The Honourable Michael D. Chong, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, and Minister for Sport, threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Opening Ceremonies of the Junior National Tournament, hosted by Guelph, ON. Baseball Canada Vice-President Linda Lewis, Guelph MPP Liz Sandals, Guelph Mayor Kate Quarrie, and Tournament Chairman Larry Pearson, accompanied Mr. Chong, who was the Chief Information Officer for the National Hockey League prior to his 2004 election. In the game that followed, Guelph defeated Newfoundland/Labrador 3-1 in a well-pitched, defensive game. Winning pitcher Jason Muller hurled a complete game five hitter, surrendering just five hits, and striking out seven. In addition, Guelph catcher Mike Lajoie was 2-for-3 with 2 RBI in the game. In other Junior action: Alberta narrowly edged Nova Scotia 6-4; and Ontario defeated Saskatchewan 2-1 in a fine display of pitching prowess. Highlights from those games include: St. Thomas Tomcats’ pitcher Craig Bate, representing Ontario, hurled a complete game three hitter, allowing just one unearned run, while striking out 11, and earning the win. On the losing end, Regina Athletics’ starter Todd Glemser, representing Saskatchewan, fanned nine, giving up two runs, of which only one was earned. Day 1 PeeWee Boys games saw: Québec defeat Saskatchewan 18-4 in a shortened five-inning game; host Victoria out-slugging Manitoba 17-3; P.E.I. narrowly topping New Brunswick 5-4; and Alberta doubling up on Nova Scotia 12-6 Notable performances included: Québec’s N. Hazma went 2-for-2, with 3 RBI, and 2 runs scored, in a win against Sask. Victoria left fielder, Matthew Ney, and centre fielder, Alex Dumais, both contributed with 4 RBI apiece in their game against Manitoba. P.E.I. first baseman C. MacNeill went 2-for-4, with 3 RBI, helping his team come away with a win. In Day 1Bantam Boys action: Newfoundland and Labrador fell 15-1 to Québec; B.C. had little trouble with Manitoba, winning 12-1; and New Brunswick squeaked out a 1-0 win over Saskatchewan. In later first day action from the Midget Championship: B.C. edged Alberta 6-2; Manitoba shut out Newfoundland and Labrador 9-0; and New Brunswick out slugged P.E.I. 7-0. Turning in impressive performances: B.C. starting pitcher Matthew Atkinson hurled 5.3 innings, striking out eight, and surrendering just one earned run on four hits for the win. Reliever Russell Taylor finished the remainder of the game without giving up a hit or run Manitoba catcher Kiel Armstrong turned in an impressive effort, going 2-for-4 at the dish, driving in two runs. New Brunswick right fielder Dan Reid was 2-for-4 in the contest, with 3 RBI, and 2 runs scored. The second part of Day 1 at the Senior Men’s Championship saw: Ontario 2 defeat B.C. 6-4; Saskatchewan beating host Brandon 5-4 in an extra-inning affair; and Québec winning 5-1 in their match versus Alberta. Highlights from these games include: Ontario 2 first baseman Shaun McGuire’s clutch 3 RBI performance, sparking the offence. Saskatchewan starting pitcher Ryan Koback pitched seven innings in the tight game, giving up just two hits and three runs, turning the ball over to team mate Dave Morari, who came in to pitch the eighth and take the win. Québec designated hitter Nicolas Matte went 2-for-4, driving in two runs, helping to alleviate Alberta pressure. For more information on Baseball Canada’s Championships, please follow the Championship link on www.baseball.ca to your desired Championship.
