NEWS

By Don Leypoldt

Don’t blame Brendan Hendriks for being torn.

Oh, the Holyoke Blue Sox third baseman is competitive.  Hendriks, a University of San Francisco product, ranked in the NECBL’s top three in doubles and RBI.

But the Cochrane, Alberta native was staring not just at his old team across the foul lines on July 6th at Holyoke’s MacKenzie Stadium.  He was staring at his country.

“It’s a little different.  I’m sued to being coached by them.  But it’s real exciting.  When I saw them on our schedule, it was a day I was looking forward to,” said Hendriks.  “It’s an opportunity to see what they can do.  It’s a great program with great coaching.  And they can play baseball.”

The Holyoke game marked the start of Team Canada’s three game tour through the NECBL.   After battling Holyoke, the Canadian National U-18 team traveled to Danbury on July 7th and concluded at New Bedford on July 9th.  

The tour is preparing the Canadian Junior National Team for the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) 18U World Cup, starting August 30th in Taiwan.  The Canadians are the reigning silver medalists in the event. 

“A successful tour here will get us prepared for the Worlds in Taiwan, which are coming up soon,” said Canadian RHP Cal Quantrill.  “We don’t get to play competition like this very often and it’s cool that it’s closer to home rather than going to the Dominican Republic like we’ve done before.”

Holdovers from the 2012 Canadian club include: 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, primarily with the Blue Jays, Red Sox, Yankees, Dodgers and Phillies.  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.
 
Other players to watch for include OF Morgan who figures to be a high pick in the 2014 MLB Draft and 16 year-old 1B/OF Naylor - already turning heads although not draft eligible until 2015.
 
Twelve players that appeared on the Junior National Team 28-player roster that first played in international competition in May were recently selected in the 2013 MLB Draft.
 
The NECBL’s most noted tie to Canada is with LHP Andrew Albers, the 2006 Torrington Twisters’ (now New Bedford Bay Sox) pitching Triple Crown winner who suited up for Team Canada in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.  The rapidly improving talent pool North of the Border means that leagues like the NECBL may have a more Canadian feel going forward.

“This is the goal of all of the guys going to college: that next summer you get to a League like this,” Quantrill noted.  “I think the guys learned pretty quickly that this is pretty good baseball, against kids from some real good schools.  I think this is maybe an eye-opener for a lot of the guys on how hard college baseball is.”

Danbury features two Canadians- INF Johnny Caputo and RHP Roberto Suppa- on their roster.  Those two, plus Hendriks are all graduates of the Canadian National Junior Program. 

“Obviously hockey is the dominant sport, but baseball has great programs,” Hendriks explained.  “This really helps to develop the talent in Canada.  There are a lot of academies; I went to an academy and that helps out too.

“It’s a small baseball community, but we definitely have a good time.”

“I played with Hendriks in Colombia in the World Qualifiers a couple of years ago,” Quantrill offered.  “He is a great guy and he is having really quite the summer.  It’s good to see the Canadians make it into Leagues like this and open doorways as we come through.”  

The Canadian Junior National Team last toured the NECBL in 2010.  Last season, the NECBL hosted the Great Britain Junior National Team in a five game friendly series.

After the first game, the NECBL had to re-consider the series.  Canada convincingly beat Holyoke 11-4, after posting a 5-spot in the fourth and a 4-spot in the seventh.  Naylor had an RBI single while Quebecois catcher Charles LeBlanc had two doubles and three RBI.  Holyoke did put three runs up in the seventh keyed by 3B Matt Reida’s two-run double.

The next night at Rogers Park, Danbury evened the Canada series at one win apiece.  The Westerners bookended their 10-5 win with a 3-spot in the first and a four run eighth.  Westerner catcher Chad Vanaman homered and doubled, Danbury 3B Johnny Caputo- a native Canadian-homered while DH Nick Octavi had three hits.  SS Jake Lumley had two hits and an RBI for the Canadians.  

Thanks to great pitching, the Canadians took the series 2 games to 1 by ironically besting New Bedford 2-1.  J.P. Stevenson, Connor Noble, Ben Onyshko, and Dylan Brooks had their turn pitching for Team Canada and combined to fan 16 while yielding just four hits.  New Bedford got their run on a bases loaded walk.

It wasn’t all competition for the NECBL’s Canadian guests.  “We generally get to the park three or fours hours beforehand and get a practice and BP session in,” said Quantrill.  “We play a game every day, except for the day at Fenway.  That was real cool.  Ryan Dempster, a Canadian on the team, came in and said hello.  We got a tour of the whole park and got to go up on the Green Monster.  I got to throw a session in the home bullpen, so that was pretty cool.”

The goodwill tour accomplished what it meant to do: showcase the NECBL as well as the talented players north of the 49th parallel who may be future NECBLers, or Big Leaguers, or both. 

“Anytime I get to hear the Canadian National Anthem and play with, or against in this case, my country it’s an honor,” Hendriks concluded.  “I hope to be on their side again some day.  But it’s really exciting for me.”