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WBC pieces falling into place for baseball Axemen |
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Written by Citizen Staff
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Friday, 18 July 2008 |
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GRAND FORKSGRAHAM ALLARDJIM SWANSONPRINCE GEORGE AXEMENPRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN FIELDWORLD BASEBALL CHALLENGE
With one year to go until the World Baseball Challenge gets underway at Prince George Citizen Field, five players can make plans to be in uniform.
The host Prince George Axemen unveiled the first five members of the team’s roster on Friday, naming three local players and two other pitchers to the team that will do battle in the international tournament, slated for July 18-25 of next year.
Headlining the group is pitcher Graham Allard, a hard-throwing right-hander who is dominating the local senior league. Allard is an impressive 6-0 in the PGSBL, striking out 81 hitters in 37 innings and keeping opposing hitters to a .037 batting average.
Also named were veteran first baseman Paul Wilson, a former NCAA star, and outfielder Cory Therrien, both from Prince George. Axemen manager Jim Swanson, who doubles as the tournament chairman, added former pro right-hander Mike Parkin and current college standout Andrew Brock to the mix as well.
“The core of any championship baseball team is top-flight pitching, and beyond that it’s important to give the pitchers quality defence,” said Swanson, who managed the Axemen in the inaugural World Baseball Challenge in Grand Forks in 2002.
“Graham is a power pitcher who is coming into his own, virtually unhittable when he’s commanding the zone. Paul is a veteran run-producer who has hit at every level, and his defensive play at first base is an important component for our infield.
“Cory’s dedication to the program, and his success at the plate in high-level tournaments, earned a spot on this team - he brings character, the right attitude, and a right-handed bat that can turn a game around.”
Wilson will be the captain of a squad that could have more than 30 active players for the tournament so the local team has the pitching and lineup options needed to compete with Team Canada, Team USA, Taiwan, and the possible inclusion of Cuba and Japan.
“Make no mistake that it’s our goal to win this at home,” said Swanson.
“It won’t be easy, but the work and effort is all worth it. The first priority is pitching. The players we are announcing have shown a dedication to the Axemen program with the kind of team-first attitude that will allow us not only to be competitive, but to reach our goal of contending against a very good field.”
Brock, 25, is considered the best amateur pitcher in B.C. right now, and led the New West Royals to the provincial senior championship at Citizen Field in 2006, something Swanson said shows he is comfortable competing in cozy Citizen Field.
Parkin, a North Vancouver native now living in Kelowna, pitched for the Kelowna Heat of the Canadian Baseball League. The hard-throwing right-hander, six-three and 250 pounds, started the first game for the Axemen in the 2002 WBC, going seven innings of a 4-0 loss to Chicago.
“With the dimensions of Citizen Field, we have to have quality right-handers who can neutralize power bats on the right side,” said Swanson, adding that more players will be named to the team in the months ahead.
“Beyond that, Mike and Andrew are people who have fit in well with our program, players our local guys have come to respect for their ability to keep runs to a minimum and throw strikes.”
All five of the players named Friday will be members of the Axemen for the upcoming senior provincials, Aug. 1-4 in Kelowna. The winner of the that tournament will represent B.C. at the nationals in Dartmouth, N.S., in August of 2009.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 07 September 2008 )
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