nationals for three years for just that reason,” says Baseball Canada Director General Jim Baba. Vaughan hosted a successful Peewee Championship in 2008, and Baseball Canada felt it was a great area to test the new endeavour. “After the success of 2008 with the Pee Wee nationals,” adds Baba, “we feel that Vaughan will showcase to the rest of Canada that this is the way of the future for many other age divisions as well.” “After hosting the 2008 National Pee Wee championships, we were pleased when the city of Vaughan presented a bid for the Bantam Nationals in 2009 and beyond on such short notice,” added Baseball Canada President Ray Carter. “We know they will do a terrific job hosting the event and we look forward to working with the hosting group for the next three years.” For the 2009 championship, Baseball Canada will use the current 54’/80’ dimensions for the diamond, but will seriously consider implementing the 60’6”/90’ dimensions for the 2010 and 2011 Championships. The 2009 Bantam Boys Championship will take place from August 20-23.
OTTAWA – Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau finished off 2008 with a bang as he was named the 2008 Male Athlete of the Year by both the Canadian Press and the Canwest News Service. The New Westminster, BC native continued his solid play at the Major League level, hitting .300 with 23 home runs and 129 RBI in 2008. Morneau beat out athletes such as Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby, and Olympians Eric Lamaze and Simon Whitfield for the honour. “Any time you can beat out a hockey player in anything in Canada, it’s an accomplishment,” says Morneau. “It’s pretty cool, especially with the people who have named to this award.” Morneau finished second in the American League MVP voting this past season. Other highlights in 2008 include winning the Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium, defeating Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers; and scoring the winning run in the 15th inning of the MLB All-Star Game. His Minnesota Twins also finished a game shy of making the playoffs in a year the team was rebuilding and was expected to struggle. Morneau was looked upon to provide leadership for this young team. “We have some veteran guys but at the same time, when you hit fourth… you feel like you have some responsibility of being a leader,” says Morneau. “For me it’s not by talking, it’s by example and working hard.” At the end of the day, Morneau hopes that his accomplishments inspire more Canadians to pursue the game of baseball as their sport; much like Larry Walker did for him. “Hopefully guys can see (my success) and know there are sports out there other than hockey that Canadian kids can play.”
OTTAWA – Baseball Canada today announced Ernie Whitt as manager and Justin Morneau as the first player on Team Canada for the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Whitt was the Manager for Team Canada at the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006, leading the team to a 2-1 record which was good for a three-way tie with the United States and Mexico at the top of Pool B. However Canada was eliminated in the first round due to tie-breaker rules. This marks the sixth time that Whitt will be at the helm for Baseball Canada’s Senior National Team, including leading the team to a fourth place finish at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece and winning a bronze medal at the 1999 Pan-Am Games in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Morneau is joining Team Canada for the second time at the World Baseball Classic and will once again be handling the starting duties at first base. Morneau hit .308 in the inaugural tournament, with three doubles and two RBI in three games. Team Canada begins tournament play in Pool C on March 7, 2009 at 2 pm when they take on the United States at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario. Canada will also be joined by Venezuela and Italy in Pool C.
OTTAWA – Major League Baseball recently released its list of the Top 50 Prospects in baseball. Making the cut was Phillippe Aumont of Gatineau, Québec. Aumont made the list at number 33. The 19-year-old right-hander went 4-4 in 15 games (8 starts) in his first full season before being sidelined with a minor elbow injury. He struck out 50 batters in 55.2 innings and registered an ERA of 2.75. According to a scouting report on MLB.com, the 6’7”, 230 lbs Aumont “throws his fastball, which has hard sink and is tough to pick up, up to 95 mph, with room for more. The breaking ball (curve) has a chance to be plus pitch… He has pretty good command, especially for his age, and uses his size well for mound presence.” “He's a potential workhorse with well above-average stuff,” says Pedro Grifol, Director of Minor League operations with the Seattle Mariners on MLB.com. “He has the ability to develop into a top-of-the-rotation type pitcher." The former Junior and Senior National Team member was selected for the XM All-Star Futures Game this past season, and was selected for the Midwest League All-Star Game. “Growing up, I was not the best player,” says Aumont on MLB.com. “There were way better players than me. People kept telling me, 'You have a chance, you just have to work.' So I kept working and working.”
