The top high school baseball program in Canada?
The Loyola Warriors of Mississauga, defending 2006 Prentice Cup and Ontario champs?
Maybe Ecole Du Versant High in Gatineau, Que. where Phillippe Aumont -- a projected first-rounder on June 7 -- attends class?
Or one of the many Sport Etude (sports schools) in Quebec?
The answers are no, no and no.
Lambrick Park Secondary School in Victoria, B.C. produced Kyle Orr, a fourth-round draft of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2006 and Mike Saunders, an 11th-round pick of the Seattle Mariners.
The most unique high school team program is the Vauxhall Academy, home of the Jets, in Vauxhall (pop. 1,100). Never heard of Vauxhall? Well, that's where pro scouts were this week at a Major League Baseball ScoutingBureau camp, 240 kilometers south of Calgary.
Before the Academy opened in September of 2006, Vauxhall was known as "The Potato Capital of the West," with Sammy and Samantha Spud as town mascots.
Now, its innovative program has baseball people from coast to coast almost as envious of Alberta as they are of the tar sands.
Vauxhall played a 50-60 game schedule last fall and this spring. Add in another 50 with their summer teams and the Jets play more than 100 games, just like the best programs in Ontario and British Columbia.
Loyola might schedule 20. Aumont's school does not have a ball team. Same for the sport etudes.
In Vauxhall, well, take it away head coach Les McTavish:
"Our kids are treated like celebrities. They sign autographs, they make player appearances speaking at the senior centre or the Lions Club. It's like a junior hockey franchise.
"We draw 200-500 people a game, with cow bells going and music pumping under the lights. Alex Tufts, one of our four out-of-province players, from Kentville, N.S., didn't go home for our week-long study break, he likes it here so much."
The idea was borrowed from the town of Warner, 100 kilometres away on Highway 36. Four years ago, with Warner facing a shrinking enrolment, began a women's hockey school.
Vauxhall had 226 students in 2005-06, down from 246 the year before. Rather than see the student body shift downward by 10 each year, city fathers took action. They went for baseball.
McTavish, a former national team pitching coach and a Seattle Mariners scout, won the job as head coach, besting 60 candidates. How many people can earn a living coaching baseball in Canada? Maybe 15, all with provincial and national bodies.
"I concentrate on provinces that don't get the same exposure as Ontario and British Columbia, to give overlooked kids a second chance," McTavish said.
Tuition was $10,900 this year and will be $12,900 in the fall. Vauxhall gives out scholarships on need and ability.
Classes run from 8:45 a.m. until 1:20 p.m. Then the team is on the field or in the weight room for roughly three hours.
"Vauxhall is one of the driest places in Canada," said Bob Miller, who helped renovate the local ball park. The team can usually practise outdoors by Jan. 10.
The province has chipped in with a $2.5-million grant for a new indoor facility.
The Jets played fall and spring schedules against the Prairie Baseball Academy, the University of Calgary, high school teams in Las Vegas and Twins Falls, Idaho, as well as American Legion teams in Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Great Falls and Bozeman, Mont.
"We have 19 kids coming in and are looking for one or two more," said McTavish, who has placed 12 of his 14 graduating players at schools south of the border.
Two players -- outfielder Lionel Morrill of Taber, Alta., and shortstop Dale Anderson of Strathmore, Alta. -- have been invited to go with the Canadian junior team on its trip to the Dominican Republic this summer. McTavish's contract with the Academy has been extended for a further three years.
The town had been hurt by the closure of the grain elevator and the rail line. Now lights are on at more than just the ball diamond.
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QUICK HITS
PUJOLS TAKES GOLD ON SILVER LIST
Nate Silver, of BaseballProspectus.com, has ranked the top 50 most valuable players in the game today. Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals is No. 1, followed by catcher Joe Mauer and lefty Johan Santana of the Minnesota Twins. Roy Halladay of the Blue Jays is ranked 25th and Vernon Wells 38th.
THE MATURE ONE
When Rob Ducey broke in with the Jays in 1987 he was brash and cocky. In other words: Your average 22-year-old. When he spoke at induction ceremonies as both he and his father, Ed Heather, were inducted into the Cambridge Hall of Fame, Ducey was elegant. "He deserves this way more than I," Ducey said of Heather. "He has been a pillar of the sporting community in Cambridge for a long, long time. He has been a supporter of youth sports in Cambridge, back to when it was Galt, Hespeler and Preston. I'm more happy for him than I am for myself." Ducey, 13 years in the majors, scouts for the Jays. Heather used to be an amateur scout for the Jays.
