Fitzpatrick, CPBL Showcase Day III: Bertrand, Campeau, Ion, Rudge
Windsor Selects right-hander Logan Ion was one of the players taking part in the CPBL Showcase on Saturday. Photo: Windsor Selects
May 12, 2024
By Trevor Fitzpatrick
Canadian Baseball Network
Dorchester, Ont. – A little (okay, a lot) of rain couldn’t stop Canada’s next generation of ball players from showing off their skills during day three of the CPBL Showcase.
The downpours forced the Field of Dreams closed for the entire day as the infield turned into a slip and slide, but the turf of Royal Field held up to squeak in four of the originally scheduled nine games.
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Elliott, Day I: Glenn, Mathews, Sanders, Yankowich
Elliott, Day II: Jacob, Kwinter, Lessard, Sikkema
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We chatted with some of the players willing to leave the shelter of their dugouts …
Windsor Selects RHP Trent Rudge (Kingsville, Ont.)
RHP Trent Rudge
Hometown: Kingsville, Ont.
Current team: Windsor Selects
Who are the most influential person in your baseball life and why? “I’d say my parents. They push me to be my best and they help me through everything.”
Who is the most influential person in your baseball life besides your parents and why? “I’d say Hunter Brown from the Houston Astros. He’s in majors, obviously, so I want to do what he does.”
Greatest day on the baseball field? “Probably winning OBAs. We lost quite a few times, so getting to win one was pretty fun.”
Favourite player and why? “Hunter Brown. I look up to him, I want to be like him.”
If not a pro player, what’s the next best job you’d want growing up? “I’d still want to be in baseball, so probably a scout.”
The most important lesson you’ve learned playing baseball? “It’s okay to fail. You’re going to fail quite a bit, but there’s always the next game.”
What four people would you like to invite for a special dinner party (living or passed away)? “Hunter Brown, Jose Altuve, Shohei Ohtani, and Justin Verlander because they’re four of the top guys out there. Four guys in the majors that I look up to.”
Windsor Selects RHP Logan Ion (LaSalle, Ont.)
RHP Logan Ion
Hometown: LaSalle, Ont.
Current team: Windsor Selects
Committed: Cuyahoga Community College
Who is the most influential person in your baseball life and why? “I’m going to have to go with my dad. He played the game at a pretty high level, so I just try to follow in his footsteps as much as I can.”
Who is the most influential person in your baseball life besides your dad and why? “Justin Verlander. I grew up watching him a lot, I’m a big Tigers fan. He’s really good so I try to follow his path.”
Greatest day on the baseball field? “2014 OBAs in LaSalle. We lost a couple of years before and then we played the same team and won it, so that felt pretty good.”
Favourite player and why? “Shohei Ohtani. There’s not a lot of people that do it like him right now.”
If not a pro player, what’s the next best job you’d want growing up? “I’d have to go with a teacher. A gym teacher.”
The most important lesson you’ve learned playing baseball? “I learned a lot of respect playing the game. Through different coaches and teammates, learning respect has been a big one.”
What four people would you like to invite for a special dinner party (living or passed away)? “I’m getting my coach Vern (Rylee Vernon) there, I’m going to get Drake there, and then Shohei and Verlander are coming. Those are my guys, I would love listening to them.”
Watson Elite’s c (Kingston, Ont.).
IF Nic Campeau
Hometown: Kingston, Ont.
Current team: Watson Elite
Former teams: Kingston Colts, Kingston Junior Ponies
Who is the most influential person in your baseball life and why? “I’d say my brother, he’s always been there for me.”
Who is the most influential person in your baseball life besides your brother and why? “My hitting coach Jeff Skelhorne, he’s really helped smoothen out my swing.”
Greatest day on the baseball field? “Back in Little League I had a base hit and then stole home to qualify for provincials.”
Favourite player and why? “I’d go with Bryce Harper. Just the way he carries himself in his plate approach is fun to watch.”
If not a pro player, what’s the next best job you’d want growing up? “Probably a coach, a coach of any sports team really.”
The most important lesson you’ve learned playing baseball? “Just to be patient in general. Not just in the box, but outside of it as well.”
What four people would you like to invite for a special dinner party (living or passed away)? “Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Nicki Minaj, and J. Cole.”
Watson Elite’s Nic Bertrand (Nepean, Ont.), formerly played for the Ottawa Nepean Canadians.
RHP Nic Bertrand
Hometown: Nepean, Ont.
Current team: Watson Elite
Former teams: Ottawa Nepean Canadians
Who is the most influential person in your baseball life and why? “Probably my dad. He’s always supporting me.”
Who is the most influential person in your baseball life besides your dad and why? “Coach Gino (Eugenio Matos) from 14u ball. He helped get me to where I am now.”
Greatest day on the ball field? “When our team made intermediate nationals. That was fun to be a part of.”
Favourite player and why? “Kevin Gausman, he’s nasty, that splitter is gross.”
If not a pro player, what’s the next best job you’d want growing up? “I’m planning on going to university for finance, so something related to that.”
The most important lesson you’ve learned playing baseball? “Whenever you have a bad day, you can’t let it get to your head. Don’t let it carry over into your next game or next day.”
What four people would you like to invite for a special dinner party (living or passed away)? “I’d say my teammates Ty and Nic, pops, and to round it off I’m going with Jay-Z.”
Scores:
Fieldhouse Pirates 17U 15, Toronto Mets 17U 13
Toronto Mets 18U 10, Watson Elite 0
Windsor Selects 11, Watson Elite 7
Great Lake Canadians 18U 16, Fieldhouse 18U 4