Jean-Christophe Paquin – RHP/3B – Montreal, Quebec, Dale Anderson – SS/3B – Strathmore, AB and Lionel Morrill – OF – Edmonton, AB were among 31 athletes selected at the Baseball Canada Cup in Quebec City to tryout for the Canadian Junior National Team. This is the first step in the four step process to eventually represent Canada at the World AAA Junior Championships in Edmonton, Alberta next summer. The Academy is proud again to have representation with the Junior National Team.

Also, congrats to Quebec (Paquin) for the silver medal at the Canada Cup, Alberta (Vavra, Muzechka, Amendt, Denham, Neblowich) for their Gold Medal at the Western Canada Summer Games as well as SK (Cooper) for their bronze medal performance at the Western Canada Summer Games.

Cody Phipps signed a professional baseball contract with the Houston Astros this past week. The amount of the contract was undisclosed but, did include a signing bonus plus post secondary school dollars. Cody will be leaving for Greeneville, TN to play with the Astros – Short A – Appalachian League club. The Academy is very proud to have Cody be the 1st ever professionally signed player. Phipps will have Canadian icon – Stubby Clapp as a hitting coach in Greeneville.

Dale Anderson has been invited back with the Canadian Junior National Team. Anderson will leave to Joplin, Missouri August 15th to play in an exhibition series with Team USA. If Dale makes it through the Missouri selection process he will participate in the World Junior Championship America’s Qualifier in Mexico at the end of August.

VAUXHALL, AB June 14 /Troy Media Corporation/- The Vauxhall Academy of Baseball (VAB) has signed its roster for the 2007/2008 season, with athletes coming from Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and Alberta.

The VAB’s spring season ended 21 wins, 11 losses and 1 tie. All 14 graduating players from the Academy’s first year are moving on to post secondary institutions; two players (Dale Anderson, from Strathmore, AB, and Lionel Morrill, from Edmonton, AB have been selected to try out for the Canadian Junior National Team. As well, Cody Phipps (from Round Hill, AB) has been selected in the 2007 Major League Baseball draft by the Houston Astros in the 33^rd round.

The VAB will run a 21 man roster again in 2007/2008; all roster spots being filled. All seven players eligible to return to the Jets for 2007/2008 are returning. In addition, currently these 14 student-athletes have committed to the Academy for 2007/2008 (again there is going to be athletes from at least 6 Canadian provinces):

1. Jamin Heller – Lethbridge, AB – RHP – 2009 grad.
2. Kyle Muzchecka – Vegreville, AB – LHP – 2008 grad.
3. Josh Stephenson – Strathmore, AB – C – 2009 grad.
4. Adam Nelubowich – Stony Plain, AB – OF – 2009 grad.
5. Tyson Denham – Caroline, AB – OF – 2010 grad.
6. Daniel Worb – Winnipeg, Man. – RHP/Inf. – 2009 grad.
7. Brandon Petite – Cape Breton, NS – RHP – 2009 grad.
8. Colin Amendt – Red Deer, AB – OF – 2009 grad.
9. Austin Cooper – Saskatoon, SK – LHP – 2009 grad.
10. JC Paquin – Quebec City, QU – RHP/Inf – 2008 grad.
11. Jean-Guy Bilodeau – Winnipeg, Manitoba – 3B/C – 2009 grad.
12. Tanner Craswell – Charlottetown, PEI – SS/3B – 2008 grad.
13. Tyler Vavra – Calgary, AB – RHP/Ut. – 2009 grad.
14. Steven Inch – Edmonton, AB – RHP/C – 2009 grad.

Coach Les McTavish said the 2007/2008 recruits are, “going to be a very strong academic class and extremely athletic on the field. Overall, this group will not be as big physically as our current team but, I think it has a chance to be more athletic. We are excited by the fact that three of our athletes are currently with the Canadian Junior National Team. (Assistant Coach) Jim (Kotkas) and I really look forward to working with all these young men.”

The VAB program focuses on providing its students the very best in physical, mental and academic training, added McTavish. Its athletes, he said, are exposed to a complete physical training routine including strength training, flexibility training, and endurance training which will directly relate to their improved baseball skills on the field. The VAB also exposes its athletes to the best mental training available.