THE VAUXHALL 12
Calgary second baseman David Reiniger is one of 12 Vauxhall Academy players to sign a letter of intent. He's headed to Alabama-Huntsville. Calgary lefty Curtis Smith is off to Southwest Minnesota State; shortstop Scott Hornstra of Rocky Mountain House, Alta., has committed to Colby College; righty Alex Tufts of Kentville, N.S., is off to Iowa Western College; outfielder Zane Anderson of Strathmore, Alta., is going to Gannon. Outfielder Cody Phipps of Round Hill, Alta.; right-hander Sean Carrick of Imperial, Sask.; first baseman Jason Luce of Calgary are bound for the British Columbia Thunderbirds. Catcher Kiel Armstrong of Winnipeg, Man., lefty Jay Johnson of Sussex Corner, N.B.; righty Katlin Nunweiller of Medicine Hat and first baseman Brenden Miller of Taber, Alta., will attend the Prairie Baseball Academy in Lethbridge.
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THE BOOK ON ... DELMON YOUNG
DELMON YOUNG, Devil Rays outfielder
What a major-league scout says: "He's a legit guy. He's an outstanding hitter and he'll hit with power. I've heard guys say he's another Jesse Barfield, but he reminds me of Jermine Dye.
"He can really play the outfield.
" Young has a great arm and is a very bright young man.His father flew F-14s in the Navy.
"He's a young hitter and has some young hitter's mistakes -- like trying to pull everything -- but he makes contact. He's just another one of the fine five-tool athletes you get to see when you watch Tampa Bay."
Rating out of five: 4
AVG. HR RBI
.233 4 14
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MADE IN CANADA
ERIK BEDARD, Baltimore Orioles LHP
Lefty Erik Bedard did what a staff ace is supposed to do on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays -- put up seven zeroes. He wound up with a no-decision as Baltimore beat the Rays 1-0 in 10 innings.
The 28-year-old Navan, Ont., native fanned 10 to take over the AL lead with 56 strikeouts.
Drafted in the sixth round of the 1999 amateur draft out of Norwalk Tech, Bedard made his major-league debut April 17, 2002.
Won Lost ERA
3 2 4.79
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HOW BAD CAN GET IT GET?
Ever seen the Blue Jays play as poorly?
A team with a $90-million US payroll should not be headed for a 100-loss season.
The Jays entered the weekend with a team batting average of .261 seventh best in the AL. Murderers Row has become Murmurers Row.
They had the 11th best team ERA (4.90), the second lowest total of saves with as much depth as an Arena Football League roster.
How often do you see Roy Halladay get knocked around in back-to-back starts, unless he has arm problems? Only Troy Glaus and Alex Rios have hit as expected.
Only Jeremy Accardo, Casey Janssen and Scott Downs have pitched well out of the bullpen.
The B.J. Ryan affair has been an embarrassment. Ryan is too great a talent, too good a guy to be dragged through this mess. In the spring, we were told he had a back injury. Then, he went on the disabled list with elbow problems. And Thursday he had season-ending surgery.
Said Bob McCown, on The Fan's Prime Time Sports: "The Jays say closer B.J. Ryan underwent successful Tommy John surgery ... on his back."
Now, Ryan may not be back until next May.
Have we ever seen them look more lacklustre? A few candidates:
- In 1989, under manager Jimy Williams, they started poorly. Williams was fired after the Jays went through the motions in a three-game sweep at Minnesota, as they were outscored 29-14 to fall to 12-24.
- In 2002, under Buck Martinez, the Jays dropped nine straight beginning April 24: Five to the Texas Rangers and four to the Anaheim Angels. They were outscored 66-31. Two losses each to redoubtables Luke Prokopec, Mike Smith and Pedro Borbon. Dan Plesac, Brandon Lyon and Halladay lost once.
- In 1999, under Jim Fregosi, the Jays returned from Minnesota on Aug. 12, with a half-game lead over Boston in the wild-card. The homestand was about as ugly as now.
David Wells came up lame and had to be scratched from his start. Halladay filled in and lost a 9-8 decision to Oakland.
The next night Joey Hamilton lasted one-third of an inning allowing eight runs in a 13-5 loss. Fregosi received one of a possible 54 outs from his two most experienced starters.
The Jays were swept in the six-game homestand, three to Oakland and three to the Seattle Mariners and outscored 51-29. They left town three games behind Boston and never recovered. It's time to think about next year ... Year 7 of the five-year plan as we have come to know it.
WEEKLY HONOUR
Shortstop Danny Klassen of Leamington batted .400 for triple-A Round Rock (Astros) and had three RBIs.
Runners-up: Chris Barnwell of Shelburne, N.S., hit .375 for triple-A Nashville (Brewers) and Ottawa's Sebastian Boucher hit .333 at double-A West Tennessee (Mariners).
