Thunder Bay Border Cats

Thunder Bay Border Cats
Founded 2003[1]
Ballpark Port Arthur Stadium
Based in Thunder Bay, Ontario
Team Colors Red, Black
League Northwoods League
Team Manager John Hernandez
General manager Brad Jorgenson[2]
Owner Brad Jorgenson[2]
Championships 2005 & 2008 Northwoods League Champions

The Thunder Bay Border Cats are a baseball team that plays in the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer baseball league. The league's only Canadian team, their home games are played at Tbaytel Field in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

The Border Cats have been Northwoods League champions twice, defeating the Madison Mallards two games to one in both 2005 and 2008. They also were in the Northwoods League championship in 2006, but lost to the Rochester Honkers. [3]

As of 2014, the Border Cats have sent three players to the major leagues. Matt Mangini was the first to make the jump, playing 11 games for the Seattle Mariners in 2011. Shortstop Jonathan Diaz followed two years later, playing four games with the Boston Red Sox in 2013. Diaz also spent time with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2014, almost making the team out of spring training. Pitcher Blaine Hardy became a regular in the Detroit Tigers bullpen in 2014.

2009 All-Star Game

The 2009 Northwoods League All-Star Game was held on July 21 in Thunder Bay. This was the first time the All-Star game played in Canada. The guest speaker for the event was Ferguson Jenkins, a Canadian member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. The game was won 4-2 by the South Division squad, led by the MVP performance of Kurtis Muller, who went 3-for-5.

2013 Border Cats Roster

Number Name Position
35 Ryan Atwood P
99 Matt Blackham P
95 Jordan Church P
54 Kyle Cornett P
98 John Havird P
89 Bradley HOorn P
36 Chris Kerwood P
17 Clint Knoblacuh P
58 Chad Mayle P
79 Caleb Smith P
52 Kregg Snook P
21 Daniel Stoney P
25 Zach Thiac P
47 Cameron Wood P
42 Anthony Pastrana P
20 Steven Pastrana P
53 Ben Neyen P
40 Derec Olson P
29 Steven Cazares P
11 Omar Cotto P
44 Matt Hanchar P
48 Mason Schiff
49 Danny Shields P
14 Dylan Goodwin C
32 Jacob Rogers C
18 Shane Trattles C
27 Dylan Becker INF
3 Ryan Casillas INF
8 Tyler Duplantis INF
12 Michael Foster INF
5 Kyle Hann INF
10 Joey Hawkins INF
9 Carter McEachern INF
53 Trent Pell INF
4 Jason Vosler INF
11 Philip Lyons INF
13 Adam Collins INF
19 Alex Bautista OF
7 Cory Kay OF
16 Ty Stetson OF
61 Kyle Westhuis OF
38 Brad Burcroff OF
33 Scott Held OF

Coaching Staff:

Number Name Position
-- Dan Holcomb Manager
2 Greg Byron Assistant Coach

Alumni

NamePositionPro AffiliateLevelLeagueTeamStatusMajors
Oney Guillen Infield Chicago WS AAA International Charlotte Not active N
Zach Daeges Oufielder Boston A New York Penn Lowell Spinners Not active N
Reid Mahon Pitcher Arizona AA Southern Mobile Not active N
Jon Hunton Pitcher -- IND American Association Laredo Not active N
Derek Wiley Infield Atlanta Lo A South Atlantic Rome Not active N
Matt Camp Outfield Chicago Cubs AA Southern Tennessee Not active N
Jonathan Diaz Infield Toronto AAA International League Buffalo Active Bos., Tor.
Scot Drucker Pitcher -- IND American Association Grand Prairie Not active N
Marc Maddox Infield Kansas City AAA Pacific Coast Omaha Not active N
Matt Mangini Infield Arizona AA Southern Mobile Not active Seattle
Eric Wordekemper Pitcher -- AAA Mexican Olmecas de Tabasco Active N
Dale Mollenhauer Infield Baltimore HI A Carolina Frederick Not active N
Brandon Tripp Outfield Detroit AA Florida Erie Not active N
Scot Vander Weg Pitcher Philadelphia AA Texas Springfield Not active N
Blake Brannon Pitcher LA Dodgers Hi A California Inland Empire Not active N
Ramon Corona Infield San Francisco Lo A South Atlantic Augusta Not active N
Craig Heyer Pitcher NY Yankees AA Eastern Trenton Not active N
Jon Mueller Pitcher Chicago Cubs AAA PCL Iowa Not active N
Benjamin Petsch Catcher Minnesota Lo A Midwest Beloit Not active N
Wilson Tucker Outfield Kansas City Lo A Midwest Burlington Not active N
Shawn Williams DH Tampa Bay Hi A New York-Penn Hudson Valley Not active N
Chris Curley Infield Chicago WS AA Southern Birmingham Active N
Drew Erwin Pitcher Philadelphia Rookie Gulf Coast GCL Not active N
Brett Holland Pitcher San Diego Padres A Northwest Eugene Not Active N
A.J. Schugel Pitcher Arizona Diamondbacks AA Southern Mobile Active N
Ryan Court 3B Arizona Diamondbacks A California Visalia Active N
Brad Delatte Pitcher Toronto Blue Jays A Northwest Vancouver Not active N
Eric Brown Pitcher Toronto Blue Jays A Midwest Lansing Not active N
Casey Selsor Pitcher Washington Nationals A New York-PennAuburn Not active N
Brett Kay Shortstop San Francisco Giants Rookie Arizona League AZL Giants Active N
Matt Johnson Outfield Boston Red Sox A Carolina Salem Active N

References

  1. ↑ Millea, John (2004-07-27). "Fielding big dreams". Star Tribune.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Border Cats Staff". Thunder Bay Border Cats. Retrieved 2007-01-03.
  3. ↑ Milewski, Todd (2005-08-22). "Mallards Dethroned By Late Run". The Capital Times. Retrieved 2007-01-03.

External links