Can-Am Baseball Team-by-Team Season Preview
Maple City Brewers catcher - CKSN.ca File Photo
Maple City Brewers
Submitted by: Dave Smith
Coming off an OBA championship season, the MC Brewers decided better competition was needed, and decided to join the Can-Am SBL. This would provide an opportunity for talented baseball players from Chatham-Kent to play a high caliber of baseball, while not having to travel excessively. We’re excited to bring Can-Am baseball back to Chatham after a number of years away from the league, and look forward to playing at the renovated Fergie Jenkins’ Field.
The Brewers are a combination of young and old, as there are a number of players who played for the Chatham Diamonds, as well as some players who are currently playing college baseball.
The success of the team will depend on how far our pitchers can take us. The hitting is there, but success in the Can-Am comes down to the guys on the mound.
Sarnia Braves
The Sarnia Braves Baseball Club is a AAA baseball team based out of Sarnia, Ontario and participates in the Can-Am Baseball League (Ontario/MIchigan) and the Western Counties Baseball League (Lambton and Kent Counties). The team takes part in the AAA Ontario Eliminations and routinely plays over 60 games of baseball a summer. The team consists of players 18 years of age and older.
Troy Jet Box, Michigan
Jet Box Baseball enjoyed another successful season in 2011 finishing with a record of 32 wins and 17 losses. The team was 4-9 in the beginning as they replaced 50% of the 2010 team.
Jet Box went 28-8 the rest of the season after our slow start to finish with an overall record of 32-17.
They won game #1400 on June 25, 2011 and finished the season playing game #2201 in Jet Box Baseball history.
Jet Box won the Can-Am playoffs, the AABC District and the AABC Regional’s over fifteen days from July 23 thru August 7th, 2011. Jet Box made it to their 6th straight National World Series and advanced to the AABC World Series after playing in 5 straight NABF World
Series from 2006-2010.
Overall, Jet Box had an extremely successful 2011 season and look forward to their 44th season in 2012.
SEASON RECORD — 32-17, POST SEASON — 12-4
Tecumseh Thunder Senior
Submitted by: Jamie Kell
The Tecumseh Thunder Senior Baseball Club Begins the 2012 Season, under third year manager Jamie Kell.
Along with veteran baseball coaches Terry Murphy and Dave Girard, the Thunder are once again in contention to punch their ticket to the Senior Canadian Championships which are being held in Prince George B,C this August.
Almost all of the 2011 Thunder return, but getting junior players to move up has been getting top priority from Coach Kell. ”We have a great core of veteran players who have been together now for a long time, they’ve been through the good and the bad, and that is a great thing to have in the game of baseball, but when you get a chance to add young talent in the field and on the mound, that is how championships are won. It takes a mix of both and it’s been a proven formula in team sports.”
This year the Thunder have increased their chances by getting some talented juniors to earn spots and have picked up some much needed pitching for the 2012 season.
You can see the full Tecumseh Thunder Senior Baseball Club Roster and Schedule as well as follow their 2012 season by visiting the NEW Tecumseh Thunder Baseball Club website at www.tecumsehthunderbaseball.com
The Tecumseh Thunder Baseball Club plays out of the friendly confines of Historic Lacasse Baseball Park in the heart of Tecumseh. Come out and catch the action all summer!
Tecumseh Thunder Juniors
Submitted by: Rob Murphy
The Tecumseh Juniors will return 9 players from last year’s team that also played in the Can-Am league. They have 8 midget aged players now graduating into Junior in the hopes of re-assembling the team that won the National Championship in 2010.
Key members of the pitching staff include: Mitchell Bouchard, Tristan Bouchat, Eric Carducci, Andrew Cooper, Brandon Gignac, Tyler Lawrence, Alex Murphy, Casey Power, Travis Rice, and Ben Stanczak. Third year Juniors Travis Bondy, Jesse Carriere, and Stanczak will provide veteran leadership. Key offensive weapons include Curtis Lampkin, Derrick Fortier, Patrick Murphy, Cooper, Cunningham, Power, Lawrence, Bondy and Carriere.
The coaching staff consists of Rob Murphy, Glen Bondy, Derek Murphy and Dave Cooper.
Windsor Junior Selects
Submitted by: Al Bernacchi
The team has lost a few key components of the offense, but still have a core of talented pitchers including Tyler Gauthier, Skylar Janisse and Keaton Leblanc. They have added Ryan Soulliere to the pitching staff, a standout at the midget level. The returning position strength lies up the middle with Laszlo Horvath at catcher and Joel Cooper who plays both second base and shortstop. The selects have also added outfielder Josh Burns who has outstanding speed and will bolster them in center field.
There will be a number of graduating midget players coming up this season to add depth positionally including Spencer Church (Western Michigan University), and Mitchell Holgate (Western Alabama University). There is a strong possibility of other graduating midgets who are away on scholarship coming home by June as well. Pitching and defense will be the strength and heart of this club throughout the season. Additional midget players who will come up and play during the season include the likes of Conner Soulliere (lhp), Brett Siddall (of) and Jake Lumley (ss).
We look forward to having Chatham compete in our league. They are a strong opponent and make our league a better and stronger one.
The Windsor Stars
Submitted by: Ron Smith
The 2012 edition of the Windsor Stars will have many of the same faces back from its 2011 Canadian Championship team. They will lose Adam Ellwood to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, as Adam has accepted a job with them for 2012.
The Stars pitching staff will return with all of its starters: Right Hander’s Steve Carter (2011 Senior OBA Pitcher of the Year), Brad Boussey, Adam Meyers, Jason Lauzon & Matt Rustulka. The Lefties squad will consist of John Picco, Dane Little, Steve Teno & Mike Czerwieniec. Joining our pitching staff later in the year will be Matt Cook (Jr. Select Graduate), a Chatham-Kent resident.
Catchers Matt Varacalli, Rob Mancini & Dustin Wiley will also be back this year, as will our starting infield crew of Andrew Masojc, Bryan & Tony Dufour, Branden Robataille & Jason Chapieski. Our new additions coming out will include Justin Cook (Jr. Select Graduate) of Chatham-Kent, Kevin Mailloux & Jake Meyers.
Our outfield will be patrolled by Kris Klassen, Tom Grubb, Brian Simone, Dave Mastrodicasa & newcomer (from the Jr. Selects) Cam Goddard.
As you can see with the numbers coming out there will be some battles for positions in this year’s lineup.
Windsor Athletic Association (W.A.A.)
Submitted by: Jason Horvat
The 2012 Windsor Athletic Association will have a new manager running the show, and he has already produced a brand new look from last year’s team. Jason Horvat takes over from long-time manager John Weber, and fields a team which has a good mix of young and veteran players.
Some key additions to the team include starting pitcher Kyle Trudell (LaSalle, Ont) and catcher Max Brevet (Netherlands). Veterans Barry Keith (Windsor, Ont) and Dale Kryway (Windsor, Ont), along with rookies Jordan Ketterer (LaSalle, Ont) and Jeff Walker (Windsor, Ont), are also expected to help WAA contend for the Can-Am Senior League Title this year.
Further information can be found at each Team’s Website:
Can-Am League Team Websites:
Chatham: www.maplecitybrewers.ca
Sarnia: www.sarniabaseball.ca/senior.htm
Jet Box: www.jetboxbaseball.com
Tecumseh Thunder: www.tecumsehthunderbaseball.com
Windsor Selects: www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=windsorstarsbaseball