ONC News (2009)
Former Pro Signs as ONC Pitching Co-Ordinator
08 Dec 2009
The Ottawa Nepean Canadians are pleased to announce former professional player Steve Walsh has joined the organization as pitching co-ordinator for both the 16U and 18U teams for the 2010 season.
Great Showing for ONC's 18U Pitchers
14 Sep 2009
Ottawa Nepean Canadians pitchers allowed just 10 runs, nine of them earned, over four games at the annual Brawl in the Fall baseball tournament in Guelph this past weekend, advancing the Canadians to the 18U semifinal where they bowed 1-0 to the Canadian Thunderbirds.
James Amelotte, Julian Silvestri, Ryan Mulders and Stef Lajeunesse all threw complete games for the Canadians who are in Oakville this weekend at the Cannon Cup tournament.
Bisson Ranked Fifth Among Canadians for 2010 MLB Draft
01 Sep 2009
Ottawa Nepean Canadian alumnus Chris Bisson is the fifth-rated Canadian available for Major League Baseball's June draft in 2010, according to the Canadian Baseball Network.
Bisson (a member of ONC 2004-07), starred this past summer in the prestigious Cape Cod Summer League for the league finalist Cotuit Kettleers and was rated the 39th best prospect in the Cape Cod League by Perfect Game.
Bisson, about to turn 20, is also rated 179th on Perfect Game's combined list of 250 top prospects and is the top-ranked Canadian in college, who is not previously drafted.
With Cotuit, Bisson ran the bases with abandon after hitting .373 at the University of Kentucky with two home runs and 45 RBI with a slugging percentage of .480.
Bisson, among Canadians, is ranked only behind four players, including left-handed pitcher James Paxton, who was a sandwich pick of the Toronto Blue Jays this past June and opted not to sign after the Jays wouldn't give him the $1.35 million bonus he demanded. The Jays would not go higher than $1 million.
Paxton, of B.C., is a certain first-round choice next June.
Rated number 2 is New Brunswick lefty Jay Johnson, who chose going to Texas Tech over signing with the Baltimore Orioles, who drafted him in June.
Third-rated is Oshawa southpaw Evan Grills, who plays against the Canadians in the Premier Baseball League of Ontario with the Ontario Blue Jays.
Fourth is B.C. right-hander Steve McKinnon, who has pitched for Ottawa's Greg Hamilton and the Canadian junior national squad.
Bisson has a chance to be the highest Ottawa Nepean Canadian alumnus drafted since Mike Kusiewicz went in the 8th round to the Colorado Rockies in 1994.
Virtue Earns Win in Semis, Alberta Goes on to Capture Gold
25 Aug 2009
Alberta struck gold at the Baseball Canada Senior Men's Championship in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia yesterday defeating Newfoundland and Labrador 8-2 in semi-final action then defeating Quebec 8-4 to capture Gold.
In the semi-final, former Ottawa Nepean Canadians pitcher Ryan Virtue went the distance for the win, giving up one earned run, a solo homerun in the fourth, while scattering five hits and striking out nine.
Virtue pitched for the Canadians from 1999 - 2003. He started out with ONC's inaugural Bantam team in 1999 and finished off with ONC's Sr. Men's team in 2003. He earned a baseball scholarship and went on to pitch four seasons, from 2004 to 2007, at Niagara University (NCAA - Div I).
A recent newlywed, Virtue resides with wife Katie in Calgary, Alberta and is having a great season pitching for the Calgary Gamecocks of the Foothills Major Baseball Association (FMBA). He presently sports a 4-0 record, with 1 save, a 0.78 ERA and won the league's Pitcher of the Month award for May.
Baseball Canada Release (Sr. Men's Championship Game) >>
Baseball Canada Line Score (Alberta/Newfoundland and Labrador Semi-Final) >>
ONC University & College Signing Announcements
18 Aug 2009
With the 2009 summer season now complete, the Ottawa Nepean Canadians are pleased to announce that eight members of this year's 18-and-under team have secured signings and scholarships to continue their baseball careers, beginning later this month. We wish all our players the best in the next phase in their lives as student-athletes.
