| Q) |
Is
Team Ontario affiliated with the OBA? |
| A) |
In
May 2001 Team Ontario ceased being a program within the OBA. Team
Ontario felt it could no longer offer its current program under
OBA jurisdiction. After an attempt at negotiating a new long-term
agreement which would have allowed Team Ontario to develop its'
long-term strategy failed, it was mutually agreed that it would
be best for all concerned if Team Ontario operated as an independent
organization. |
| Q) |
Are
Team Ontario players allowed to play in the OBA? |
| A)
|
Not
only are Team Ontario players allowed to play in the OBA they are
encouraged to play for their club team whenever possible. Currently,
the OBA also allows players to perform on behalf of non-OBA affiliated
teams. It is always possible that the OBA may return to their previously
held position that barred players from playing for non-affiliated
OBA teams, but we believe this is unlikely. We will advise you of
any changes. We don't think its' right to limit a player's opportunities
to play baseball. These players' are young men and boys not professional
athletes. |
| Q)
|
Are
Team Ontario players allowed to play for Team Canada? |
| A) |
Absolutely.
The roster for the National Junior Team (2001) had more players
from Team Ontario than any single organization in the country. |
| Q)
|
Must
I play in the Canada Cup to be eligible to play for Team Canada? |
| A)
|
NO.
The Canada Cup must supply 80% (24) of the players initially selected
to participate in Team Canada's spring training program in Orlando.
The remaining 20% (8) are at large selections. Therefore a maximum
of 8 players can be selected. However, the at large selections could
make up 8 players out of the final 18 chosen to represent Team Canada
that could conceivably not have played in the Canada Cup. In 2001
players from London, Ottawa and Windsor were on Team Canada's final
roster despite never having played in the Canada Cup. The top 3
HS players as selected by Baseball America for the draft in 2002
did not participate in the Canada Cup. Team Canada wants to have
the best players they can find. Last year Team Canada even used
a player that did not play anywhere in Canada at all, but was a
Canadian and therefore eligible for Team Canada. |
| Q)
|
How
many teams does Team Ontario operate? |
| A) |
Team Ontario will operate a minimum of 3 teams in the 2002 season.
There will be an under-16, under-17 and under-18 year old team.
Should there be sufficient demand AND should we be able to provide
a competent coaching staff and competitive schedule we will consider
operating a 2nd under 16 year old team. |
| Q)
|
Where
does Team Ontario play? |
| A)
|
All Team Ontario
Teams play in the CEBC (Canadian Elite Baseball Conference). Team
Ontario was a founding member of this organization. The 18 and
17-year-old teams play in the under-18 division while the 16 year
olds are expected to play in the under-16 year old division. The
CEBC is affiliated with the NABF (National Amateur Baseball Federation)
a US based organization. There are currently 8 teams in the under-18
division. Several other teams have applied for membership. Unquestionably,
the CEBC is the premier amateur league for players in Ontario.
The overwhelming majority of players selected in the last 2 amateur
baseball drafts from Ontario (high school age) played in the CEBC.
The top HS
players drafted from Ontario (2000-Scott Thorman-1st round-Atlanta,
2001-John Axford-7th round Seattle-University of Notre Dame) were
both members of Team Ontario.
Following
the conclusion of the Spring CEBC Schedule in late June all teams
embark on an ambitious tournament schedule in Canada and the US.
While the 17 year olds spend most of their time in the US to provide
maximum exposure for our players to college recruiters the 16
and 18 year olds spend less time in the US. As college recruiters
cannot begin to speak to prospective players until July 1 of their
Grade 11 year 16 year old players this age are rarely seen by
college scouts. The majority of the 18-year-old players have signed
scholarship offers by the summer of their Grade 12 year. As a
result it is not necessary for them to be seen extensively. Team
Ontario plays in many of the top tournaments in the US-many are
invitational only. We are regarded by many of the top people in
the baseball industry (Perfect Game, Baseball America, Area Codes)
as the top amateur club program in Canada and one of the top amateur
programs in all of North America.
|
| Q) |
How
has team Ontario fared against top US competition? |
| A)
|
In 2000, Team
Ontario 17's lost in the finals of the NABF national HS championship.
In Jupiter, Florida at the 50 team Baseball America Perfect Game
World Wood Bat Championships Team Ontario finished 5th overall
losing in the quarter finals to eventual champion Baseball America
2-0, and tying finalist California 1-1. Baseball America was an
all-star team composed of many of the top players from across
the US and was managed by professional players.
