Calgary Dawgs
bolstered their roster for the 2004 season by adding Canadian standouts,
Jonathan Yiu, 1B/C, of Surrey, BC and Jeff Casagrande,
RHP, of Lasalle, Ontario.
Jonathan Yiu is a 6’ 1”, 225 lb, sophomore
1B/C from Surrey, BC currently the starting first baseman for Coach
Terry McKaig of the UBC Thunderbirds, NAIA, Division1. Yiu had an
outstanding high school baseball career, catching Baltimore Orioles
first round draft pick, Adam Loewen, while playing for the Whalley
Chiefs under head coach Denis Sprignatic. Yiu was a key part of
a gold medal winning Team BC at the Canada Cup and earned an invitation
to play with Canada’s Junior National Team in Florida. “Dawgs
are excited to add Johnny Yiu to the 2004 roster. We have watched
Johnny play with Team BC, the Junior Nationals and now UBC. He is
a serious threat at the plate and brings a great work ethic to the
field each day. Calgary fans are going to enjoy watching Yiu swing
the bat.”
Jeff
Casagrande is a 6’3”, 195 lb, junior RHP on
scholarship to Stony Brook University, NCAA Division 1. Casagrande
is a native of Lasalle, Ontario and starred as a two way player
at Erie Community College in Buffalo, New York, posting an ERA of
1.50 and earning All Conference honors. Casagrande hopes to follow
in the footsteps of another Stony Brook right hander, Joe Nathan
who pitched last season with the San Francisco Giants and was recently
traded to the Minnesota Twins. Casagrande throws a fastball in the
high 80s and complements that with a hard slider. “Dawgs
are pleased to add Jeff to a strong pitching staff with the likes
of Nelson, Judson, Osachoff, Cerchi and McElroy from the 2003 squad
all returning. Jeff will fit in well and has the stuff to battle
for a starting spot in the rotation.”
Season tickets for Dawgs
baseball are already for sale. Ticket prices are $100 for season
tickets if purchased before Christmas and $115 thereafter. Also
available are Dawgs
Mini Paks, any 10 home games for $60. Tickets can be purchased by
calling the Dawgs
hotline at 262-DAWG (3294)
or on the website.
Jeff
Casagrande is a 6’3”, 195 lb, junior RHP on
scholarship to Stony Brook University, NCAA Division 1. Casagrande
is a native of Lasalle, Ontario and starred as a two way player
at Erie Community College in Buffalo, New York, posting an ERA of
1.50 and earning All Conference honors. Casagrande hopes to follow
in the footsteps of another Stony Brook right hander, Joe Nathan
who pitched last season with the San Francisco Giants and was recently
traded to the Minnesota Twins. Casagrande throws a fastball in the
high 80s and complements that with a hard slider. “Dawgs
are pleased to add Jeff to a strong pitching staff with the likes
of Nelson, Judson, Osachoff, Cerchi and McElroy from the 2003 squad
all returning. Jeff will fit in well and has the stuff to battle
for a starting spot in the rotation.”