2007 Terriers Year In Review, News (Terriers Baseball)

FEBUARY-MARCH-APRIL 5 Terriers are invited to attend Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau camp.

They work out in front of 15 pro teams and Canada's National Junior Team Head Coach. The Terriers fly to Boca Raton Florida for March break practices and 12 games versus US Junior Colleges of which they win 5. Highlights include a 3 home run game by Brian Burton, stellar defense by shortstop Chad Marshall the entire trip and Evan Kipfer's first home run as a Terrier, on his 16th birthday, in a game versus Brookdale CC. The Terriers also spend a leisure day at the beach and take a trip up to Universal Studios Theme Park in Orlando. In April, three Terriers, Jeff Hunt, Brad Furdal and Brent Mitchell are invited back to Florida to the Disney Complex, spring training home of the Atlanta Braves, as members of Canada's National Junior Team. The boys practice and play pro extended spring training teams such as Houston, Cleveland, Atlanta and Detroit. MAY Opening Day at Dickson Park draws over 250 fans for a double header versus Toronto. As part of the opening ceramonies,25 Terrier alumni from as far back as the 1940s are introduced. Also as part of the festivities, Ed Heather is presented the Volunteer of the Year Award. The Terriers split the hotly contested double header. One week later in Ottawa Billy Martin took to the mound at Lynx Park in Ottawa. It was a scout and media frenzy as the Terriers would face first round draft pick Phillippe Aumont. Billy matched the 6'7" right hander pitch for pitch through 4 innings when Aumont was taken out of the game. It was still scoreless. The Terriers notched 4 runs in the 5th and Billy went on to a complete game victory. Later in the month, rookies Joel Stubbs and Jeff Hunt are invited to the Baseball Canada Mizuno Camp at Rogers Center (total of 40 invitees from across Canada). The boys receive instruction from Toronto Blue Jays coaches and National Junior Team staff. They also attend life coaching seminars and take in a couple of games between the Blue Jays and Tigers. JUNE The MLB draft goes early in June and two Terriers are drafted, RHP Mike Henry and CF Terrell Alliman. In the coming weeks both would sign contracts and their pro careers would be on their way! In the meantime, the Terriers are red hot, winning 16 straight, putting them in the hunt to defend their PBLO Championship from 2006. Another great day at Dickson Park on Fathers Day! Several teams from Cambridge minor baseball attend the Terriers Father Day double header. Many youngsters leave with one of the countless number of prizes donated by local businesses. JULY Canada Day at the Toronto Elite Baseball Tournament! In the championship game, lefty ace Nathan Linseman goes the distance and Chad Marshall hits a solo home run late in the game for the 2-1 victory over Team Quebec. The Terriers would follow up that championship with another the following weekend in Montreal. This time the heroics would come from all over the lineup. Playing in his home town, 2b Marty Chasles would go 3-4 in the championship game. CF Nathan Loehle would have the big knock, a triple in the sixth inning, giving the Terriers a 4-3 victory over Team Toronto. Nathan also had an RBI double earlier in the game. Brian Burton came on to close out a nail biting bottom of the seventh. The Terriers had beaten New Brunswick, Quebec and New Jersey in round robin play. During the closing ceremony Nathan Loehle was named MVP. Nashville was next, for the Sandlott Baseball World Series where the Terriers would look to defend their 2006 crown. After winning their pool, the Terriers fell to Colorado and were eliminated. In late July Brad Furdal, Brent Mitchell, Jeff Hunt and Nathan Linseman were selected to the Ontario Youth Team. They would represent Ontario at the Baseball Canada Cup National Championship in Quebec City. Nathan did a great job in his start, a brilliant 3 hit gem over Saskatchewan. Brad Furdal got the win in the bronze medal game. AUGUST Seniors Sendoff Tournament in Welland. Original heart and soul Terriers such as Jeff Skelhorne-Gross, Brian Burton and Chad Marshall would be playing their last games in the gold and blue. They would not disappoint, as all three played key roles in the Terriers third tournament championship of the summer. With Billy Martin on the hill, just 2 outs from a complete game victory, fittingly the championship game ends with a double play... Chasles-Marshall-Burton! At the end of the season team party the following players received