NELers on Canadian World Cup Team
October 13, 2003 - Canadian American League (Can-Am) News Release
(Durham, NCâ October 9, 2003) Two current and six former Northeast League players were selected to be part of Team Canada in the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) XXXV Baseball World Cup in Havana, Cuba, from October 12-25.
Daktronics Northeast League Year All-Star Pitcher Jordy Alexander was selected to the squad. The southpaw led Quebec in strikeouts in 2003 with 124 and walked 15 batters in 113 1/3 innings pitched. Alexander, 4-7 on the season, but was instrumental in Quebec's second half surge as he won four of his last five decisions to close out the year.
Fellow Capitales teammate Julien Tucker will also be representing Canada in hopes of bringing back a Baseball World Cup championship, Canada's lone World Cup Championship came back in 1990. Tucker, a late season acquisition to the Quebec bullpen, had a 0.73 ERA with 3 saves in 12 1/3 innings.
Former Northeast League players on Team Canada include INF Patrick Scalabrini, INF Pat Deschenes and LHP Danny Prata, all formerly of Les Capitales de Quebec. Catcher Olivier Lepine played for both Quebec and the Elmira Pioneer, while OF Aaron Fera and 1B Greg Morrison are former New Jersey Jackals.
Team Canada begins training camp today in preparation for the XXXV World Cup of Baseball which begins in Havana, Cuba on October 12th. This is the 10th time that the tournament will be held in Cuba, but the first time since 1984. Cuba has won 23 World Cup Championships in the 35-year history, including winning every year that they have hosted the event.
Competition in Cuba will be tough. Canada finds itself in Group A along with Chinese Taipei, host and defending World Cup Champions Cuba, Guam, Italy, Korea, Nicaragua and Russia.
Canadian American League Stories from October 13, 2003
- Ed Ott and Vic Davilla to Return in 2004 - Allentown Ambassadors
- Three Northeast Leaguers in action - Can-Am
- NELers on Canadian World Cup Team - Can-Am
- Four NELers on World Cup Team - Can-Am
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