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ST. Tyronne Green Patriots Jersey . MARYS, Ont. -- Cincinnati Reds slugger Joey Votto was named the winner of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fames Tip ONeill Award on Friday. The honour is presented annually to the Canadian player judged to have excelled in individual achievement and team contribution while adhering to baseballs highest ideals. "Joey Votto is not only a superstar on the field, but hes also an inspiration and a difference-maker away from the ballpark," said Scott Crawford, the Halls director of operations. "There was a very strong field of candidates this year, but Joey deserves this honour for his tremendous contributions both on and off the field." Votto, from Toronto, is the first player to win the award four years in a row and is one of only two players to have won it on more than three occasions. The other is Larry Walker, a native of Maple Ridge, B.C., who won the award nine times. Votto hit .305 this past season and was selected to his fourth straight all-star game. He hit 24 home runs, drove in 73 runs, and led the National League in walks (135) and on-base percentage (.435). To determine a winner, the Hall considers each candidates on-the-field performance, contributions to their team, community and charitable endeavours and support in fan voting. "Its an honour to be recognized again by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame," Votto said in a release. "It is very flattering to be mentioned in any discussion that includes Larry Walker, who represented our country with such dedication and professionalism during his major-league career. I have to thank the Baseball Hall of Fame for its efforts in promoting our great game in Canada." Several players were considered for this years honour, including Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie of Langley, B.C., and Pittsburgh Pirates sluggers Russell Martin of Toronto and Justin Morneau of New Westminster, B.C. Votto, who shared the award with John Axford in 2011, will be presented with the award in a pre-game ceremony in Cincinnati early next season. Tommy Kelly Womens Jersey . Brendon Kay hobbled around on a bad ankle and matched him in the fourth-quarter cold. It went down to overtime for the second year in a row. Bryan Stork Womens Jersey . Heres how Id fix them. THE PROBLEM: In general, a player becomes eligible for the draft either four years after he begins his university career or the year after he turns 25, whichever comes first.MARSEILLE, France -- Top-seeded Richard Gasquet of France and defending champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga both advanced to the Open 13 semifinals on Friday. After Gasquet beat fifth-seeded Ivan Dodig of Croatia 7-5, 6-3, Tsonga followed up with a 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2 win against sixth-seeded Edouard Roger-Vasselin in an all-French match. Gasquet, ranked ninth, broke Dodig twice in the first set and once more in the second set, where he saved three break-points of his own. He sealed the win on his own serve when Dodigs forehand from the back of the court was wide. "I played a solid match. I served well, didnt really drop off at all during the match and managed to save some break-points," said Gasquet, who lost the Open Sud de France final in Montpellier to countryman Gael Monfils earlier this month. "Im happy to be in the semifinals. Its the first time Ive reached the semifinals here so Id like to get to the final." Gasquet next faces third-seeded Ernests Gulbis of Latvia, who won 6-3, 7-6 (1) against No. 8 Nicolas Mahut of France to reach his second consecutive semifinal. He leads thee 23rd-ranked Gulbis 2-0 in the career head-to-heads. Andre Tippett Womens Jersey. Tsonga, who improved to 4-0 against Roger-Vasselin, next faces Germanys Jan-Lennard Struff, who continued his run toward a first career final with a 6-4, 6-3 win against Frenchman Michael Llodra. "Edouard played very well. He took his chance in the tiebreaker and was very aggressive," Tsonga said. "It was tricky and Im glad to have got out of it. I hope I recover well so that I can play a good match tomorrow." Tsonga broke Roger-Vasselin twice in the second and third sets, and sealed victory on his first match point with a backhand pass down the line. But Tsonga, who had 39 winners, was unhappy with his overall performance. "I got through with my serve tonight," he said. "The rest wasnt great and at one point I wanted to leave the court because I was ashamed of how I was playing." The 23-year-old Struff, who is ranked 117th, had nine aces, won 87 per cent of first-service points, did not face a single break-point and broke Llodras serve three times in a dominant performance. ' ' ' |