KISSIMMEE, FL – Ryan Radmanovich (Calgary, Alta.) was 3-for-3 with a homerun, a double, three RBI and two runs scored to lead Baseball Canada’s national senior team to a 6-3 win over the United States, today in the team’s final tune-up for the America’s Olympic Qualifier. After the U.S. took an early 2-0 in the first inning, Radmanovich cut that lead in half with a solo shot to right field in the fourth inning. However, Canada did most of its damage in a five-run fifth inning when shortstop Kevin Nicholson (Vancouver, B.C.), Radmanovich’s regular season team-mate with the Atlantic League’s Somerset Patriots hit a one-out bases loaded double to right-centre field to score Mike Saunders (Victoria, B.C.) and Sebastien Boucher (Ottawa, Ont.) and give Canada it’s first lead of the game at 3-2. The next batter, Radmanovich, took the first pitch he saw from American reliever Nick Adenhard deep to left-centre for a two-run double of his own and a 5-2 Canadian lead. Pierre Luc Laforest Hull (Québec) added an RBI single to left to cap off the scoring in the inning, which saw Canada send nine batters to the plate. For the second straight day, Canada’s bullpen was virtually untouchable, pitching scoreless ball for the final five innings in the shortened seven inning exhibition affair – Its only blemish being a Bryan LaHair solo homerun off the scoreboard in right centre field given up by Mike Johnson (Edmonton, Alta.) in the fifth. Mike Kusiewicz (Ottawa, Ont.), who was credited with the win, Chris Mears (Victoria, B.C.) and T.J. Burton (Ottawa, Ont.) also pitched in relief of starter Eric Cyr (Montréal, Qué.). Saunders and Boucher were both 1-for-3 with one run scored while Jeremy Ware (Guelph, Ont.) was also 1-for-3. Canada will travel to Havana Thursday afternoon and will begin their quest for a second straight berth at the Olympic Games when they open their Olympic Qualifying schedule against the United States Saturday at 9 p.m. EST. Box Score Schedule Roster
KISSIMMEE, Fl – Baseball Canada announced, today, the addition of right-handed pitcher Chris Begg (Uxbridge, Ont.) to its roster for the 2006 Americas Olympic Qualifier. The 6’4”, 195-pound 22-year-old is 12-10 with a 3.53 ERA with the Connecticut Defenders of the Double-A Eastern League this season, his fourth with the San Francisco Giants affiliate. Begg, a 2003 Eastern League All-Star, will be making his fourth appearance with a national team program after having represented Canada at the 2003 Olympic Qualifier, the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, the 2005 CONCEBE Baseball Regional Olympic Qualifier and most recently at the World Baseball Classic. Undrafted, Begg took the back door into the Minor League ranks. After playing NCAA baseball for the Niagara Purple Eagles where he won the 2001 Metro Atlantic Conference Pitcher of the Year award, Begg played for three separate independent teams. He was eventually signed by the Giants and he began to produce immediately in the minors by going 9-1 with a 2.30 ERA in his first season with the Navigators. Begg’s performance at Connecticut (formerly Norwich)earned him a spot in the 2003 Arizona Fall League and enough notice from Canadian officials to make the 2004 Canadian Olympic Team. DRAFT HISTORY: Signed by the independent Johnstown Johnnies of the Frontier League in June, 2001 - Signed by the independent Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs of the Northeast League in June, 2002 - Signed by the independent St. Paul Saints of the Northern League in June, 2003 - Purchased by the San Francisco Giants July 9, 2003 Complete Roster Schedule
KISSIMMEE, Fl – Baseball Canada’s national senior team was edged 4-2 today in a tight exhibition game against the U.S. national team as both squads prepare for the 2006 COPABE Americas Olympic Qualifier next week. Canada out-hit the Americans 8-6, but stranded nine runners while the Americans hit the ball hard to produce three of their four runs behind two solo-homeruns and a triple. After Sebastien Boucher (Ottawa, Ont.) drove in Pierre Luc Laforest with a single to right field in the top-half of the second inning, U.S. right fielder Bryan LaHair hit a 420-foot homerun off of Canadian starter Mike Meyers (London, Ont.) to tie the game at 1-1 going into the third. The Americans scored twice more in the third inning thanks to a solo-shot to left field from shortstop Brandon Wood and an RBI-groundout by third baseman Mike Kinkade that scored centerfielder Skip Schumaker from third base. U.S designated hitter Jarrod Saltalamacchia tripled off the wall in