Category: Press Release

4th Annual Awards/Scholarship Dinner!

Vauxhall, AB –

Please mark March 6th on your calendar.  The Vauxhall Academy of Baseball is excited to share with you news about our 4th Annual Academy Scholarship Awards and Fundraiser Banquet.  Our event showcases our student-athletes and features good food and fun.  Cocktails and appetizers will be served at 5:00 PM and the program will begin at 5:45 PM.  Tickets are $45.00/plate or $300.00/table of 8 and can be purchased by emailing Shannon Mossey at [email protected].

Our featured speaker will be Canadian – Denis Boucher, former Major League Baseball pitcher and current Team Canada coach.  Read below for a complete bio on Mr. Boucher.  A silent and live auction including unique items (golf packages, Fairmont condo weekend, signed jerseys, signed prints, signed baseballs/bats, concert tickets to name a few.  Raffles and door prizes will also be included to give all guests a chance to bid and win.  8 Scholarships and 4 additional awards will be presented, the most significant of these will be the prestigious $2000 Reno Lizzi Scholarship and commemorative ring.

Denis Boucher from Montreal, Quebec was signed as a free agent by the Toronto Blue Jays in August of 1987.  He was a minor league All-Star in 1988 and 1990 before making his major league Debut in April of 1991. Denis was a starting pitcher in the big leagues for 4 seasons…. the Toronto Blue Jays (1991), Cleveland Indians (1991-92), and Montreal Expos (1993-94).  Denis is one of only three Canadians to have played for both the Toronto Blue Jays and Montreal Expos, the others being Matt Stairs and Rob Ducey.  Over his career, Denis pitched professionally for 10 seasons and he took the mound for an astounding 20 different professional teams over his career.  He also served as an ambassador for the Montreal Expos between 1998 and 2005 and special assistant to the coaching staff.  

Denis has now focused his attention to his family and coaching.  Denis currently serves as a Coach with Team Canada which has included the pitching coach for the last 2 World Baseball Classics, pitching coach for Team Canada at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games and Professional Scout with the Washington Nationals. Denis also serves as the President of Minor Baseball in his area and coaches minor hockey throughout the winter.  He spends most of his time with his wife Isabelle Fornier and 4 children.

Banquet Ticket
Banquet Ticket

VAB Coaches recognized in the top 100 in Canada!

Vauxhall, AB –

For the 3rd year in a row Coach McTavish has been listed in the top 100 Most Influential Canadians in baseball.   Once again it is Canadian Baseball Network and Sun Columnist – Bob Elliot posting the list.  Coach McTavish was ranked 48th on the list of the top 100 moving up 2 spots from 50th last year and 60th in 2007.

For the complete article http://www.canadianbaseballnetwork.com/node/10379

2009 – YEAR IN REVIEW!

What a great year it was.  Below is a list of just a few highlighted accomplishments:

  • 4 Current and 2 Former Jets drafted in the 1st Year MLB Entry Draft.
    • Steven Inch – 6th round — Phillies
    • Adam Nelubowich – 14th round – Mariners
    • Jay Johnson – 25th round – Orioles
    • Brandon Petite – 30th round – Astros
    • Dale Anderson – 45th round – Rangers
    • Jordan Wong – 46th round – Brewers.
  • 4 Jets sign NCAA Division 1 letter of intents, 9 others commit to college baseball programs (2008-2009 roster). Making it 36 student-athletes beginning our 4th season.
  • 2 more Jets make the final roster of Team Canada (Nelubowich and Inch) pushing the total to 14 who have been invited to try out for Team Canada in 4 years.
  • VAB wins a provincial award for prevention of spit tobacco.  Barb Tarbox Award.
  • $15,000,000 facelift to Vauxhall High School announced.
  • 10,0000 square foot – Multi-purpose Community/Baseball Facility announced (residency, weight room, offices, training room, manager’s suite, video room, player lounge, showers, locker room, study area)
  • $10,000.00 upgrade to field equipment (7 screens, professional hitting bubble)
  • 1st international athlete accepted (New Zealand)
  • Canadian Baseball Network lists the Vauxhall Academy as the top high school program in Canada.
  • 80% of athletes on academic honor roll. 
  • Right View Pro video system added as a teaching tool for all Jet athletes.
  • 41 wins – 18 losses – 4 ties for a .695 win percentage while playing athletes fairly. 
  • Best of the West Tournament Champions, Haven Agencies Invitational Champions. 
  • New Era, Mizuno, Rawlings Contract extensions as official partners of the VAB. 

Merry Christmas to everyone and all the best in 2010!  GO JETS!

Zimmer commits to Division 1 school in NY!

Vauxhall, AB –

The 2009-2010 college committment campaign starts off with a bang as 2nd year standout Shane Zimmer has committed to Canisius College Griffins in Buffalo, NY.  Zimmer is just coming back from ACL surgery last May. 

OF – Shane Zimmer – St. Albert, AB – signed a National Letter of Intent with the NCAA Division 1 Canisius College Griffs in Buffalo, NY.  The Griffs play in the MAAC conference.  For more details on Canisius College: http://www.gogriffs.com

Marathon Game PPD!

Vauxhall, AB –

The 4th Annual 100 inning marathon game has been PPD due to the forecast of rain as well as close to 1/2 of the Jets sick with the flu.  The game will be rescheduled most likely for the spring season.

2 Jets headed to Florida with Team Canada!

Vauxhall, AB –

2 current VAB Jets have been invited and currently in Orlando, Florida to tryout for the Canadian Junior National Team October 5th – 15th, 2009.  RHP – Levi Westerlund (Oyen, AB) and OF – Matt Clark (Woodstock, NB) will be the 10th and 11th Jets to tryout for Team Canada in the past 4 years.  To follow Clark and Westerlunds Team Canada journey go to www.baseball.ca.

Jets start the weekend off with 2 victories.

Vauxhall, AB –

The Jets won both games vs the Edmonton Prospects by scores of 14-6 and 2-1.  Game 1 saw Paul Schaak start on the mound and get the win going 4 innings allowing 4 hits, 3 earned runs, 5 BB’s, and 3 K’s.  Blair Balog earned the save going 3 innings allowing 4 hits, 1 earned run, 2 BB’s and 1 K.  Offensively, the Jets were led by Brandt Hittel who was 2 for 4 with a grand slam, 2 runs scored, and 4 RBI’s.  Ben Douglas was 2 for 5 with a double and 1 run scored.   Brody McDonald was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI’s.  Curtis Mazurkewich was 1 for 4 with 1 run scored and 2 RBI’s.  Ben Dartnell was also 1 for 3 with 1 run scored and 2 RBI’s. 

Game 2 was a pitchers duel.  Justin Davies started on the mound and earned the victory going 4 2/3 innings allowing 4 hits, 1 run, 4 BB’s and 5 K’s.  Brody McDonald earned the save going 2 1/3 innings allowing 1 hit, 0 runs, 1 BB and 4 K’s.  Offensively the Jets were led by Brendan Hendriks who was 2 for 3.  Marc St. Jean, Ben Douglas, Kym Barthel and Luke Barry all added 1 hit each. 

The 2 wins pushes the Jets record to 7 wins – 1 loss.  Next action is tomorrow against the Edmonton Prospects at 11 am (DH).