By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

Are there better places for a catcher to gain experience and exposure than with a former major leaguer’s organization?

C Cardel Dick (Abbotsford, BC) of the Vauxhall Academy Jets headed south with the TG D-Backs 16U National to compete in the Battle of the Southeast at various ball yards around Atlanta.

Now, the TG stands for Todd Greene who played 11 seasons in the majors with the Anaheim Angels, Texas Rangers, Colorado Rockies, San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees and 34 games with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Dick was a force with the bat and behind the plate as the D-Backs won five of six games under coach Matt Dickson. He earned Most Valuable Player honors in the 64-team tourney hitting .667.

The East Cobb Colt 45s 16u Orange were the champs with the TG D-Backs finishing in the runner-up spot.

In the opener, Dick (Abbotsford, BC, 2023) was 2-for-3 in a 4-3 loss to Nelson Baseball School 16U. He singled to right and scored in the fourth and singled to left in the sixth.

The TG D-Backs evened their record at 1-1 with a 5-2 victory over the Nashville Select 16u. Dick was behind the plate and was 1-for-2. He doubled to left in the three-run sixth which broke the 2-2 tie. Dick was hitting .600 through two games.

Dick was again the main man as the D-Backs thumped Atlanta Lightning 16u Shepherd 8-1, bumping their record to 2-1.

Dick went 3-for-3 in the game. He had a run-scoring single in the third, drove a two-run triple to right and lined a double to left leading off the fifth and scored, Dick was hitting .750 through three games.

The D-Backs moved to 3-1 with a 10-0 win over the Home Plate Chili Dogs 16U Black.

Dick showed the way for the D-Backs 16U National offense going 2-for-3. He doubled to left in the first and singled and scored in the five-run fifth and Dick was hitting .727 through four games.

Another day, another game, another solid effort at the plate for Dick as the D-Backs beat Cobb Prime 16u 12-3, moving to 4-1.

Again Dick had his extra-base swing down pat going 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a run scored. He smoked a run-scoring double to centre in the first and lined a double to centre in the six-run sixth. Dick was hitting .667 through five games.

Then, the D-Backs wrapped up play with a decisive 7-0 win against the HOJO Elite 16U Platinum. Dick aided the led the D-Backs to a 5-1 finish going 2-for-3 with a pair of extra-base knocks. He tripled to right and scored in the three-run first and doubled to left in the two-run six. Dick hit .667 through six games with six doubles and two triples.

When Dick reaches customs and immigration and someone asks “Anything to declare,” he has his answer: “a whole bunch of extra-base hits and an MVP trophy.”

LHP Adam Macko (Stony Plain, Alta.) a Seattle Mariners draft and sign in 2019 previously played for the D-Backs.

Perfect Game Georgia

Jun 12

Cardel Dick (2023) is putting on a clinic offensively as he is 3- for-3 and a homer shy of the cycle. Just missed leaving the yard on this double and also has a triple to RCF. The catcher is sticking it behind the plate and shown a good arm.

@PG_Uncommitted

Cardel Dick (2023, Abbotsford, B.C.) put on one of the most impressive offensive performances I have seen in a while as he went 3-for-3 with 3 RBI and was a homer shy of the cycle. Dick started off the day with a triple to right-center and just missed a homer on a pull-side fly ball that got down for a double. Dick has a nice swing and draws from a really strong lower half. His hips stay back a long time and everything stays connected. Dick also showed the ability to stick it behind the plate.

_ Jason Phillips, Matthew Arietta