Softball Canada – (Ottawa, ON) Softball Canada is pleased to announce the list of athletes who have been selected to represent Team Canada at the Men’s Slo-Pitch Border Battle. The event will take place in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma from June 29th to July 1st.
 
“As Head Coach of Team Canada for the 2017 Border Battle, I am excited with the players chosen and anticipate a very strong showing from our boys this year as we engage ourselves against Team USA” stated Head Coach Grant Garrett. “We have a good mix of players with past Border Battle experience as well as some new players that will work very hard to represent Canada to the best of their abilities in any way they can.”
 
Team Canada will play a series of exhibition games before they take on Team USA in a one-game showdown at the Men’s Slo-Pitch Border Battle on July 1st. Team USA has won seven of eight meetings in the annual Men’s Slo-Pitch Border Battle game, most recently defeating Team Canada 27-8 last year in Oklahoma City. Canada last won the event in 2010 by a score of 30-29.
 
The list of athletes selected to participate was chosen by the coaching staff and a panel of Slo-Pitch experts from across the country. Performance at provincial, national and international events was used as one of the major contributors to the selections. While some objective criteria were used to invite the team, it was also recognized that there was a significant subjective element. These elements included such factors as performance, experience, positional requirements, leadership and team cohesion. To be eligible to be invited, the athletes had to be members in good standing of Softball Canada as well as being Canadian citizens, or have a Permanent Resident card.
 
The coaching staff will consist of Grant Garrett (Georgetown, ON) who will serve as the head coach with Mike Hrynenko (Winnipeg, MB) serving as the assistant coach.
 
The following athletes have been chosen to represent Canada at the 2017 Men’s Slo-Pitch Border Battle:

 

First Name	Last Name	Hometown
Colin	Andrews	Hanover, ON
Jeff	Andrews	St. Albert, AB
Ted	Baker	Southport, NL
Bret	Foisy	North Bay, ON
Olivier	Forest	St-Léonard-d’Aston, QC
Kyle	Knechtel	Ayr, ON
Mark	Kucharski	Essex, ON
Steele	Lewis	Windsor, ON
Dustin	McLoughlin	Maple Ridge, BC
Ron	Nadalin	Woodstock, ON
Chris	Parr	Chilliwack, BC
Justin	Pennell	Toronto, ON
Hunter	Platten	Edmonton, AB
Kyle	Reinders	Cambridge, ON
Jeff	Zanolli	Taber, AB
Josh	Zanolli	Drayton Valley, AB

Coaching Staff

Position	Name	Hometown
Head Coach	Grant Garrett	Georgetown, ON
Assistant Coach	Mike Hrynenko	Winnipeg, MB
Team Leader	Ryan DeBelser	Prince George, BC
Manager – National Teams	Mike Branchaud	Ottawa, ON

-SC-
 
For more information, please contact:
 
Mike Branchaud
Manager – National Teams and Canadian Championships
Softball Canada
(613) 523-3386 x.3103
mbranchaud@softball.ca