OTTAWA – Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins has been named the 2008 Tip O’Neill Award winner as presented by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. The award is presented annually to the player judged to have excelled in individual achievement and team contribution while adhering to baseball's highest ideals. It is the second time in three years that the New Westminster, BC slugger has received the honour, and by doing so he becomes the fourth Canadian to win it more than once. The 2008 runner-up for the American League MVP award joins Jason Bay and Eric Gagné as two-time winners and now trails only Larry Walker, who was awarded the Tip nine times over his prolific career. ”I've got a long way to go to match Larry - he's a Hall of Famer in my books,” says Morneau in a statement to the CBHoF. “But anytime you want to mention my name in the same sentence as his, that's cool with me!” In his fifth full Major League season, Morneau hit .300 with 23 home runs, 47 doubles and 129 RBI (2nd in AL). The left-handed hitting first-baseman has amassed over his career so far 133 homers, 754 hits and 523 RBI which are all ahead of Walker at the same point in his career. Morneau beat out players like Jason Bay of the Boston Red Sox, Ryan Dempster of the Chicago Cubs and Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds for the award. “Ryan (Dempster) had a great year,” says Morneau of his Canadian counterpart. “Not only did he return to being a starter, but he was dominant, and won 17 games in a hitters' park! He is aggressive on the mound and one of the game's most fun guys to be around.” “(Jason) Bay's hard work paid off this year, getting himself into a pennant race thanks to the trade, and he performed big-time in the playoffs. Now that he is in Boston, his talent is really going to be given the attention he deserves.” Also among the top vote getters was Ashley Stephenson of the Women’s National Team. She hit for a .625 average at the Women’s World Cup this past summer and earned the team’s MVP honours. “I haven't met Ashley, but it really made me feel good to learn about her accomplishments,” says Morneau. “She must be pretty special. I don't remember ever hitting .625, well, not for more than two games in a row anyway!” Morneau will receive the Tip O'Neill trophy and silver plate at a ceremony in Minneapolis early in the 2009 season. Past winners of the James "Tip" O'Neill Award: 1984 - Terry Puhl1985 - Dave Shipanoff1986 - Rob Ducey1987 - Larry Walker1988 - Kevin Reimer1989 - Steve Wilson1990 - Larry Walker1991 - Daniel Brabant1992 - Larry Walker1993 - Rob Butler1994 - Larry Walker1995 - Larry Walker1996 - Jason Dickson1997 - Larry Walker1998 - Larry Walker1999 - Jeff Zimmerman2000 - Ryan Dempster2001 - Corey Koskie & Larry Walker2002 - Eric Gagné & Larry Walker2003 - Eric Gagné2004 - Jason Bay2005 - Jason Bay2006 - Justin Morneau2007 - Russell Martin2008 - Justin Morneau
OTTAWA – The World Masters Games is on the lookout for baseball teams interested in participating in the seventh edition of the event to be held October 10-18, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. They are looking for teams in the categories of 35+ and 45+ in the A and B grades of the competition. Anybody can register. You do not need to be an elite athlete to participate. The World Masters Games were established in 1985 and are held every four years. The Games were established to bring together mature aged adults from around the world who share a commitment to the simple philosophy of "sport for life". "Masters" is simply an age designation; it does not denote a level of proficiency or a particular achievement. To compete, all you need to do is to satisfy the age criteria for your sport. For more information concerning the World Masters Games, contact Sally Jarvis by e-mail at sally.jarvis@2009worldmasters.com or visit the Games website at www.2009worldmasters.com.
OTTAWA – On November 28th, 2008, Baseball Canada lost a friend and true ambassador to the game of baseball in Canada. Jim Ridley passed away at Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital in Burlington, Ontario of cancer. He was 64. Baseball was Ridley’s life. He always had time to share his experiences and knowledge with the young ball players, whether they were a highly touted prospect, or someone simply willing to learn. If you had passion for the game, he would try and help you along your way. “He truly was what you would call a baseball man through and through,” says Greg Hamilton, Director of National Teams and Head Coach for Baseball Canada. Ridley managed the Junior National Team from 1983-88, leading his club to a bronze medal at the World Junior Championship in 1983 in Johnstown, PA and again in 1987 in Windsor, Ontario. He was also the manager of the first Canadian Team to qualify for the Olympics, leading his team to the 1988 games in Seoul. Ridley played in the Atlanta Braves minor league system and later joined the Toronto Blue Jays as a scout in 1976. He would coach with the Medicine Hat Blue Jays from 1978-80 and continued scouting for the team until 2002. In recent years, he served in the same capacity with the Minnesota Twins. Ridley was responsible for sending off several Canadians to begin their professional careers, including former national team members Paul Spoljaric, John Ogiltree, David Corrente, Rene Tosoni just to name a few. “Jim was a longtime friend,” says interim Blue Jays CEO Paul Beeston in a statement. “He made a huge contribution to baseball in Canada and helped the Blue Jays establish roots across Canada. “The results of his fine work, much of it done at the grassroots level, helped to create a foundation for the success that so many Canadian players now enjoy at all levels.” “He deeply cared about the game and his life was in so many ways devoted to the betterment of the game in that context,” says Hamilton. “He was a huge part of the family.” Baseball Canada sends its condolences to the Ridley family as the entire baseball community in Canada mourns the loss of a true friend.
OTTAWA – The fans voted and the results are in. You voted David Francis (Mississauga, ON) as This Year in Minor League Baseball’s Single-Game Performance of the Year award winner. The former Junior National Team member threw six no-hit innings to go along with an incredible 16 strikeouts in just his fourth professional appearance for the Danville Braves of the Appalachian League and won the award with 48.3 percent of the vote. The 20-year-old right-hander beat out Micah Hoffpauir of the Iowa Cubs of the Pacific Coast League who had a 4-for-5 day with four homers and four RBI. He garnered 26.5 percent of the vote. Congratulations to David on his magnificent performance and winning the award and thank you to those who voted for the This Year in Minor League Baseball Awards.
