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The original Canadian Crusher - Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins. The 2006 league MVP hails from British Columbia.


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The Fort Myers Miracle version of the Canadian Crusher, Rene Tosoni. Tosoni is also from British Columbia and is in his second year of Professional Ball. He is being rushed a bit through the system as he was signed as a 21-year-old, so we shall see if he can handle the play at the High-A level.

Tosoni is a little bit more versitile than Morneau or Waltenbury as he can also play 3rd base and outfield.

Last season he hit a combined average of .300 in games spit between rookie Elizabethton and Low-A Beloit.


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Jon Waltenbury from Ontario, picked by some to be Morneau's likely replacement despite the number of good first baseman at the upper levels. Minnesota would like to hang on to Morneau for as long as they can, which would allow Waltenbury time to develop. He had some trouble connecting during his first year of professional ball, hitting only .244 for the rookie level Gulf Coast League Twins, but is reportedly tearing the cover off the ball in extended spring training this year.

And a bonus...Ed and Justin on Opening Night


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If found it somewhat strange that our News Press blogger should show up for opening night in Owls gear and wearing RED no less, when the Miracle were playing the Reds, but what can you do?

You can find Ed's blog online Here. (Note that the link moved from last year.)

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I was wishing for a Canadian kit last night, ran a google search and was routed to Scrap Girls and there it was. More impressive was the fact they had the other kits I'd actually been wanting - a Mardi Gras kit and a "Crime Scene" kit. Plus some other ones that looked interesting.

All the Canadian Crusher pieces were completed with the Canadian kit, while I used Digital Freebies Family Man on the opening night piece.

I also wish to note that I'd been crediting the African Beat kit to Digital Freebies when in fact, it is a Scrap Girls kit. I'll try to remember that from now on.