straight-away centre with two out in the bottom of the sixth inning to send Allen home from first base for the fourth American run. Canadian designated hitter/right fielder Jeremy Ware (Guelph, Ont.) drove a solo bomb over the wall in left field to cut the lead in half midway through the eighth inning but the Canucks would get no closer. Second baseman Matt Rogelstad (New Westminster, B.C.) singled and third baseman Emerson Frostad (Vancouver, B.C.) doubled to lead-off the ninth inning, but American closer Henry Owens stuck out the next two batters and induced a fly-ball to left to end the game. Canada got an impressive showing out of its bullpen as Cory Stuart (Surrey, B.C.), Michel Simard (Charlesbourg, Qué.), Jonathan Lockwood (Toronto, Ont.) and Brett Gray (Petrolia, Ont.) combined to allow only one earned run behind three hits and no walks in the final five innings of play. Canada’s final tune-up before heading to the Olympic Qualifier, which begins Aug. 25 in Havana, Cuba, comes Wednesday against the United States. Game time is scheduled for 12 p.m. EST. Box Score
Québec took home the 2006 Baseball Canada Cup Bronze Medal title, while B.C. came away with a third place finish at the Bantam Girls Championship. At the Cup, after falling to Ontario 2-1 in the day’s first semi final game, Québec regrouped to defeat New Brunswick 11-1, and claim the tournament’s Bronze Medal. Québec designated hitter Luis Argumedes went 3-for-4, with 2 RBI, and 2 runs scored in the victory. New Brunswick reached the Bronze Medal match after falling to B.C. 7-4 in the second semi-final, in which B.C. third baseman Brett Lawrie turned in a 3-for-4 performance. In other Sunday Cup action, Nova Scotia beat Newfoundland/Labrador 3-1; Manitoba came out on top 11-7 against rival Alberta, and Saskatchewan out-slugged P.E.I. 22-11, all in consolation placement games. Highlights from the games included: Manitoba shortstop Mike Mutcheson was 4-for-5, with 1 RBI, and scored twice in a tight battle with Alberta. Saskatchewan’s outfield, left fielder Michael Jordan, centre fielder Ryan Stevenson, and right fielder Braden Baumi, combined for an impressive 12 RBI, while leadoff hitter Jon Cotter scored six times. For more information, please visit www.baseball.ca/cup/ In Bantam Girls final day competition, B.C. took home the bronze medal after topping Manitoba 16-6, who lost earlier to Silver Medal winners Saskatchewan 6-5 in the second semi final game. British Columbia first baseman Katelyn Bedwell went 3-for-3, with 2 RBI to help her team solidify third place. B.C. fell to eventual Gold Medal winners Alberta 9-7 in the day’s first semi-final game. Alberta third baseman Meagan Cornellson went 2-for-3, with 3 RBI, and 3 runs scored in the win. In placement games, Québec defeated Ontario 7-1, and Newfoundland and Labrador beat host Grande Prairie 21-13. Highlights from those games include Québec second baseman Sara-Kim Sergerie, who went 3-for-4, as well as Newfoundland/Labrador pitcher/shortstop/catcher Michelle Rideout, who turned in a 3-for-5, 5 RBI performance. For more information, please visit www.baseball.ca/bantamgirls/
Ontario captured the 2006 Baseball Canada Cup, while Alberta took home the Bantam Girls Championship crown, defeating B.C. and Saskatchewan, respectively, in gold medal action. Ontario was victorious in their bid for the 2006 Baseball Canada Cup, defeating B.C. 4-2 in the Gold Medal Game. Ontario centre fielder Leslie Williams was 1-for-3 with 2 RBI in the game, while pitchers Cameron Gray and Corey Pappel combined to surrender just six hits and two runs, striking out nine. B.C. catcher Warren Demoskoff and second baseman Kyle Prevett both contributed with 2-for-4 performances in the loss. For more information on the 2006 Baseball Canada Cup, please visit www.baseball.ca/cup/ Alberta overcame a strong Saskatchewan team 7-5 in an exciting extra inning match-up, prevailing with two runs in the top of the eighth inning. Alberta starting pitcher Meagan Cornellson hurled all eight innings for the complete game victory, surrendering just six hits, five runs, and striking out five. Saskatchewan centre fielder/third baseman Sarah Bachart went 2-for-4, with 2 RBI, while pitcher Melissa Armstrong contributed with a solid five inning start, fanning 10 hitters, and helping her team take home the Silver Medal. For complete tournament results and box scores, please visit www.baseball.ca/bantamgirls/ Congratulations to all team who competed, and special thanks to both Grande Prairie and Medicine Hat for hosting their particular tournaments.
