OTTAWA- CIS along with Baseball Canada has released the roster that will represent Canada at the World University Baseball Championship being held in Tokyo, Japan from July 30th – August 5th. The event includes 8 countries that will vie for a world championship.
The 22-man roster features 12 players from NCAA Division 1 programs, 8 NAIA players and 1 player each from the NJCAA and the OUA. Head coach, Todd Plaxton (Saskatoon, SK) expects the team to be very competitive once the event gets underway.
“We should be very solid, I expect that we should cross over and hopefully play for a medal,” says Plaxton who has previously spent time coaching with the Junior National Team
Assistant coaches Cavanagh Whitley (Vancouver, BC) who coaches at UBC and Scott Ballantyne (Waterloo, ON) who coaches at Wilfred Laurier University have been busy over the last year following potential players at various schools throughout the US and Canada.
“I’m very fortunate to have Cavanagh and Scott on the staff,” added Plaxton. “They have been very busy following players online and recruiting.”
The team will come together for the first time one week prior to the event to practice at UBC before flying to Japan. Once they arrive in Japan the team will play a series of exhibition games against Japanese professional teams.
“This will give us a chance to get used to the climate and the culture before the tournament begins,” explained Plaxton.
Canada will be in a pool with the US, Sri Lanka and Chinese Taipei, their first game of the tournament will take place on July 30th against Chinese Taipei.
To follow the tournament please visit: http://www.wubc2010.jp/index.html
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