BASEBALL CANADA TO HOST
NATIONAL TEAMS AWARDS
BANQUET AND FUNDRAISER

Ottawa – Baseball Canada announced today, it will hold its Annual National Teams Awards Banquet and Fundraiser January 12th, 2008 at the Renaissance Toronto Hotel at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ont. The Banquet, which will take place in the Northern Lights Ballroom, was first held in 2003 and serves as the association’s primary fundraiser for national team programs.

Various Baseball Canada alumni and current national team players attend the banquet each year, along with several professional and amateur baseball executives and dignitaries.

“This event is special in that it brings together so many of our highly valued alumni, corporate partners and friends,” says Baseball Canada Coach & Director of National Teams Greg Hamilton. “It’s a great opportunity for everyone to get together and celebrate Canadian baseball excellence in an environment which helps promote future success on the world baseball stage.”

Throughout the evening, Baseball Canada will honour its national teams and players both past and present, including those who represented Canada at the World Junior Qualifier and the IBAF World Cup. Baseball Canada will award the following honours at this year's event to:

* Phillippe Aumont, Junior National MVP Award
* Matt Rogelstad, Stubby Clapp Award
* Ryan Dempster, Alumni Award
* Paul Spoljaric, Alumni Award
* Russell Martin, Special Achievement Award
* Jeff Francis, Special Recognition Award
* Paul Godfrey, Special Recognition Award
* Larry Walker, Wall of Excellence

In addition to the awards portion of the gala, a silent auction featuring several popular items will take place.

Tickets to the event, which will be emceed by Toronto Blue Jays radio broadcaster Jerry Howarth for the sixth straight year, will be available for $300 per person, $2,400 for tables of 8 or $3,000 for tables of 10. Baseball Canada has registered charitable status.

For more information, please contact Baseball Canada Coach & Director of National Teams Greg Hamilton at (613) 748-5606, ext. 225 or via e-mail at ghamilton@baseball.ca. Those who are interested are also encouraged to consult the registration form found on the link provided above and submit by fax at 613-748-5767

For media interested in attending, please contact André Cormier, Manager of Media & Public Relations at (613) 748-5606, ext. 221 or via e-mail at media@baseball.ca.

Baseball Canada – 4 December 2007