Monday, July 5, 2010
St. Marys, ON- After assembling in Toronto yesterday the JNT team got down to work in St. Marys, home of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. The day started off when the JNT was greeted by President and CEO of the Hall of Fame Tom Valcke. Valcke who has spent the past 10 years at his current role in St. Marys provided the team with a tour of the hall’s museum and shared only a few of the many stories the hall has to offer. He also had some wise words to share about the history of baseball in Canada.
“Although these guys (JNT) are immersed in baseball, they don’t know the history of baseball in Canada; we have a deep and rich heritage in this country, which will hopefully provide inspiration to them in Thunder Bay.”
Also on hand to deliver well wishes to the team was the Mayor of St. Marys, Jamie Hahn. Hahn welcomed the team to the town and explained what it meant to the community to have the JNT in St. Marys for the day.
“There are over 400 municipalities in Ontario and we are very honoured to have Team Canada practice in St. Marys, Ontario.”
Once the tour was complete the JNT took the St. Marys Cement Company Field for their first official team workout. It was certainly baseball weather as the plus 40 degree heat made for a scorcher of an afternoon. Many locals from St. Marys and participants of the Kids on Deck Baseball Camp were able watch the JNT perform drills and hit batting practice. When the workout was complete the JNT took part in a skills clinic with the Kids on Deck participants that saw kids split into groups and rotate through infield, outfield, catching, pitching and hitting stations. The experience was very memorable for all of the participants who were in awe of their newfound heroes.
The JNT spent the afternoon cooling off in the local quarry in St.Marys before partaking in a team bonding event by playing in a 9-hole best ball golf tournament. Before leaving St. Marys the JNT were hosted by the St. Marys Golf Club for dinner capping off a wonderful day in one of southern Ontario’s finest communities.
Next up the JNT will be on the field at Rogers Centre for workouts on July 6th and 7th before heading to New England to begin the pre-worlds tour against teams from the New England Collegiate Baseball League.
Adam Morissette
Coordinator, Media/Public Relations
Baseball Canada
613-748-5606 (office)
613-862-0256 (cell)