In 2001 the
under-18s lost in the semi-finals of the NABF under 18 World Series
while the under 17's lost in the semifinals (6-5) to the eventual
champion in the HS World Series. The17's were declared national
champions in the US Super Series. They also finished 4th in the
8 team Junior Sunbelt series in Oklahoma which brings together
all star HS teams from 7 US states (Arizona, California and Team
Ontario.
|
| Q) |
What
can I expect from your program? |
| A)
|
Unlike other
programs we WILL NOT promise you a college scholarship or a professional
contract. We will promise you TO DELIVER: top flight instruction
by many of the top amateur coaches in the country, a high level
of competition and exposure to both collegiate and professional
scouts in Canada and the US. We cannot predict how you will develop
as a ballplayer and we certainly cannot speak for college recruiters.
We will provide you the opportunity to display your talents in
front of a large number of scouts at events such as the Chicago
White Sox Area Code Tryouts, the Perfect Game Northeast Showcase
and a number of tournaments that annually attract a number of
scouts. In fact 5 players from Team Ontario 17's had the opportunity
to perform in front of 450 scouts at the Area Code Games in Long
Beach California. They were the only Canadians selected to participate
in this event.
Seven players
from Team Ontario 17's were selected in the top 30 prospects at
the Perfect Game Northeast Showcase in Wareham, Massachusetts
(www.perfectgame.org)
|
| Q)
|
How
much will it cost? |
| A)
|
The
program cost varies from team to team and player to player. Not
all players participate in all tournaments for a variety of reasons.
To answer this question more specifically it is necessary to talk
to Rick Calich who handles all financial matters. There are a number
of fundraising opportunities available to help defer expenses. |
| Q)
|
What
does your program consist of? |
| A)
|
The
fall development program consists of 4 weeks of position specific
instruction. At the conclusion of the fall program the players are
offered an opportunity to participate in a tournament in Tennessee.
Many players participate in our off-season personalized baseball
specific strength and conditioning programs developed for them and
supervised by Team Ontario' Professional Strength & Conditioning
Coach. In February the players begin indoor workouts followed by
the opportunity to train and play for 9 days in Florida during the
March Break. The spring schedule begins in late April and finishes
in late June. The tournament portion of our schedule occurs during
the spring and summer. |
| Q)
|
Who are
some of the coaches involved in your program? What are their credentials?
|
| A) |
The following
are a few of the people involved in our program:
| Marc
Picard |
Head
Coach-17's Head Coach-Team Ontario-Canada, Pitching Coordinator
Summer Games-1993, 1997, Head Coach-Team Canada-1996 Pan-Am
Junior Games, NY Yankee Scout 1991-97. Two-time National Coach
of the Year in Canada. |
| Dan
Thompson |
Head
Coach-16's Atlanta Braves Associate Scout Infield coach -Under
17's-1999-2001, York University Coach 1997-99. |
| Bob
Davidson |
Pitching
Coach-16's Pitching Coach-Ontario-Canada Summer Games-1997,
2001 Pitching Coach-Team Canada-1996 Pan Am Games (Junior) |
| Rick
Johnston |
Fall
camp Co-coordinator and Baseball Academy Director of Operations
Hitting/3B Coach-Team Ontario, Roving Instructor Canada summer
Games-2001, National Junior Team Manager, Head Coach-National
Teams from France and Croatia, Associate Scout-Tampa Bay |
| Sam
Dempster |
Roving
Instructor Associate Scout-NY Yankees, Head Coach-Durham College |
| Jeff
Sharpe |
Catching
Instructor Toronto Blue Jays Associate Scout, Under 17's coach-1999-2001 |
| Paul
Solarski |
Catching
Instructor Toronto Maple Leafs Coach |
| Damon
Topolie |
Catching
Instructor Catcher-Toronto Maple Leafs |
| Geoff
Whent |
Outfield/Hitting
Instructor, Team Ontario Under 17's-1999- 2001 Coach |
| Jason
Chee-Aloy |
Head
Coach -Under 18's Associate Scout-KC Royals, Head coach-National
Champion North York Juniors-1998 |
| Ernie
Collins |
Management
Assistant 16's |
| Dave
Roeder |
Management
Assistant 17's |
| Jim
Sheppard |
Management
Assistant 18's |
| Rick
Calich |
Chief
Financial Officer/Web Site Co-coordinator |
| Bob
Risko |
Uniform/Equipment/Co-coordinator,
Yearbook Project Manager |
| Bob
Cohen |
Tournament
Director, Fall Program & Florida Spring Trip Co-coordinator |
There are numerous
other individuals involved in each of the teams. A complete list
will be available on our website. For more information or further
questions concerning our program please contact Rick Calich at
905-507-6870 or via e-mail at rcalich@home.com
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