KISSIMMEE, FL – Baseball Canada’s national senior team lost 9-1 to Puerto Rico, Sunday, in the squad’s first of three exhibition games in preparation for the Americas Olympic Qualifier next week. The test, which was part of Canada’s five-day training camp came less than 24 hours after players arrived in Kissimmee from their respective clubs in Canada, the United States and as far away as Taiwan. Ben Van Iderstine (Regina, Sask.) accounted for the lone Canadian run with a solo-home run to left-centre field in the top of the sixth. Puerto Rico meanwhile, was a free-swinging bunch, doing most of their damage early in the count. After Canadian starter Aaron Myette (New Westminster, B.C.) gave up one un-earned run in the first inning, the Puerto Ricans scored four in the second behind a hit batsman, two doubles a pair of singles and a sacrifice fly to jump out to a 5-0 lead. Canada threatened by getting their first two runners on in both the third and fifth innings, but failed to score both times. The Puerto Ricans piled on three more runs in the sixth inning for the 9-1 final. Sebastien Boucher (Ottawa, Ont.) was 2-for-3 and was hit twice while Matt Rogelstad (Coquitlam, B.C.) was 1-for-4 with a double. Canada’s next exhibition match-up comes against the United States, Tuesday, at the Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Fl. Game time is scheduled for 11 a.m. Box Score
The playoff picture at both the 2006 Baseball Canada Cup and Bantam Girls Championship has become clear with the completion of Saturday’s games. First looking at the Cup, third place Pool A finisher Ontario (2-2) will take on Pool A second place finisher Québec (3-1) in the first semi final game, to be played 9:30 AM Sunday at Jeffries Park. The other semi-final, set for 10:30 AM, also at Athletic Park, will showcase Pool B first place team New Brunswick (4-0) up against British Columbia (3-1), the top team from Pool A. Clinching first place after defeating Alberta 11-9 in extra innings, B.C. right fielder Derek Sinke went 3-for-4, with 2 RBI, also scoring the game’s winning run in the top of the seventh inning. Despite having the same tournament record as Québec, B.C. merited first place by winning their head-to-head match-up. The Bronze and Gold Medal Games are scheduled for 4:00 PM and 7:30 PM respectively, and will both take place at Athletic Park, Sunday. In addition, Sunday will also bare Newfoundland/Labrador (0-4) versus Nova Scotia (1-3), Manitoba (2-2) up against Alberta (0-3), and Saskatchewan (2-2) versus Prince Edward Island (3-1), all in placement games. In other Saturday Cup action, Nova Scotia beat Newfoundland and Labrador 6-3 on the heels of centre fielder Jeremy Wade’s 2-for-4 performance in the contest. For full box scores, schedules, and other information, please visit www.baseball.ca/cup/ Turning to the Bantam Girls Championship, after a dominating 39-0 win over host Grande Prairie, B.C. clinched possession of first place in Pool B, and will play Alberta (2-1) 9:00 AM Sunday morning at Field 1 in the first semi-final. B.C. centre fielder Toni Schutte and first baseman Melissa Ross each contributed with 6 RBI in the shortened five-inning game. The second semi-final, set for 9:00 AM at Field 2, will showcase Pool B second place finisher Manitoba (3-1) versus Pool A first place team Saskatchewan (3-0). Manitoba secured its spot in the semis by defeating Nova Scotia 16-6 Saturday afternoon. Leadoff hitter Candis Mullin was 3-for-4 in the contest, leading the Manitoba offence. The winners will face off in the tournament final, set for 6:00 PM Sunday, while the Bronze medal game is scheduled for 3:00 PM, both at Field 1. In addition, two placement games will take place: Québec (1-2) versus Ontario (2-2), and Newfoundland and Labrador (0-3) versus host Grande Prairie (1-3). For more information on the Bantam Girls Championship, please visit www.baseball.ca/bantamgirls/
