Verge: Hall excited to play with 22 Canadian Thunder Bay Border Cats
Victoria Eagles and Junior National Team alum Tyrus Hall (Victoria, BC), shown here batting for Bossier Parish Community College, is looking forward to playing with 22 other Canadians on the Thunder Bay Border Cats this summer. Photo: Bossier Parish Athletics
May 27, 2025
By Melissa Verge
Canadian Baseball Network
It’s a family reunion — of sorts.
They’re not bonded by blood, but by baseball.
Of the 23 Canadians on the Thunder Bay Border Cats roster Tyrus Hall (Victoria, BC) will take the field with this summer, he’s already played with more than a handful, either representing Canada with the Junior National Team, or at his JUCO, Bossier Parish Community College.
That history will benefit them on the diamond, Hall said, now at West Virginia University, who will be playing shortstop for the Border Cats in the second half of the season beginning in July.
“I think our team chemistry as soon as we get down there will be great,” said Hall, who played with eight of the 22 other Canadians previously, dating back to 2021 on the Junior National Team.
“There’s tons of Canadians, everyone knows each other [and] I think it will be a big boost for us,” the 20-year-old said.
Bringing in this much Canadian talent was at least in part, a strategic move. Border Cats field manager Joe Ellison says it’s an opportunity for the athletes to represent their country, as the only Canadian team in the Northwoods League.
“It’s something we keyed in on and we wanted to, I think if it made sense with the right talent and the right people, bring in as many Canadians as possible,” Ellison said.
The Canadians on their roster are 2B Manny Alberto (Aurora, Ont.), C Jordan Bach (Ladner, BC), P Parker Burgess (Douro-Dummer, Ont.), P Griffin Catto (Whitby, Ont.), P Makaio Cisneros (Whitby, Ont.), 1B Jacob Gillis (Fergus, Ont.), C Ayden Hadley (Langley, BC), SS Tyrus Hall (Victoria, BC), OF Ty Hamilton (Ottawa, Ont.), P Lachlan Harrison (Mississauga, Ont.) P Cameron Johnson (Burlington, Ont.), C Lucas Johnson (Burlington, Ont.), P Porter Jorgenson (Thunder Bay, Ont.), 2B Greg LaChance (Whitby, Ont.), P John McDonald (Mississauga, Ont.), P Owen Millar (Burlington, Ont.), C Jacob Miller (Oshawa, Ont.), P Ethan Minaker (St. Andrews MB), 2B Corey Morro (Cheltenham, Ont.), P Matt Sargeant (Ancaster, Ont.), P Owen Thomson (Campbellford, Ont.), P Carter Wall (Oakville, Ont.), and OF Calvin Warrillow (Toronto, Ont.).
Ellison (Mississauga, Ont.) is also a Canadian, the second ever to serve as field manager with the Border Cats after Mike Steed (Beamsville Ont.).
Hall has always stood out on the diamond, whether it be in the field or at the plate.
A young Tyrus Hall (Victoria, B.C.) who grew up around the diamond watching his dad, Marty. Photo supplied
The raw talent he had was obvious. He grew up around the game, watching his dad, Marty, who was drafted by the Oakland A’s and made it as high as Double-A, play in a men’s league in B.C.
The two would practice together, and the older Hall (a pro-pitcher) would throw him batting practice, coming in hot, when he was an eight-year-old.
“He'd be throwing it hard trying to get me out,” the younger Hall said.
That practice with a competitive, former pro-ball dad, paid off.
The then 17-year-old first caught the eye of Ellison, then with the Ontario Blue Jays, at a baseball tournament in B.C. three years ago.
It was Ellison’s first time watching Hall play, and he could already tell - the kid had ability. From there, it’s really about if they’re able to enhance those tools as they grow up, Ellison said.
And Hall, taking the field under Ellison this summer with the Border Cats, did just that.
“Tyrus is a phenomenal athlete,” Ellison said. “He’s a great hitter, great defender, a leader on the field, so it’s exciting to have him here with us this summer.”
Enjoying the game and taking the field with teammates turned friends is a big motivator for Hall playing the sport.
He’s looking forward to playing with many of his former teammates come July, he said.
“100% [it’s going to feel like a reunion,] Hall said. “I’m excited to see them.”
Long term though, he also has other driving factors – the competition with his dad from years ago throwing BP to him as an eight- year-old has still stuck.
“I’ve been telling him [my dad] I'm going to get to a higher level [then he did], I’m going to get to the bigs,” Hall said.
The Border Cats are set to play their home opener May 28 vs. the Rochester Honkers.