Wilson: McDowell found mojo in breakout season with Oregon State

“He’s polite, mild mannered and a seemingly all-around nice guy.

Micah McDowell is at his best on the diamond, however, when he taps into his nasty side.

“I remember freshman and sophomore year didn’t go the way he planned, he had an injury in there as well and trying to come back from that, but I remember that transition of him going from kind of passive and unsure to, ‘I’m a bad man.’ Here we go,” said Mitch Canham, the head coach of Oregon State University’s baseball program.”

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Fitzpatrick: Axford couldn’t woo Ohtani to Jays, but deserves credit for impacting Canucks

National Team alum and former big league closer John Axford (Port Dover, Ont.) jokingly took credit for the success of the young Canadian players on the national team at the Baseball Canada Awards Banquet & Fundraiser on Saturday night. It was all for fun then, but with all that he has done for Canadian baseball, his statement wasn’t too far off the mark. Canadian Baseball Network writer Trevor Fitzpatrick caught up with Axford to talk about the ex-closer’s career and his Shohei Ohtani tweet that went viral.

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Shushkewich: From WBC to (both) Twin Cities, Julien barrelled up

After an outstanding performance batting leadoff for Canada at the World Baseball Classic, followed by a standout rookie big league campaign with the Minnesota Twins, Edouard Julien (Quebec, Que.) received a Special Recognition Award from Baseball Canada at their annual Awards Banquet & Fundraiser on Saturday night. Canadian Baseball Network writer Tyson Shushkewich caught up with Julien on Saturday.

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Verge: Double threat Romeo headed to Florida State

“It’s a threatening combination for the opposition when Josiah Romeo, a tall, 6'3'' righthander from Brampton, Ontario takes the mound. He refuses to be rattled by adversity, and can smack a 91 mph fastball into the catcher's mitt.

It’s those skills that had many schools in the U.S. calling the 18-year-old who plays for the Mississauga Tigers. Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Florida - with Romeo deciding to commit to Florida State late last year.”

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Shushkewich: Quantrill and healthy shoulder head to Colorado Rockies

National team alum Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) was honoured with the Larry J. Pearson Alumni Award at Baseball Canada’s National Teams Awards Banquet & Fundraiser on Saturday. Canadian Baseball Network writer Tyson Shushkewich caught up with Quantrill prior to the banquet to talk about his career and his new role as a starter with the Colorado Rockies.

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