That was one special team...
Sep. 10, 2024 - From ESPN/Baseball America... an article that looks back at the 2009 WBC... Read More...

Congratulations to the Burnaby Bulldogs
Sep. 03, 2024 - The World Baseball Challenge committee would like to congratulate the many participants from the 2009 World Baseball Challenge who were key contributors to the Burnaby Bulldogs winning the 2010 Baseball Canada Senior Championship in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Read More...

USA player in the news
Jul. 05, 2024 - Sonny Gray, who started for Team USA against the Prince George Westcana Electric Axemen in 2009... story from the Tennessean newspaper... Read More...

Amateur baseball, pro calibre
Jun. 17, 2024 - Read More...

Six WBC players from Team USA go in MLB draft...so far...
Jun. 07, 2024 - PG CitizenPlayers who made Prince George Citizen Field their temporary home during the 2009 World Baseball Challenge figured prominently on the first day of the MLB draft, held Monday.Three men who suited up for Team USA in the July tournament were top-10 selections, while others were chosen 12th, 36th and 41st.Christian Colon, a shortstop for Cal State Fullerton, was the first guy with the WBC connection who had his name called. Colon — whom local fans may remember as the player who broke a leg during a semifinal game against Team Canada — went fourth overall to the Kansas City Royals.Colon video:http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=8425159&topic_id=10018074&c_id=mlbWith the next pick, the Cleveland Indians opted for left-handed pitcher Drew Pomeranz, who plays college ball at Mississippi. In the WBC championship game, the six-foot-five, 231-pound Pomeranz was the winning pitcher. In an 8-1 victory against Team Germany, he flirted with a no-hitter and eventually gave up only one, a two-out single to Andreas Janzen in the seventh inning. In the contest, Pomeranz fanned 12 German batters.(POMERANZ INTERVIEW -- http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=8425159&topic_id=10018074&c_id=mlb); Pomeranz feature includes PGTV footage of World Baseball Challenge...Also on Monday, Team USA outfielder Michael Choice became property of the Oakland A’s, who used the 10th overall pick to claim his rights. Choice is a member of the Texas-Arlington program. This season, he was the Southland Conference player-of-the-year.Yasmani Grandal, a catcher, was the man picked at No. 12. The University of Miami product is now in the system of the Cincinnati Reds. At No. 36, the Boston Red Sox took outfielder Bryce Brentz, and at No. 41, the Toronto Blue Jays snagged Asher Wojciechowski, a right-handed chucker who plays his college ball for The Citadel.Michael Choice video:http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=8425159&topic_id=10018074&c_id=mlb“It’s tremendous to see players who were so impressive in Prince George last summer take the next step in their baseball careers, and this just shows why so many MLB scouts were in our city to evaluate the talent,” said WBC co-chair and marketing director Shawn Rice.“It’s exciting to look ahead and see them playing in the big leagues, and to think of the 2011 tournament and the skilled players we’ll see again.”Not surprisingly, three of the above players earned individual honours at the WBC. Pomeranz was the all-star lefty pitcher, Choice was the home-run king and Grandal was the top designated hitter.The WBC will return in the summer of 2011. Team USA, Team Canada, the Bahamas and Team Germany are all expected to be back. Read More...

WBC and the MLB draft/Golden Spikes Award
Jun. 01, 2024 - Manyof the players who starred on the turf at Prince George Citizen Field in thesummer of 2009 are about to become even bigger news in the baseball world. Read More...

WBC and pro baseball...
May. 19, 2024 - IF Charlie Strandlund (Victoria BC/ Prince George Westcana Electric Axemen) signs with Victoria Seals of the Golden League, following his uncle Trevor's past into pro baseball... Charlie led the Axemen with two home runs and eight runs batted in during the 2009 Enbridge Northern Gateway World Baseball Challenge, batting third in the lineup and starting games at both second base and third base... Charlie's versatility will be a key asset to Seals manager Bret Boone... Read Charlie's bio under the PG AXEMEN tab, or review stats under HANDOUTS...RHP Corey Parsons (Burnaby/ Team BC) now 2-1 for the Hamburg Stealers in the German Bundesliga, going eight strong innings in his last outing...Look for USA standouts Drew Pomeranz (LHP) and Michael Choice (OF) to go high in the coming MLB draft... at draft time, go to MLB.COM to see footage of Pomeranz throwing for USA in the 2009 WBC final, video of the game is being used to show his easy motion on the mound... Pomeranz was named to the WBC all-star team, as was Choice, who tied for the tournament lead in home runs. Choice is projected as a top-15 pick... RHP Gerrit Cole of Team USA was a first-round pick by the New York Yankees, but did not sign and instead decided to join UCLA, where he has had a standout NCAA career to date. Read More...

PGTV report
May. 12, 2024 - http://www.ckpg.com/sports/9868-world-baseball-challenge-video.html Read More...