2007/2008 returning student-athletes:

1. Dale Anderson – Strathmore, AB – SS – 2008 grad.
2. Mark Clauson – Lethbridge, AB – OF – 2008 grad.
3. Tyson Ford – Chinook, AB – 2B – 2008 grad.
4. Cole Stober – Hays, AB – RHP – 2009 grad.
5. Dustin Thompson – Medicine Hat, AB – OF – 2008 grad.
6. Lionel Morrill – Edmonton, AB – OF – 2008 grad.
7. Chad Northcott – Rocky Mountain House, AB – Inf/RHP – 2008 grad.

The players will be receiving athletic and/or educational scholarships.

Les McTavish, the Academy’s coach and manager, said the results are “simply amazing. It has been a very successful first year.”

The 14 students are:

• Curtis Smith (from Calgary, Alberta) will be attending the Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minnesota
• David Reiniger (from Calgary, Alberta) will be attending the University of Alabama Huntsville in Huntsville, Alabama.
• Alex Tufts (from Kentville, Nova Scotia) will be attending Iowa Western in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
• Cody Phipps (from Round Hill, Alberta) will be attending the University of British Columbia.
• Sean Carrick (from Imperial, Saskatchewan) will also be attending the University of British Columbia.
• Jason Luce (from Calgary, Alberta) will also be attending University of British Columbia.
• Scott Hornstra (from Rocky Mountain House, Alberta) will be attending Colby College in Colby, Kansas.
• Zane Anderson (from Strathmore, Alberta) will be attending Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania.
• Kiel Armstrong (from Winnipeg, Manitoba) will be attending the Prairie Baseball Academy in Lethbridge, Alberta
• Jay Johnson (from Sussex Corner, New Brunswick) will also be attending the Prairie Baseball Academy.
• Katlin Nunweiller (from Medicine Hat, Alberta) will also be attending the Prairie Baseball Academy
• Brenden Miller (from Taber, Alberta) will also be attending the Prairie Baseball Academy
• Mike Brown (from Vauxhall, Alberta) and Josh Hoetmer (from Smoky Lake, Alberta) are still undecided.

Coach McTavish’s contract with the Academy and Vauxhall Jets has also been extended for a further three years.

Todd Ojala, President of the Academy, said that “Coach McTavish has gone above and beyond the expectations we set out at the start of our program and has achieved amazing results both on and off the field for the Academy”

Ojala praised the entire community of Vauxhall for their efforts in the Academy’s inaugural year. “The community members, the billet families, and the staff of the school all play a key role in making this first year a success. Les McTavish and assistant coach Jim Kotkas came into our community and fit in perfectly.”

McTavish, he said, has worked closely with all aspect of the academy, helping with billet situations, fundraising activities, as well as stadium upgrades and maintenance. “When you look at the academic achievement of the academy students, with 18 of 21 kids currently on this semester’s honour role, when you look at the level of play the entire team is performing at, when you look at how the program has garnished the attention it has and graduating students are receiving scholarships you know that the coach is doing his job.

The Vauxhall Academy of Baseball recently played a series of games in Las Vegas at which it competed against the top-ranked high school teams out of Nevada. It also regularly played games against the PBA’s teams, several Midget “AAA” teams, and “AA” American Legion teams.

“We feel that we are accomplishing what we set out to do over a year ago, that is provide the atmosphere and training it takes to produce the best baseball players Canada has. We are creating something special here in Vauxhall” said Ojala.. “The two coaches we hired” he added “are good friends, very professional, and relate to kids exceptionally well. We are pleased to have them back for a very long time.”

Les McTavish thanked the Academy’s Board of Directors for the opportunity he and Kotkas had been given just over a year ago. “I am honoured and extremely excited to assist in leading the Academy into the future. The entire community of Vauxhall, Vauxhall High School, and surrounding area have made Jim and I feel part of the staff and valued members of the community. I could not ask for a better assistant coach in – Jim,” McTavish added. “Jim is an integral part of this program and is a great coach and role model for our athletes. We would not be where we are today without everyone’s support and we look forward to continuing on our successes for years to come.”

For more information:

Gary Slywchuk
Canada West Foundation
403-835-8192
[email protected]

Les McTavish
Vauxhall Academy of Baseball
403-654-4606
[email protected]