Young Baseball Stars Take Big Step at Baseball Canada Cup
Action from Ontario's 14-4 hammering of Quebec on Saturday. (April Whitzman) MONCTON, New BrunswickMinor league baseball in Canada hit a high note as the Baseball Canada Cup took place in Moncton, N.B., from August 10 to 15. Hundreds of fans attended the tournament on Canadas East coast, featuring the nations best players 17 years old and younger.
Notable players who have played in the Baseball Canada Cup in years past include Toronto Blue Jays Brett Lawrie, New York Mets Jason Bay, and New York Yankees catcher Russell Martin. This year was no exception in terms of stellar players and performances.
Ontario finished the tournament in first place, defeating Saskatchewan in the gold medal game in a walk-off win by a score of 32. After the game, Ontarios third baseman Johnny Caputo said, It was definitely a great game. I think the difference in todays game was our energy and our determination.
We never gave up and we got the win.
Saskatchewans centre-fielder Nolan Benish, who scored one of his teams two runs said, It was a tough loss but we played hard. We only became a team a few weeks ago, so it was still great to see how our team came together.
Notable players who have played in the Baseball Canada Cup in years past include Toronto Blue Jays Brett Lawrie, New York Mets Jason Bay, and New York Yankees catcher Russell Martin. This year was no exception in terms of stellar players and performances.
Ontario finished the tournament in first place, defeating Saskatchewan in the gold medal game in a walk-off win by a score of 32. After the game, Ontarios third baseman Johnny Caputo said, It was definitely a great game. I think the difference in todays game was our energy and our determination.
We never gave up and we got the win.
Saskatchewans centre-fielder Nolan Benish, who scored one of his teams two runs said, It was a tough loss but we played hard. We only became a team a few weeks ago, so it was still great to see how our team came together.
Saskatchewan makes an easy out against Ontario, but lost 3-2 in the gold medal game. (Roger Hornsby) The player of the game was certainly Cal Quantrill, son of former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Paul Quantrill, who went five complete innings, allowing two runs (both unearned) while walking two and striking out four.
Quantrill finished the tournament with a 21 record, pitching 10 complete innings, allowing just one earned run and maintaining an ERA of 0.70. Interestingly, he was joined by teammate Brett Sidda! ll, son of former Major-leaguer Joe Siddall, who played for the Montreal Expos.
British Columbia took the bronze medal, defeating Manitoba 40. B.C.s starting pitcher Jon Bauer got the complete-game win, pitching seven innings, allowing only one hit while walking one and striking out eight.
Defensively, both Newfoundlands Myles Vincent and Manitobas Karlin Palidwor struck out 14, while Saskatchewans Brandon Radmacher, B.C.s Clayton Isherwood, Nova Scotias Jesse Borden, and Ontarios Michael Cloutier all recorded an ERA of 0.00 while pitching at least nine innings over the tournament.
Quantrill finished the tournament with a 21 record, pitching 10 complete innings, allowing just one earned run and maintaining an ERA of 0.70. Interestingly, he was joined by teammate Brett Sidda! ll, son of former Major-leaguer Joe Siddall, who played for the Montreal Expos.
British Columbia took the bronze medal, defeating Manitoba 40. B.C.s starting pitcher Jon Bauer got the complete-game win, pitching seven innings, allowing only one hit while walking one and striking out eight.
Fierce Competition
Offensively, N.B.s Cody Dickson finished the tournament first in batting average with .533, B.C.s Brady Rogers was first in home runs with three, and Saskatchewans Jagger Toffman had an overall best nine RBIs.Defensively, both Newfoundlands Myles Vincent and Manitobas Karlin Palidwor struck out 14, while Saskatchewans Brandon Radmacher, B.C.s Clayton Isherwood, Nova Scotias Jesse Borden, and Ontarios Michael Cloutier all recorded an ERA of 0.00 while pitching at least nine innings over the tournament.
Nolan Benish, who scored one of Saskatchewan's two runs against Ontario in the game medal game, waits for his pitch at the plate. (April Whitzman) Recognizing the amount of talent in the tournament, Saskatchewans left-handed pitcher, Jonathan Harpestad, was asked how he stands out from everyone else. On Saturday, after pitching four magnificent innings against Quebec, allowing no earned runs, two hits, five walks, and four strikeouts, Harpestad responded, There is no denying that there is great talent here. But I think what distinguishes me from others it that I pitch from my heart and not from my arm. You need to have heart when you play this game.
Many of these incredible players will be eligible for next years major league draft. Discussing the talent at the event, one scout said, There is great baseball talent in Canada. This years Baseball Canada Cup has certainly proven that.
However, upon asking players about their future in baseball, many remained modest. Ryan Ozunko, Manitobas shortstop who had six hits ! and thre e RBIs in the tournament stated, There is no denying that everyone here has the dream of making it to the majors, but I am taking it one step at a time.
Many of these incredible players will be eligible for next years major league draft. Discussing the talent at the event, one scout said, There is great baseball talent in Canada. This years Baseball Canada Cup has certainly proven that.
However, upon asking players about their future in baseball, many remained modest. Ryan Ozunko, Manitobas shortstop who had six hits ! and thre e RBIs in the tournament stated, There is no denying that everyone here has the dream of making it to the majors, but I am taking it one step at a time.
Manitoba's Marc-Andre Habeck pitched a complete-game win on Saturday as Manitoba defeated Saskatchewan 12-5. (April Whitzman) My first goal is to play college ball, so Im going to start aiming there and see where it takes me.
Saskatchewans Nolan Benish echoed Ozunkos statement also saying that he has career aspirations for college ball. When asked if he had a team in particular he was aiming for, Benish answered laughing, Honestly, when it comes time to playing professional baseball there is not a scout or a team I will not apply for.
My dream is to play in the majors; I do not care how I get there or who I play for, as long as I am playing hard.
Ontarios Caputo, on the other hand knew exactly what he wanted to do. My goal is to play in the Majors, he said. And when asked for whom hed like to play, the young 17-year-old from Toronto added with a grin, For the Toronto Blue Jays of course!
Saskatchewans Nolan Benish echoed Ozunkos statement also saying that he has career aspirations for college ball. When asked if he had a team in particular he was aiming for, Benish answered laughing, Honestly, when it comes time to playing professional baseball there is not a scout or a team I will not apply for.
My dream is to play in the majors; I do not care how I get there or who I play for, as long as I am playing hard.
Ontarios Caputo, on the other hand knew exactly what he wanted to do. My goal is to play in the Majors, he said. And when asked for whom hed like to play, the young 17-year-old from Toronto added with a grin, For the Toronto Blue Jays of course!
Related Articles
Brenda Wilson, mother of Quebecs pitcher Nicholas Sawyer-Wilson, also added, I absolutely love it here. The people are amazing, the weather has been nice, and Moncton has proved that they have a fantastic atmosphere for baseball.
April Whitzman owns and writes for the JaysProspects.com website. Follow her on Twitter @Alleycat17 .
!
- Jose Bautista Making Believers Out of Doubters
Brenda Wilson, mother of Quebecs pitcher Nicholas Sawyer-Wilson, also added, I absolutely love it here. The people are amazing, the weather has been nice, and Moncton has proved that they have a fantastic atmosphere for baseball.
April Whitzman owns and writes for the JaysProspects.com website. Follow her on Twitter @Alleycat17 .
!
Comments