Danbury Westerners Team Canada to Face the Westerners
June 24, 2013 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Danbury Westerners News Release
Danbury, CT- June 24, 2013: The Danbury Westerners, the longest tenured team in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, are proud to announce that they will be hosting the Canadian Junior National Team (aka Team Canada) at 5:30PM on Sunday, July 7th at Rogers Park.
Canada's Junior National Team is made up of the best high school aged (18 and under) talent the country has to offer and is touring through New England in preparation for the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) 18U World Cup August 30th-September 8th in Taichung, Taiwan.
Preparation for the 2013 18U World Cup began in October 2012 when the team participated in MLB Fall Instructional League in Orlando, Florida and returned to Orlando in April to play against MLB Extended Spring Training clubs. In May, the team travelled to the Dominican Republic to play against teams in the Dominican Summer League where they compiled a 5-5 record.
Canada is heading to 18U World Cup as the reigning silver medalists having lost to the United States 6-2 in the gold medal game at the 2012 event in Seoul, Korea.
Holdovers from the 2012 club include: Cal Quantrill, Travis Seabrooke, Owen Spiwak, Gareth Morgan and Josh Naylor.
Quantrill is the son of former MLB pitcher Paul Quantrill who spent 14 seasons in the big-leagues with stops in Boston, Toronto, New York (Yankees) and San Diego. The younger Quantrill was recently selected in the 26th round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the Yankees and also has a commitment to Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.
Other players to watch for include OF Gareth Morgan who figures to be a high pick in the 2014 MLB Draft and 16 year-old 1B/OF Josh Naylor - already turning heads although not draft eligible until 2015.
Twelve players that appeared on the Junior National Team 28-player roster that travelled to the Dominican Republic in May were recently selected in the 2013 MLB Draft.
Canada's Junior National Team is no stranger to the New England region having last toured the area in 2010 with stops in Laconia, Nashua, North Adams, Danbury, Torrington and New Bedford. The tour in 2010 was in preparation for the 2010 IBAF 18U World Cup where Canada earned a 4th place finish. The 2010 club included Texas Rangers 1st rounder Kellin Deglan who is now playing for High-A Myrtle Beach in the Carolina League.
The program has produced many players that have gone on to professional baseball, college baseball and players who have represented Canada at the World Baseball Classic, Olympics and other International baseball events. Some of these players include 1997 National League MVP Larry Walker, 2006 American League MVP Justin Morneau, 2004 National League Rookie of the Year Jason Bay, MLB All Star Russell Martin, 2002 4th overall pick Adam Loewen and current major league players Phillippe Aumont, John Axford, Ryan Dempster, Jeff Francis, Jim Henderson, Brett Lawrie and Michael Saunders.
Paul Schaffer, President of the Danbury Westerners, commented, "We are thrilled to welcome back Team Canada to Danbury, and look forward to an exciting game with our northern neighbors. Fans will certainly see some exciting baseball action at Rogers Park."
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 24, 2013
- Swamp Bats Defeat Mainers 8-3 - Keene Swamp Bats
- Danbury Westerners Team Canada to Face the Westerners - Danbury Westerners
- SteepleCats Newsletter - North Adams SteepleCats
- Westerners' News and Notes - Danbury Westerners
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