The eight are:
Alex Baldock (SS) University of Buffalo, Buffalo, New York (NCAA – D1)
Steven Bowes (C) Wilfred Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario
Phil Brunet (OF) Erie Community College, Buffalo, New York (NJCAA – D3)
Cody Dunn (RHP) Erie Community College, Buffalo, New York (NJCAA – D3)
Ryan Meek (1B) Redlands Community College, El Reno, Oklahoma (NJCAA - D2)
Kyle O'Brien (OF) Erie Community College, Buffalo, New York (NJCAA – D3)
Brett Sabourin (RHP) Niagara University, Lewiston, New York (NCAA – D1)
Sean Payton-Stewart (C) Sussex County Community College, Newton, New Jersey (NJCAA – D2)
Baldock and Brunet honed their skills in the East Nepean Little League program before joining the Canadians program at the 16U level. O'Brien is a graduate of Kanata Little League, Bowes hails from Pinecrest Little League, while Sabourin, Dunn and Payton-Stewart played Orleans Little League growing up. All eight, in fact, joined the Canadians right out of Little League at the 16U level before graduating to the 18U club and have played as many as four years in the Canadians program.
All the aforementioned, with the exception of Sabourin, are still eligible to return for another season in the Premier Baseball League of Ontario.
The 2010 season officially kicks off August 29-30 in Rochester, New York, with a weekend series against Genessee Community College.
Cotuit and Bisson Advance to Championship With 18-4 Win
10 Aug 2009
For the second year in a row, the Cotuit Kettleers are going to the championship series of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL), scheduled to start tomorrow. They beat the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox 18-4 to earn a spot against the Bourne Braves.
Former Ottawa Nepean Canadian Chris Bisson (Kentucky) started it off on the first pitch of the game with a single and a stolen base ...
16Us Romp to Victory in Baseball Quebec Tournament
06 Jul 2009
The Canadians 16U team won the Quebec Baseball Midget AAA Tournament in Montreal this weekend in convincing fashion.
ONC's 40th Anniversary Celebration a Huge Success
15 Jun 2009
The brothers Kusiewicz dominated the Ottawa Nepean Canadians alumni game played at Hamilton Yards, part of ONC's 40th Anniversary celebration. Lefty Mike Kusiewicz started for the winners pitching two scoreless innings. He also relieved in the eight to get the final out and knocked in the game's first run in a 4-0 win before 400 fans. And using re-entry rule 10 a) subsection C under the re-entry rule, he entered the game with two men on in the final inning to strike out the final hitter of the game. His older brother right-hander Brian (Big Money) Kusiewicz gained the win with two scoreless innings of his own.
Full Story >> Alumni Game Photos >> Awards Dinner Photos >>
Past Meets Present
10 Jun 2009
Hamilton brothers' diamond legacy spans generations with O'Connors
Past will meet present tonight as the Ottawa Nepean Canadians fete 40 years of memories with alumni game.
ONC Game to be Televised by Rogers
05 Jun 2009
Catch the Ottawa Nepean Canadians on Rogers TV this Sunday night in a matchup of all-star pitchers from the Premier Baseball League of Ontario.
Canadians' ace, Brett Sabourin, who is headed to Niagara University on a baseball scholarship in the fall, will face fellow all-star Chris Romano from team Ontario in a matchup of two of the best PBLO right-handers.
O'Connor to be Justly Honoured
28 May 2009
The best Ottawa Nepean Canadian of them all wanted nothing more than to be a Canadian participating in the Olympics.
He was given the ball and the chance to realize that dream in 1995.
"We came within one game," said Shawn O'Connor, reflecting back on the qualifier against Nicaragua for the right to play in the Atlanta Games the next year. "I didn't pitch horribly. Things just didn't go the way we planned."
More often than not, though, O'Connor had his way on the diamond. He spent five years with the national team, and he was the star of the Ottawa Nepean Canadians for 17 summers. When the organization celebrates its 40th anniversary next month, O'Connor will be justly honoured.
Five ONC Players and Coach Selected for PBLO All-Star Game
26 May 2009
The Premier Baseball League of Ontario takes great pride in announcing the 2nd annual PBLO Jim Ridley All-Star game set for Hastings Stadium, Exhibition Park, in Guelph, Ontario on May 30, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. The game will be played by players selected from within the PBLO league teams by their coaches and peers to represent the Eastern regional team or the Western regional team, and is a celebration of all the hard work these players have put into their sport.
Ottawa Nepean Canadian players Brett Sabourin (P), Alex Baldock (SS), Phil Brunet (OF), Cody Dunn (P/3B), and Kyle O'Brien (OF) have been selected to the Eastern team. They will join Don Campbell, who was chosen as one of the coaches.