Projects moving forward
May. 12, 2024 - From the Prince George Citizen, May 11-2010The World Baseball Challenge got some needed moral support from the City of Prince George, this week. Mayor and council was asked to provide two letters of support for the international baseball event held every two years in Prince George, the first being in 2009 and the next coming up in 2011.One letter was for a grant application for the Northern Development Initiative Trust, and the other was for general purposes as the event's organizers attempt to build on their 2009 achievements."I am very much enamoured with the possibilities of this going ahead again in 2011," said councillor Dave Wilbur, and asked organizers to disclose what the estimated economic spinoff was from the inaugural tournament. For the full story, see NEWSROOM Read More...

2011 marketing package hits the streets
Jan. 27, 2024 - For information on getting involved with the tournament, contact Co-Chair/Marketing Director Shawn Rice at shawnwbc@telus.net, or 250-612-9856. Read More...

New video, click on VIDEOS link --

Team Canada prepares to play USA in 2009 World Baseball Challenge

BAHAMAS RETURNING FOR 2011 -- See news release under "NEWSROOM"

 

HOCKEY POOL STANDINGS, ON-LINE

Go to -- poolexpert.com; Find -- QUICK ACCESS (right-hand side)

Log-in -- WBC2011; Password -- Citizen

 

New turf at Citizen Field

Installed by City of Prince George in early September, 2010, all new turf in the infield and significant amount of area in the oufield -- see the photos under the 'PHOTOS' tab.

Updated info on Prince George Westcana Electric Axemen, 'PG AXEMEN'

 

WORLD BASEBALL CHALLENGE RETURNING IN JULY 2011

Announcement made on Thursday, Dec. 3/09, 1 pm, at the Coast Inn of the North -- see "2011" button at left for official release and more information.

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Looking for photos? Click on the PHOTOS button to the left, but most photos of the tournament are loaded up through Mark Duthie and Next Level Media (nextlevelmedia.ca)

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MAJOR AWARDS FOR WBC!!!!

World Baseball Challenge captured two
Prince George Chamber of Commerce Awards,
with winners announced on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the
Coast Inn of the North (WBC official hotel)

-- 2009 Newsmaker of the Year (Sponsored by The Prince George Citizen)

-- 2009 Tourism Excellence Award (Sponsored by Initiatives Prince George)

Awarded VOLUNTEER GROUP honour by MLAs Shirley Bond and Pat Bell, to see the newspaper article click on HANDOUTS; recognized for community involvement and initiative by Prince George City Council

Congratulations to all the committee members, volunteers, and to this community!!!!

 

Thank you everyone for a great tournament,
From the WBC Committee.

Congratulations to the United States National Team (head coach, Rick Jones; GM, Eric Campbell) for capturing first place, and going 6-1 in the tournament, led by a tremendous pitching staff.

1. USA

2. Germany

3. Canada

4. Team BC

5. Prince George Westcana Electric Axemen

6. Bahamas

 

**Thoughts on the tournament? Post comments under 'FORUM'

Remember ALL "STATS" under "Handouts"

July 16-26, Prince George Citizen Field

TOURNAMENT PHOTOGRAPHS... Click on LINKS, follow NEXT LEVEL MEDIA, photos being added to galleries there by Mark Duthie, official tournament photographer, shots from Canada-US round-robin game now available for viewing

JASON BAY TALKS ABOUT WBC -- View VIDEOS or click HERE 

**Team info updates on USA national team, and the host Prince George Westcana Axemen -- link on the left; PHOTOS AND LOGOS added under PHOTOS link.

Local product Brooklyn Foster drafted, see NEWSROOM.



The first World Baseball Challenge was founded by Larry Seminoff in 2002 in Grand Forks, B.C., and featured Cuba, Canada, China, Taiwan, Dominican Republic, Russia, teams from the U.S., and the Prince George Axemen. The Cuban National Team, including players such as Jose Contreras, Youliesky Gourriel, Eduardo Paret and Pedro Lazo, defeated the Seattle Studs in the final.

The World Baseball Challenge is planned for every two years in Prince George at Prince George Citizen Field. Get in on the ground floor!

News, recent information under NEWSROOM... up-to-date schedule posted.

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TOURNAMENT MARKETING PACKAGE AVAILABLE IN PDF FORMAT, click on "Handouts" on the left -- the way for your company to get involved with the WBC, and be in the middle of the action!


**TO SEE VIDEO OF JOSH BECKETT PITCHING IN GRAND FORKS AGAINST JAPAN AND KOSUKE FUKUDOME, CLICK ON 'LINKS'**

LEGALESE -- The World Baseball Challenge is sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation, Baseball Canada, Baseball B.C. and all local levels of baseball, and the name is legally registered, any unauthorized use of the name World Baseball Challenge is prohibited.