Rogan Rivard, a 17-year-old outfielder from Bonnyville, is among 31 players chosen to Baseball Canada’s junior national team extended spring training roster.
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The select group of prospects is working out in Dunedin, Fla., from April 15 to 23. The nine-day camp features games against extended spring training teams from multiple Major League Baseball organizations, including the Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Rivard is a Grade 11 student in his second year at southern Alberta’s Vauxhall Academy, which has four representatives on the junior national team’s extended spring training camp roster. Along with Rivard, the Jets’ contingent includes pitchers Calum Andersen of Calgary and Will Zielinski of Victoria, B.C., and infielder Noah McIntosh of Dartmouth, N.S.
Last October, all four of those Vauxhall players were also part of the Canadian junior team selected for a 10-day fall instructional camp in the Dominican Republic. The trip included games against MLB-affiliated academy teams.
When the extended spring training camp roster was announced this month, 20 of the Canadian players had already finalized their post-secondary plans. Two members of the Vauxhall complement are committed to NCAA Division 1 teams — Rivard to Kansas State University and Andersen to the University of Oklahoma.
Rivard’s collegiate company at Kansas State will include at least three of his current Canadian junior teammates — infielder Cohen Miller of Calgary and pitchers Logan Cummins and Max Nantais-Vlahovic, both of Mississauga, Ont.
John MacNeil Meridian Source
Along with Rivard, Miller and Andersen, the seven Albertans on Canada’s roster include Gabe Fink of Edmonton, Zach MacDonald of Lacombe, Josh Mills of Leduc and Taye Thierman of Calgary. All seven players are committed to NCAA Division 1 schools.
Saskatoon resident Aiden Kilshaw, a catcher and outfielder committed to Blinn Community College in Texas, was the lone Saskatchewan player selected to the junior national team. Kilshaw, a native of Swift Current, graduates this year from the Saskatoon Berries Baseball Academy.
Team Canada’s head coach is Greg Hamilton, the director of men’s national teams with Baseball Canada. His five assistant coaches with the junior club include two Albertans — Michael Johnson of Sherwood Park and Chris Reitsma of Calgary.
The Canadian roster is made up of 26 players who were born in 2008 and five born in 2009. Those younger members are Rivard, Andersen, Fink, Mills and Maple, Ont., first baseman Jalen Jacob.
Rivard, whose father Reg played collegiate and pro baseball, represented teams from Bonnyville, Lloydminster and Sherwood Park en route to the renowned Vauxhall Academy of Baseball, a prep program now celebrating its 20th season.
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