麻豆社区

In Jim Jones' mind, as many as six teams could claim the junior men's world softball title in Whitehorse this July.

Team Canada's head coach spoke with the Star yesterday from his office in Leduc, Alta.

"There's six teams that I think could win this championship,鈥濃�圝ones said. "The competition has gotten that good that the

top six teams from the last time could all win it. They're that good.

"If they have a top of the line pitcher like Argentina has, they're going to be really tough to beat.鈥�

Argentina is the defending champion, winning on their home turf in 2012. There, Canada finished fourth.

Argentina, alongside Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the United States and host Canada could be listed as the favourites in the upcoming Junior Men's World Softball Championship scheduled for July 11 to 20 in the Yukon capital.

Mexico is also a strong darkhorse candidate in Jones' mind.

"The top six teams, you're going to flip a coin,鈥� he said.

Jones and his staff recently selected the 17 members of Team Canada after inviting 32 of the country's top players to a selection camp in Brampton, Ont.

The team of 18- and 19-year-olds will look to avenge their 2008 finish, where Canada dropped the gold-medal final to Australia in extra innings.

"In 2008, we should've won the gold medal,鈥� Jones said.

He said a missed call on a potential double play at second base continues to haunt him.

"We were right there. We had a masher team that year. We had boys that could hit home runs like I've never seen.鈥�

Jones, 54, previously worked as an assistant coach at the last two world championships and is a member of the Softball Canada Hall of Fame.