Burnaby Bulldogs
The Burnaby Bulldogs Baseball Club, established in 1976, play out of scenic Robert Burnaby Park in the heart of the Vancouver suburb.
Led by Manager David Laing, Head Coach Tim Fehr and Coach Scott MacKenzie…The Bulldogs are eagerly looking forward to returning to the Grand Forks International for their 6th visit and are shooting for a return to the money round. The Bulldogs have had quite a successful decade, accumulating 20 championships that include 4 Provincial Championships and 2 Western Canada Championships. The ‘Dogs most recent championship came in the Kelowna Canada Day Blast Tournament in 2008, their third in a row at that event.
The Bulldogs play in the Pacific Metro Baseball League, one of Canada’s most competitive leagues, based in Vancouver, BC.?.
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.
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.
Kelowna Jays
The 2009 Kelowna have had a solid season. With a solid core of players returning from 2008 campaign and a great new group of college players coming in for the summer, the Kelowna Jays finished the summer with a 30-30 record. The 2009 Jays that will be traveling to GFI will be a mix of Okanagan College players and players from the summer roster that are remaining in Kelowna. The Jays had good showings at the Canada Day Tournament in Kelowna, finishing 4th of 12, and also a very good showing at Kamloops International, losing to eventual champions Alaska in the playoffs. Also the team had a strong showing at BC Provincials with a 4th place finish.
Prince George Axemen
The Prince George Westcana Electric Axemen are making another appearance at the Grand Forks International — fresh off hosting the World Baseball Challenge at Prince George Citizen Field.
The Axemen captured the bronze medal at the 2001 Baseball Canada Senior Championship in Kentville, Nova Scotia, and hosted the nationals the following year at Monty Gabriele Park.
The team is managed by former Grand Forks resident Jim Swanson, who was the chairman of the 2009 Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines World Baseball Challenge. Swanson has managed both the Axemen and the Kamloops Black Sox at GFI, and always enjoys returning to the city where he once played minor hockey, Babe Ruth baseball, and attended GFSS. Swanson managed the Axemen teams to nationals, and was on the coaching staff of Team BC’s senior selects team in 2007, part of a bronze-medal winning effort in Quebec City.
Team Canada
Team Canada is once again represented by The University of British Columbia Thunderbirds. UBC had a very successful 2009 season going 38-13 and won the West Grouping Regional Tournament before losing out in an NAIA Sectional in Los Angeles, CA. Key returners include All-Region selections LHP Mark Hardy, RHP Eric Brown, and RHP Shawn Hetherington.
Kamloops Sun Devils
The Kamloops Sundevils are pleased to have the opportunity to play in the GFI this year. The team is made up mostly of players that have played, or are playing for the Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack. This team plays in the Canadian Collegiate Baseball League, winning the 2009 championship. The Sundevils, as of July 1 have put together an impressive record of 26 wins and 7 losses, outscoring their opponents 280 – 103. The Sundevils are looking forward to having players come back from the Western Major Baseball League. Jeff Duda, Lee Ingram and Anthony Cros played for the defending champion Okotoks Dawgs, Jorden Broatch played for Regina and Ben Bradford was a member of the Melville Millionaires. The Sundevils are pleased to have the Thompson Rivers head coach, Ray Chadwick looking after the team again, now in his 6th year. Under his direction, many players have excelled and gone on to play at higher levels all over the world.
Victoria Mavericks
Baseball Canada 2008 – Senior Men National Champions
Victoria Mavericks Baseball Association and their tournament team (the ‘Victoria Mavericks’) would like to express their sincere thanks and appreciation to the G.F.I. Tournament Organizing Committee for inviting the Mavericks to their 29th Annual Grand Forks International Baseball Tournament.
The Victoria Mavericks (Baseball Canada’s 2008 Senior Men ‘National Champions’) are very honoured, humbled and inspired to be a part of this prestigious tournament as they will be playing to represent their Association well and to hopefully raise funds for a new ballpark at the current ‘Mavericks Field’ site (in Victoria, B.C.).
For more league information and to view their ‘letter of support’ to Mayor and Council for a new ballpark please visit their website at www.victoriamavericks.com .
San Diego Stars
The Stars will be back to Grand Forks in 2009! “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 12 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 2009 and try to make it back to back Championships. The Stars won the NBC Western regional tournament to obtain a Berth to Wichita, but they are looking forward to the GFI far more than Wichita. That in its self is a testimonial on just how good of a Tournament the GFI is and the Great Job the Tournament committe and voleenteers do.
Idaho Warriors
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. The Idaho Warriors and the Lewiston Truckers are formed from the full roster of Lewis Clark State. They split their squad to form two teams at the GFI when it has been necessary.
Auburn A’s
The Auburn Athletics started play in 2006 and play out of Green River Community College near Seattle. They are a connected club to the Tacoma Cardinal’s and the Kitsap BlueJacket’s of the West Coast League. They have played an independant schedule the last four years competing against Pacific International League, West Coast League and College Baseball of the West teams. The team is comprised of mainly of top Junior College players from around the Puget Sound region. The A’s have had multiple players go on to play professional baseball over the past few years. Christian Scholl 8th round pick Los Angeles Angels, Ryan Voelkel-Atlanta Braves, Danny Meiers-Houston Astros and Bryan Marquez-Kalamazoo Kings. Marquez was also a 2009 All-American SS and was a finalist for the Golden Spikes award and Wallace award at New Mexico State.
Vancouver Thunderbirds