Jupiter wrap: All-tourney team Balazovic, Kula, Naylor, Yerzy, 19 in all

RHP Jordan Balazovic (Mississauga) of the Ontario Blue Jays had his fastball clocked at 91 mph, throwing seven scoreless to earn PG World Wood Bat championship all-tourney honors. Photo: Tyler King. 

RHP Jordan Balazovic (Mississauga) of the Ontario Blue Jays had his fastball clocked at 91 mph, throwing seven scoreless to earn PG World Wood Bat championship all-tourney honors. Photo: Tyler King. 


By Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network

There were 2,254 players at the 17th annual Perfect Game World Wood Bat Championship in Jupiter Fla.

And 426 (5.3%) were named to the all-tournament team, including 19 Canadians and three more that played for a Canadian-based team, the DBacks Langley Blaze.

The Ontario Blue Jays, coached by Dan Bleiwas, led the way with eight players on the all-tourney team: RHP Jordan Balazovic (Mississauga), LHP Jack Berczi (Oakville), RHP RJ Freure (Burlington), LHP Harley Gollert (Toronto), OF Nick Howie (Oakville), 3B Cooper Lamb (Burlington), RHP Chris Messer (Calgary, Alta) and RHP Noah Skirrow (Stoney Creek).

There were five members of the Canada PG Gold team with on the all-star team: RHP Brady Cappe (Brantford, Ont.), SS Ryan Kula (Toronto, Ont.), C-INF Noah Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.), Bryce O’Farrell (Burlington, Ont.) and RHP Brayden MacRae (Keswick, Ont.) who earned honors. PG Gold was coached by Dino Roumel, Joey Ellison and Bleiwas.

Four players from Doug Mathieson’s DBacks Langley Blaze 1B Michael Stovman (Maple Ridge, BC), RHP David Tongue (Kelowna, BC), RHP Nick Trogrlic-Iverson (Oakville, Ont.) and RHP Jake Polancic (Langley, BC) made the team.

The other two were RHP Sam Turcotte (Toronto, Ont.) of the Body Armour Titans and C Andrew Yerzy (Toronto, Ont.) of the Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team.

Hitters had to bat at least .300 with four hits or more to qualify unless they stood out in at least one statistical category other than average (Not all players who batted over .300 or had four or more hits made the team.) 

Pitchers had to have pitched at least 4 innings total and 3 innings per appearance to qualify, unless they stood out in at least one statistical category other than ERA. (Not all pitchers who pitched 4 innings total or had 3 innings per appearance made the team.)


World Championship All-Tourney
Position Players
Name Team PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB SB AVG OBP SLG

Ryan Kula, Toronto, Ont.    Canada PG Gold    21    15    7    2    0    0    1    5    6    2    .467    .619    .600
Noah Naylor, Mississauga, Ont.    Canada PG Gold    18    16    6    1    0    0    3    2    2    1    .375    .444    .438
Andrew Yerzy, Toronto, Ont.    Toronto Blue Jays Scout Team    14    14    5    2    0    0    2    1    0    0    .357    .357    .500
Bryce O’Farrell, Burlington, Ont.    Canada PG Gold    20    18    6    1    0    0    1    4    2    0    .333    .400    .389
Michael Stovman, Maple Ridge, BC    DBacks Langley Blaze    13    12    4    0    0    0    2    2    1    1    .333    .385    .333
Nick Howie, Oakville, Ont.    Ontario Blue Jays    21    20    6    1    1    0    5    3    1    3    .300    .333    .450
Cooper Lamb, Burlington, Ont.    Ontario Blue Jays    18    17    5    1    0    0    2    4    0    0    .294    .333    .353

Pitchers
Name Name GP IP H ER BB SO ERA W L SV

Brady Cappe, Brantford, Ont.    Canada PG Gold    2    7.1    1    0    3    5    0.00    1    0    0
Jordan Balazovic, Mississauga, Ont.    Ontario Blue Jays    1    7.0    6    0    2    5    0.00    1    0    0
Sam Turcotte, Toronto, Ont.    Body Armour Titans    1    7.0    2    0    2    8    0.00    0    0    0
Harley Gollert, Toronto, Ont.    Ontario Blue Jays    1    5.0    2    0    1    5    0.00    0    0    0
Brayden MacRae, Keswick, Ont.    Canada PG Gold    1    5    6    0    1    2    0.00    0    0    0
Nick Trogrlic-Iverson Oakville, Ont.    DBacks Langley Blaze    2    5.0    0    0    1    2    0.00    1    0    0
Jack Berczi, Oakville, Ont.    Ontario Blue Jays    2    7.2    8    1    3    4    0.91    0    0    0
David Tongue, Kelowna, BC    DBacks Langley Blaze    3    5.1    5    1    0    4    1.31    0    0    0
RJ Freure, Burlington, Ont.    Ontario Blue Jays    2    5.0    4    1    1    4    1.40    0    0    0
Jake Polancic, Langley, BC    DBacks Langley Blaze    2    5.0    4    1    2    2    1.40    0    0    0
Chris Messer, Calgary, Alta.    Ontario Blue Jays    1    3.0    0    1    2    6    2.33    0    0    0
Noah Skirrow, Stoney Creek, Ont.    Ontario Blue Jays    1    5.0    3    2    5    7    2.80    0    0    0

Others who made All-tourney team
Position Players
Name Team PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI R BB SB AVG OBP SLG

Henry Matias, Coral Springs, Fla DBacks Langley Blaze    9    7    5    1    0    0    5 4    2    3    .714    .778    .857
Mauro Conde San Juan, PR,     DBacks Langley Blaze    13    9    6    1    0    0    3    6    2    3    .667    .769    .778
Mitch Neuborn, Perth, Wash.    DBacks Langley Blaze    8    7    3    0    1    0    1    2    1    2    .429    .500    .714

Pitchers
Name Team GP IP    H    ER    BB    SO    ERA    W    L    SV

Fernando Colon, Guaynabo, PR    DBacks Langley Blaze    1    4.0    1    0    0    5    0.00    1    0    0

Top Velocities
Name Team FB High FB Avg

1. Yaisel Sierra    Astros Scout Team/FTB Tucci    96    94    
94. R.J. Freure    Ontario Blue Jays    91    88
136. Jordan Balazovic    Ontario Blue Jays    91    86

Stolen Bases
Rk Player Team SB

1    Cooper Davis    Ontario Blue Jays    7
6    Clayton Keyes    DBacks Langley Blaze    4

Innings Pitched
Rk Player Team IP

1    Chase Chandler    Dirtbags    11
5    Jack Berczi    Ontario Blue Jays    7.2
8    Jordan Balazovic    Ontario Blue Jays    7

The Next Wave
This category is dedicated to the underclassmen that performed at a high level at the 2015 WWBA World Championship and represents the future wave of talent we expect to play at a high level through this time next year.

2. Cooper Davis, OF, Ontario Blue Jays
Davis may be the next high-round Canadian draft after the country had an outstanding 2015 class. He led Jupiter with seven stolen bases and has 6.3 speed in the 60-yard dash according to Blue Jays GM and Manager Dan Bleiwas. Davis isn’t a slap-and-run prospect either as he has strength in his lefthanded swing.