Bisson Named to Second Team All-Conference in SEC
19 May 2009
Chris Bisson, an Ottawa Nepean Canadian from 2004 to 2007, has been named second team all-Conference second baseman in the SEC (Southeastern Conference) of NCAA baseball.
Bisson, just a sophomore, led the Wildcats in virtually every offensive category, flirting with a .400 batting average for a good part of the first half of the season, before finishing at .360.
The former Orleans Little Leaguer, led UK in average (.360), games played (53), runs (49), hits (80), triples (3), RBIs (52), walks (20), while stealing 13-of-15 bases.
40th Season Hall of Fame Honourees Announced
11 May 2009
When the current editions of the Ottawa Nepean Canadians baseball teams took the field last month in Burlington, it marked the 40th consecutive season of Canadians baseball. To mark the special occasion, the Canadians will host a first-ever alumni game Wednesday June 10, at Hamilton Yards, followed by a special Canadians Hall of Fame evening Friday June 12 at the Lone Star Ranch.
McGovern Among Four Braves to First Team All-PBC Laurels
08 May 2009
Former Ottawa Nepean Canadians righthander Matt McGovern became the first University of North Carolina Pembroke player to earn Peach Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year laurels, while three of his teammates joined him on the first team all-conference squad, with the release of the 32-member 2009 All-Peach Belt Conference Baseball Team by the league office on Friday afternoon.
ONC Alumni Peter Chiarelli - The Brain Behind the Bruins
02 May 2009
Thanks to the Boston Bruins' quick dismissal of the Montreal Canadiens in the opening round of the National Hockey League playoffs, general manager Peter Chiarelli, a former Ottawa Nepean Canadians catcher, was allowed a rare luxury last weekend.
Former ONC Pitcher Stephen Osterer Combines to Set Cornell Strikeout Record
29 Apr 2009
A former Team Ontario pitcher, a former Ottawa Nepean Canadian standout, and two others, combined to tie a Cornell University record dating back to 1957.
Mississauga's Corey Pappel, a Team Ontario grad, had 11 strikeouts and former Ottawa-Nepean Canadian Stephen Osterer struck out three in relief.
Bisson Continues to Be a Rising Star at UK
29 Apr 2009
Sophomore Second Baseman Chris Bisson Leads UK in Average, Hits, Runs, RBI
A native of Orleans, Ontario and former Ottawa Nepean Canadian, Kentucky second baseman Chris Bisson has had a dramatic impact on the UK lineup during the 2009 season, leading the team in nearly every statistical category.
Bisson Saddles up for Kentucky
23 Apr 2009
Orleans second baseman batting .391 for Wildcats
Orleans' Chris Bisson likes sneaking up on people.
It's getting a little harder for the 19-year-old former Ottawa Nepean Canadians standout to do that for the Kentucky Wildcats. The lefty-swinging second baseman, line-drive hitter with some wheels, has been raking this spring, hitting .391 entering last night's play. That's good anywhere, let alone in the Southeastern Conference, which could have four players taken in the first round of next month's MLB draft.
Lockwood-Menard Makes First Two Appearances
22 Apr 2009
RPI freshman Jeremy Lockwood-Menard, a three-year member of the Ottawa Nepean Canadians, made his first two pitching appearances for the Rensselaer Polytechnical Institute baseball team.
A native of Chelsea, Lockwood-Menard posts a 6.75 ERA, allowing 3 runs (2 unearned) on two hits in 1.1 innings pitched. The Red Hawks are ranked 17th in the nation with a 17-2 league/24-8 overall record and are presently first in the Liberty League.
Great Weekend at Mississippi State for Bisson
20 Apr 2009
On Sunday, former Ottawa Nepean Canadian and Kentucky sophomore Chris Bisson's career-high six RBIs led the Kentucky Wildcats to a 22-17 win over Mississippi State. Bisson finished the contest with a .401 batting average and a team-best 41 RBIs.
The day before, Bisson's two-RBI triple in the top of the eleventh - his first career triple - lifted the Kentucky Wildcats to a dramatic 5-4 comeback win over Mississippi State.
Bisson's performance has prompted a recent Canadian Baseball Network feature article.
Former ONC Players, Cowick and Courchaine, Report to NHL Affiliate Teams
03 Apr 2009
Corey Cowick's breakthrough season with the Ottawa 67's wasn't lost on many hockey people, least of all the New York Rangers' scouting staff. The 67's top playoff performer, a former Ottawa Nepean Canadians catcher, took a call from Rangers vice-president and general manager Glen Sather Thursday morning, and within the hour Cowick was signed to an undrafted free agent contract. Cowick had to skip the 67's wrapup banquet Thursday night in order to jump on a 6 p.m. flight to join the Rangers' American Hockey League affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack in time for tonight's contest in Providence, Rhode Island, against the Bruins.
