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"The more the merrier" was the mantra for the T-Birds this fall, as a total of 46 players reported to the 2009 fall training camp. With so many players at their disposal this season, the coaching staff has all their bases covered.

"Depth should not be an issue for us," said Assistant Coach Cav Whitely. "At the end of the day, no matter what, we'll always have a guy who can step in for us without much of a talent drop on the field."

This will be vital for the T-Birds, who suffered through injuries to various key players over the course of last season and lost an unusual number to academic ineligibility as well. To help counter the latter problem this season, the coaching staff has hired an academic specialist. While there isn't much that can be done to prevent the bad luck of injuries, the depth of 46 players will help to mitigate the consequences.

"The beauty of having this many guys is that we can go on when someone gets hurt," said Whitely. "They can spend proper time in physio; they won't have to play through it, and they can get healthy before they get back on the field."

Thunderbird RHP Shawn Hetherington was selected as the first team relief pitcher for the 2009 All-Canadian team selected by the Canadian Baseball Network.

LHP Mark Hardy was selected to the second team. Several more Thunderbirds got honourable mentions.

Complete details on the All-Canadian team can be found here.

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The Old Alumni trailed 7-3 going into the bottom of the ninth, but former pro (Mets organization) Derran Watts came home on a wild pitch to give the Old Alumni their fifth straight win in this annual matchup. Shawn Anderson gets credit for the winning RBI, and Mike Lazaruk, who pitched the last two innings, got the win.

Tyler Willson hit a ball that hit the top of the outfield fence for a two-RBI double for the Young Alumni.

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