Playoffs Begin at World Baseball Challenge

The World Baseball Challenge, sponsored by the Toronto Blue Jays and the city of Prince George, B.C., has encountered the weather problems in trying to get games in at the prestigous baseball tournament.

Due to rain and extremely wet field conditions, Thursday’s game between Canada and Chinese Taipei was cancelled. This game could have altered the standing but only if it had of resulted in a seriously lopsided victory for Canada and forced the organizers to use the tie breaking rules.

After consulting with both teams, the umpires, the host committee and the grounds crew it was determined not to reschedule the game, but instead move onto the playoff round.

The final standings are as follows:

1. Cuba 5-0
2. Chinese Taipei 3-1
3. Toshiba Japan 3-2
4. Canada 2-2
5. Bahamas 1-4
6. Beijing 0-5

Canada face the Bahamas at 4:00 ATL today; Beijing and Japan at 7:00, and Chinese Taipei at Cuba at 11:00.

The winner of the Chines Taipei/Cuba game goes directly to the tournament final on Sun.

Again all action can seen on the World Baseball Challenge website.

Doucette Homers in Canada’s Second Win

Team Canada won it second straight game to go to 2-0 at the World Baseball Challenge in Prince George, B.C. They defeated the Bejing Tigers by a score of 6-2. The Dartmouth Moosehead Dry’s Darren Doucete blasted a long homerun and centrefielder Chris Head was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Team Canada will have its work cut out for itself as it faces the #1 seed from Cuba next. The Cubans are also 2-0.

You can catch all the action live online this evening at 11:00 ATL

Moosehead Dry Take on the World

Team Canada won its first game at the World Baseball Challenge defeating Team Bahamas by a score of 13-7 on opening day. The team was helped by a pair of Dartmouth Moosehead Dry players, Darren Doucette and Chris Head, that have been added to the roster for the international tournament.

Doucette had a double, scored a run, and reached base twice via the free pass. Head went 1/2 with a single and a run scored. He also reached on a walk in the first but was subsequently caught stealing.

Joel Irvine is also on the Canadian roster, but did not see action during the opening match.

Team Canada will square off next against the Beijing Tigers Monday afternoon at 4:00 ATL. Beijing lost its opeing game to Japan Toshiba Baseball.

You can catch the action live online at http://worldbaseball.ca/

Team Canada Adds Dartmouth Trio for World Baseball Challenge

The best amateur baseball teams in the world will head to Prince George, B.C. from July 7-18. They’ll be joined by three veteran members of the Dartmouth Moosehead Dry.

Last year’s N.S. Senior Baseball League MVP, Joel Irvine; home run and RBI leader, Darren Doucette; and 2008 league MVP, Chris Head have been asked to don the Team Canada jersey by coaches, Scott MacKenzie and David Laing. The two coaches have known the players for quite some time and helped lead their Burnaby Bulldogs to the Canadian Senior Baseball Championship held in Dartmouth last Aug. The Bulldogs defeated the Dry 1-0 for the gold medal in one of the finest baseball games ever witnessed in the province.

Competition will be tight as Canada will be up against Cuba National team, ranked #1 in the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) amateur world rankings; the #2 ranked United States; and #3, Japan. The tournament will aslo play host to strong baseball teams from the Bahamas, Taiwan, and the Beijing Tigers, the highest ranked team in that China. Cuba and Japan will be seeded at the top for the tournament.

The World Baseball Challenge is co-sponsored by the Toronto Blue Jays and the City of Prince George and is held every two years. The tournament is considered one of the most prestigious in the world and the caliber of teams, improving each year, supports its lofty stature.

Doucette, recently retired Dry pitcher Jason Bailey, and Halifax pitcher Barrett Bellefontaine attended the tournament in 2009 when Prince George entered its own team.