CELEBRITY HELP
While the Jays look at names of released players on the waiver wire, the Yankees lured Roger Clemens out of retirement. Clemens threw a bullpen session Tuesday and spent two hours with the Kentucky University Wildcats.
"There is that feeling of, 'Oh my gosh,'" said lefty Andrew Albers of North Battleford, Sask. "This guy's a Hall of Famer. He's one of the best pitchers who ever played this game. Here he is talking to us. It definitely makes you pay attention a little more."
Albers is 6-3 with a 4.71 ERA. Expected to go in the draft, he has walked 15 and fanned 46 in 65 innings. The future Hall of Famer was in Lexington to see his son, third baseman Koby Clemens.
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FARM REPORT
PATTERSON A BIG HIT WITH HILTON
Most baseball people are Marriott men. Ryan Patterson prefers the Hilton. Patterson became the first batter to hit the Hilton Garden Inn on the fly when he hit a grand slam as the double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats beat the Connecticut Defenders12-1 Tuesday in Manchester, N.H. Patterson's drive to left centre capped a five-RBI game. It was Patterson's first homer of the season.
HEAVY HITTER
Travis Snider, 19, the Jays' No. 1 pick from 2006, owns a .358 average with one homer and 17 RBIs at single-A Lansing. The outfielder is listed at 5-foot-11, 245 pounds, although scouts say he looks 15 pounds heavier.
HERO'S BROTHER DELIVERS
Eric Nielsen had an RBI double in the third inning to give single-A Dunedin a 5-3 win over Palm Beach on Tuesday. It was Nielsen's 10th double. Nielsen's younger brother, Ryan, 21, a specialist in the U.S. Army, served in Iraq. Jays catcher Gregg Zaun has a clipping of the Nielsen brothers hanging near his locker ... "to keep him in my prayers for a safe return," Zaun said.
TYING ONE ON
Syracuse righty Ty Taubenheim handed Bryan Bullington his first loss in a 6-4 win against Indianapolis. Taubenheim allowed two runs in seven innings and is 2-2 with a 5.34 ERA. Jeff Duncan had two hits to lift his average to .221. He has 15 hits -- all singles.
BOOM BOOM
Chip Cannon had a walk-off homer with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning as New Hampshire beat Connecticut 4-3 Wednesday. Cannon's knock to right was his fifth. David Purcey allowed two runs in 62/3 innings.
WHERE ARE THEY?
Lefty Ryan Costello, a 10th-round pick of the Jays in 1991, was the opening day starter for the Camden Riversharks. Costello gave up four hits and two earned runs in four innings.
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MY GREATEST DAY ...
Canadian slugger MATT STAIRS recalls a shining moment on the diamond
Matt Stairs has hit more homers (220) than any Canadian slugger, this side of Larry Walker, during his 15 major-league seasons.
His best day?
"At Yankee Stadium when I was with the Oakland A's in 1996 (Aug. 15). I pinch- hit for Mike Bordick and homered off Jeff Nelson on a sinker leading off the ninth to break the tie and we went on to beat the Yankees 6-4. It was Mickey Mantle Day, so they had a big crowd (50,808).
"It landed in the black hitting backdrop in straightaway centre. The place got quiet real quick."
Stairs did not take over for Bordick at shortstop, a position he played when the Montreal Expos scouted him when the Fredericton, N.B., native played for Team Canada.
Rafael Bournigal was at short for the bottom of the ninth inning.
"Another good day was in San Francisco two years later (June 24, 1998)," Stairs said. "The A's were losing 4-3 in the eighth.
"Ben Grieve walked, Jason Giambi singled and Mike Blowers got on to load the bases. I pinch-hit against Steve Reed and hit a grand slam."
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HOT PROSPECT
GREG MULLENS, RHP
W L ERA K BB
2 0 1.67 11 9
Greg Mullens has impressed with single-A Savannah Sand Gnats (Mets). The right-handed Saskatoon, Sask., resident is 2-0 with a 1.67 ERA. He has walked nine and struck out 11 in 27 innings. Born in Lindsay, Ont., the 6-foot-6, 245-pounder attended Columbia University after obtaining a 1410 on his SAT (out of a possible 1600).
Rating out of five: 3
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2 -- 3-0 counts that Cleveland Indians starter C.C. Sabathia has found himself facing in his first six starts. He has thrown a first-pitch strike 90 times.
4 -- Time zones the Colorado Rockies covered in a nine-day stretch as they played in Denver (Mountain), Cincinnati (Eastern), San Francisco (Pacific) and St. Louis (Central).
14 -- No. of years, plus 304 days, since Atlanta's John Smoltz faced former Braves mate Greg Maddux, longest gap for a head-to-head pitching matchup since Ferguson Jenkins and Don Sutton went 14 years 360 days between starts.
