Burnaby Bulldogs
The Burnaby Bulldogs Baseball Club was established in 1976 and they play in the Pacific Metro Baseball League, one of Canada’s most competitive Senior Men’s Leagues. The Bulldogs, who will be at the GFI for the fifth time, are led by Head Coach Tim Fehr and Manager David Laing. This classy team were PMBL Champions in 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2005. They were BC Provincial winners from 2001 through 2004.
Caldwell Coyotes
The Coyotes were 36 – 20 in the 2006 season under Head Coach Shawn Humberger, who will be entering his ninth year as skipper of the team. This will be the ‘yotes sixth consecutive trip to the GFI.
Lewiston Idaho Truckers
Can you say national champions sixteen times? The Lewis-Clark State Warriors made it number 16 in the last 25 seasons in 2008, when they defeated Lee University from Tennessee 8-3 in the title game.
The Truckers will again be led by acclaimed head coach Ed Cheff, who will look to lead the always competitive Truckers to GFI glory once again.
Cincinatti Cobalts
The creed of the Cincinnati Cobalts is simple, “God gave us only so many years to play this great game, don’t waste them playing softball.” These players, determined to not waste their playing days, compete at the highest level available to amateur baseball players including the Roy Hobbs World Series, AABC Regionals, MABL World Series and the NABF World Series.
Titles over their 22 year history include: Quatman Trophy Winners, TriState League Champions, CRC Suburban League Champions, CRC City Champions, AABC State Champions, Roy Hobbs AAA World Series Champions, Cincinnati RH League Champions in 2005 and 2006, and 2006 CRC City Champs and 2006 NABF Regional Champions.
The Cobalts had a stellar 2006 season, doing what no other Cincinnati Semi-Pro team has ever done, winning the Roy Hobbs Title, the CRC Championship, and the NABF Regional Tournament Championship. They spent 2007 rebuilding their team after many veterans retired and were unable to repeat their performance of 2006. They look to be in fine form (11-2 as of printing) in 2008 and we look forward to having them!
San Diego Stars
The defending Champion Stars will be back to Grand Forks in 2008! “The Stars come out at night!” This fine team from San Diego uses that as a team motto and they have certainly enjoyed some shining moments at the GFI. This fine team from San Diego has been to the GFI 11 times, made it to the final five times, and taken the prize twice, in 2004 and 2006. Mickey and his Stars will look to defend their title in 2008 and try to make it back to back Championships
Seattle Studs
Six time GFI champions and one of the outstanding semi-pro teams in the United States, the Studs will once again take aim at another Grand Forks trophy. Over the years the Studs have showcased some very special talent in their lineup. Two examples in recent years are Brent Lillibridge and Tim Lincecum. Lincecum, who was drafted number 10 overall in 2006 year’s major league draft by San Francisco Giants, received the 2006 Golden Spikes Award, which goes to the top amateur player in the United States.
Trail Orioles
Trail, voted as the best sports town in British Columbia, in 2005. Trail, home of Major League all-star and National League Rookie of the year, Jason Bay. Trail, home of the Orioles. The team that travels the shortest distance to the GFI provides a lot of excitement for local fans, and we welcome them back to Grand Forks. They have been playing a number of teams this summer, home and away, and have participated in a couple of tournaments, as they prepare themselves to once again compete at this Canadian classic.
Congratulations go to Ashton Florko on his selection in the 2008 Major League Baseball draft. He was picked in the 44th round by the Chicago Cubs and will finish the season with the Orioles before deciding on his future.
The Trail AM Ford Orioles have won the 2008 BC Senior Baseball Championship. They defeated Nanaimo 5-4 in the final of the recent play-downs in Kelowna. This is the first Provincial crown for Trail. They will now represent BC in the 2009 Canadian Championships in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
Reno Astros
The Astros are always among the contending teams at the Grand Forks International, winning it twice (1999 and 2003), and Josh Beckett (Boston red Sox) once pitched the Astros into the championship final with a performance Grand Forks fans won’t soon forget. They’ll be back in 2008 to search for another GFI Championship.
Kelowna Jays
team description coming soon
Idaho Warriors
team description coming soon
Prince George Axemen
Located in the centre of BC, Prince George is the home of the largest senior baseball league west of Saskatoon and in 2009 will host the “World Baseball Challenge”.
The Axemen were here in 2002 when Grand Forks hosted the “WBC” and are looking forward to this years GFI.
August 12 2006 Facial:
photo courtesy
Randalheidt@telus.net
Team Canada
Canada will again be represented by Canada’s University ball team, the UBC Thunderbirds.