In more Friday action from the 2006 Baseball Canada Cup, New Brunswick improved their record to 3-0, first defeating Newfoundland and Labrador 14-4, and later topping Manitoba 11-3. New Brunswick third baseman Brett Tracy-Gould went 4-for-5, driving in three, and scoring twice to help propel his team past the pesky Newfoundland and Labrador squad. In their win against Manitoba, N.B. right fielder Joel Arbeau’s three-run home run capped off a five-run third inning, which saw New Brunswick send eight hitters to the plate, paving the way for the victory. In addition, P.E.I. stayed on pace in their bid to remain atop the Pool B standings, drawing even with New Brunswick and remaining 3-0, after coming away with an 8-3 victory over Nova Scotia. P.E.I. starting pitcher Rob Phalen hurled a complete game six hitter, striking out five, and only walking two. In other action, British Columbia came away with an extra inning 4-2 win versus Ontario, evening their tournament record to 1-1 thus far. A one out, 2 RBI single by pinch hitter Peter Dekker gave B.C. the lead, and a scoreless eighth secured the extra-inning complete game win for B.C. pitcher Dan Britton-Foster. As well, in a battle between two unbeaten teams, Quebec out-lasted Saskatchewan 11-3, improving to 3-0, and claiming first place in Pool A. Third baseman/first baseman Philippe Delisle stepped up as Quebec’s offensive catalyst, driving in five runs with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate. In the day’s final match up, Ontario shutout Alberta 14-0 in five innings, and improved to 1-2 on the tournament. Catcher Steven Bane sparked the Ontario offence, going 2-for-3 at the plate, and driving in an impressive six runs. For more information and complete box scores from the 2006 Baseball Canada Cup, please visit the championship website at www.baseball.ca/cup/
Bantam Girls Friday afternoon action saw a number of key match ups: Alberta defeated Quebec 7-4, evening both teams’ records at 1-1 in Pool A; Manitoba edged Ontario 6-5, creating a log jam in the middle of Pool B with both teams sporting a 2-1 record; Saskatchewan mightily took care of Newfoundland/Labrador 23-4; and host Grande Prairie registered their first tournament win with a 17-4 victory over Nova Scotia. Highlights from the games included: Alberta right fielder Royal Richardson went 2-for-4, with 2 RBI, helping her team cross the plate four times in the final inning to defeat Quebec. Manitoba relief pitcher Shaelyn Tritthart pitched three innings of no hit ball to help secure a come-from-behind win over a dominating Ontario team. Tritthart took over for starter Samantha Harms, who surrendered five earned runs over four innings of work. Saskatchewan starting pitcher April Pratt threw a condensed five-inning complete game, giving up just one hit, four runs, and striking out 12 in an impressive outing. The win puts Sask. atop the Pool A standings at 2-0. Host Grand Prairie catcher, Courtney Gogorich, went 3-for-5 at the plate, with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored in their win over Nova Scotia. For more information, and complete box scores, please visit the Bantam Girls Championship website at www.baseball.ca/bantamgirls/