Cowick will meet up with 67's netminder, Adam Courchaine, another former Ottawa Nepean Canadian, who reports to Providence today. Courchaine signed a two-year contract with the Boston Bruins last year.
Bisson Extends Hitting Streak to Career and Team High
29 Mar 2009
Ottawa Nepean Canadians alumni Chris Bisson had a multi-hit game on Sunday, extending his hitting streak to a career and University of Kentucky team high 15 games.
2009 ONC 16U & 18U Team Tryouts
05 Mar 2009
ONC is pleased to annouce we will be holding tryouts for our 2009 16U and 18U Summer Teams as follows:
| Date | Time | Team | Location |
| March 29 | 10:00am - 11:30am 11:30am - 1:00pm | 16U 18U | Bell Sensplex |
| March 31 | 10:00pm - 11:00pm | 16U & 18U | Superdome (Ben Franklin Park) |
| April 5 | 10:00am - 11:30am 11:30am - 1:00pm | 16U 18U | Bell Sensplex |
Chris Bisson Belts Two-Out, Two-Run Walk-Off Blast
04 Mar 2009
Former Ottawa Nepean Canadian and Kentucky sophomore Chris Bisson's two-out, two-run walk-off shot in the bottom of the ninth - his first career home run - lifted the No. 29 Kentucky Wildcats to a dramatic 9-8 comeback win over Eastern Kentucky.
ONC Coach Italy Bound
02 Mar 2009
Tim Nelson, who has coached the Ottawa Nepean Canadians for the previous three seasons, will be taking a leave of absence from his job to take a coaching job in Verona, Italy from March 5-Sept. 30.
ONC Alumni Kushneriuk Earns Student-Athlete Honors
04 Feb 2009
Former Ottawa Nepean Canadians standout (2004-05) Chris Kushneriuk has earned Male Student-Athlete of the Week honors at Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh.
Don Campbell Receives Award for Lifetime Achievement
22 Jan 2009
There's more to being a baseball coach than just filling out the lineup card, instructing and motivating the players, and occasionally disagreeing with the umpires.
ONC to Face Jefferson Community College in Exhibition Double-Header
20 Jan 2009
The Ottawa Nepean Canadians will face Jefferson Community College in an exhibition double-header Tuesday April 28 in Watertown, New York.
The Canadians are already scheduled to open their Premier Baseball League of Ontario schedule April 25-26. The PBLO will be announcing its 2009 schedule next week.
ONC Alumni, Peter Hoy, Cracks Top 100 List for Most Influential, Honourable Mention to Don Campbell
19 Jan 2009
The Toronto Sun Media has released it's annual poll of The 100 Most Influential Canadians in Baseball. For the 2008 poll, former Ottawa Nepean Canadians player Peter Hoy ranks #92. Don Campbell receives honourable mention on this prestigious list.
University at Buffalo Baseball Announces 2009-2010 Signees
06 Jan 2009
BUFFALO, NY University at Buffalo head baseball coach Ron Torgalski has announced the addition of five new players to the UB baseball program, having signed National Letters of Intent for the 2009-2010 season. Joining the Bulls next season will be Alex Baldock (Nepean, Ontario/St. Joseph's), Gavin Black (Rochester, NY/Hilton), Alex Lindenmayer (Penfield, NY/Penfield), Tom Murphy (West Monroe, NY/Central Square) and Darren Travers (Nashville, TN/Cerro Coso CC).
"The coaching staff is very excited to have these five young men join our program," said Torgalski. "With this class we were not looking for big numbers but quality players and I really feel like we accomplished that as a program. We identified our immediate needs early and recruiting coordinator Jim Koerner did a terrific job of addressing our needs".
A 6-3 shortstop/third baseman, Baldock, has won two Canadian National Championships. As a sophomore, Baldock, batted .488 for the Ottawa Nepean Canadians, coached by Don Campbell. This past summer, Baldock hit above .500 while sending 10 over the fence. Torgalski speaks very highly of Baldock's size and potential, "Alex is a big physical athlete with a tremendous upside. He has the potential to be a middle of the order hitter for us. He has a great work ethic and is an outstanding student-athlete".