awards... Top Pitcher - Billy Martin Top Rookie Pitchers - Nathan Linseman + Brad Furdal Gold Glove Award - Chad Marshall Top Hitter - Brian Burton Rookie of the Year - Joel Stubbs MVP - Brian Burton Meanwhile in Mexico, Terriers right hander Brad Furdal and left handed hitting Jeff Hunt were donning the maple leaf in a world qualifier event for Canada. Brad pitched the quarter final game, a 4-1 Canadian victory over Nicaragua. Brad also was invited to one of the most highly scouted events of the summer (approx 600 pro + college scouts), the East Coast Showcase, in Lakeland Florida. He threw 3 innings, allowing only 1 hit, 0 runs, striking out 3! In late August the Terriers launch their 16u program and name John McEwan Manager. SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER Brent Mitchell, Nathan Linseman, Billy Martin, Brad Furdal and Benson Merritt all receive significant scholarships from NCAA Division 1 Universities. The Terriers 16s and 18s play extensive fall schedules in southern Ontario, New York and North Carolina. At the end of September, both teams bus to Long Island for the Blue Chip Prospects tournament at Baseball Heaven. The trip is highlighted by 3 outstanding pitching performances. Left hander Mitch Clarke opened the tournament on Friday night with an 8-0 shut out. That was followed on Saturday by yet another masterful outing by Nathan Linseman, a 2-0 no hitter over the Long Island Titans. Right hander Billy Martin capped the weekend by sitting down 21 straight in the Sunday morning game! Billy would close out 2007 with an 11-1 record and an ERA under 2.00. THE FOLLOWING PLAYERS JOINED THE TERRIERS THIS FALL Here are some of their highlights from 2007... Mitch Peragine (18u) Mitch joins the Terriers from the Niagara Rebels and played short stop most of the fall for his new team. During the PBLO schedule, earlier in the summer, his best weekend series came versus the Toronto Mets. Hitting leadoff, Mitch went 9-12 with 2 triples and 2 doubles. He also made numerous outstanding defensive plays at short to retire several Mets hitters. Graeme Carey (18u) Graeme is a welcome offensive addition to the Terriers program. He led the Thunderbirds in hitting with a .347 batting average in spring-summer 07. Graeme also brings power to Terriers lineup, as he competed in Home Run Derbys in the summer, hit homers in Can Am tournies and capped the fall with a home run at Baseball Heaven in Long Island and 3 RBIs in North Carolina. Mitch Clarke (18u) This left hander had a career 2007! He opened the PBLO season with a win in Ottawa. It was a masterful complete game, 14 strike out performance. He took his act south of the border in late June to Ohio, spinning another shutout, while striking out 13 Ohio Thunder hitters. Even further south a week later in Tennessee (17u Sandlott WS), Mitch struck out 10 East Cobb hitters over 7 innings, allowing only one run. He followed that up with a 12K performance against a strong Kentucky team. In all, Mitch threw 17 innings at the Sandlott WS, 32ks, 9 hits and an ERA of 0.00. He was named to the All Tournament Team. Tyler Patzalek (18u) A product of Burlington Minor Baseball and coached by his Dad, Tyler brings a lot of grit and desire...attributes of a winning catcher. This past summer he caught 3 consecutive championship games at tournaments. Wright State, Can Am and the Founders Cup. He was also a call up at the Midget National Championship, winning gold and named top catcher of the tournament. Austin Huibers (16u) This lefthander has tremendous upside and will flourish in the Terriers organization. The young lanky 6 footer carried his Waterdown team to an OBA Championship on Labor Day weekend in 07. In the semi final, Austin went 4-4 with 2 doubles against Stratford vaulting the Wolves into the final. He got the ball in the championship game versus Amherstburg and surrendered only 2 hits in a complete game shut out. He had 9 strike outs. Austin picked up where he left off with his club team, as he had a tremendous first fall with the Terriers. He pitched, hit in the middle of the lineup and played very well defensively at first base. Brandon Dailey (16u) Athletic, with blinding speed and great hands, Brandon will be the glue of the Terriers infield for years to come. He was very impressive all fall with his new team, making plays from shortstop look routine against older competition. He comes to the Terriers from Brantford Minor Baseball. Brandon was a call up for Tecumseh at this years’ Bantam National Championship in Quebec City. In their final game he had a triple and scored the winning run. Brandon will once again be a call up in 08, as he will be joining the 18u Terriers on their annual spring break trip to Florida. Erik Frank (16u) A product of Cambridge Minor Baseball, Erik led the Cubs in almost every offensive category. At a summer tournament in Mississauga he had 2 home runs. Erik is very well developed and is in excellent physical condition. He also pitched for the Terriers in fall ball. Graeme Scott (16u) Graeme comes to the Terriers via Oakville LL and more recently Phoenix Baseball. He is an excellent athlete and very much a student of the game. Graeme can play both infield and outfield. He hit leadoff most of the fall for the Terriers, going 7-10 with 3 RBI at the Brawl in the Fall Tournament. Brendan Hutchings (16u) Brendan caught the eye of the Terriers coaching staff this past summer when as a member of the Brantford Red Sox he had a 3-4 game including a home run in a Brantford victory over Guelph. He also threw 3 scoreless innings in that game. Brendan is a versatile player and a welcome asset to the Terriers. Cole Peragine (16u) This dynamic youngster is well beyond his years at the game of baseball. He is a jack of all trades. Cole has caught, pitched and played every infield position. He hits in the heart of the order and in a tournament game last summer he went 4-4 with a 3 run homer, a triple and 2 singles totaling 6 RBI. Cole will be a major cog in the success of the 16u Terriers. Garnet Henrich (16u) The strapping youngster from Port Dover Ontario was the first player to get a hit on the newly formed 16u Terriers. It won't be his last! Garnet will hit for average and power from the left side, right in the heart of the Terriers lineup. OR, will he pitch and mow down the competition like he has in the past on both sides of the border? Garnet threw 5 shutout innings in the semi final game in July at the 15u Sandlott WS. His versatility and positive nature is a pleasure to have as part of the organization. Kyle Westwater (16u) Kyle brings speed and an excellent bat to the Terriers lineup. With Phoenix baseball this past summer Kyle hit .400 with 3 triples in the Sandlott WS. He also had an 11-16 tournament weekend in Cleveland In July. Matt Betts (16u) Matt joins the Terriers from the Brantford Red Sox organization. The strong youngster beat East York at the OBAs Labor Day weekend with 6Ks allowing only one run. The right hander also had an excellent fall on the mound with the Terriers, highlighted by a strong outing versus the 18u LI Ducks at his first US tournament. Aaron Wagner (16u) Aaron will feel right at home in Dickson Park for the Terriers next season, as he is a product of the Cambridge Cubs. He started the 07 campaign with a torrid 15 game hitting streak, including a 4-5 game with 3 doubles and 4 RBI versus Guelph. Aaron's magic at the plate continued in the Terriers uniform this fall when he reached base safely in his first 8 games. He played in the 2006 Ontario Summer Games, coming away with a silver medal. Alex Reidt (16u) A right fielder from the Waterloo Tigers, Alex joined the Ontario Blue Jays on their Sandlott World Series trip to Tennessee. In the 4 games that he played, as a 15 year old he pitched very well against the 18 under teams. Alex signed with the Terriers in August. Chandler McLaren (16u) Chandler is a strong, athletic ballplayer that will be a presence in the Terriers order. Chandler got his Terriers career off to a great start the opening weekend of fall ball with several base hits and RBIs against the Royals. He contributed on several fronts with strong pitching performances, steady defense and clutch hits throughout the fall schedule. WHAT'S UP IN 2008! The 18u Terriers will travel to Florida on March Break for practices and games versus US Junior Colleges. The trip will be highlighted by a Canada Scout Day in Cocoa Beach. The Terriers, Toronto, OBJs and Quebec will cross over and play each other in front of several professional scouts and coaches from Canada's National Junior Team on Wednesday March 12th. The balance of the Terriers March break schedule is tba but will be played in Boca Raton from March 6-16. Both teams will play in the Premier Baseball League of Ontario (PBLO) throughout the spring. They will also play Super Sandlott Baseball games in NY and Ohio in the early summer. Both teams will play in their respective WS events in Nashville in July. www.sandlotter.com. The 16u Terriers will also play at tournaments in Welland, Buffalo and Connecticut. Happy Holidays and Good Luck to all in 2008!