Wauseon connected to 2008 Beijing games

By NORRIS LEDYARD

Expositor Staff Writer

As many are glued to their televisions or computer monitors to get the latest news on the American athletes competing in the 2008 Olympics in China, Wauseon viewers may not recognize the name, but one athlete has ties to northwest Ohio.

Matthew Rogelstad is a member of the Canadian national baseball team.

A native of Wauseon, Nadely (Leupp) and Don Rogelstad's youngest son is currently assigned to the Washington Nationals' AA farm team, the Harrisburg (Pa.) Senators and is on the roster of Team Canada baseball team.

Rogelstad, 25, is the grandson of Annabelle Leupp and the late Dale Leupp of Wauseon. He is very proud of his Wauseon roots. He would travel north for Thanksgiving to Ohio while at college.

He graduated from Gleneagle High School in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada. Rogelstad attended Southeastern Louisiana University, as did his older brother, Dustin. He transferred to Arkansas State University for his junior year. Rogelstad was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Seattle Mariners organization after his junior year.

Counting his college career, his four years with the Seattle organization and two years with the Nationals, Rogelstad is hitting .284 with an on-base percentage of .339 and a slugging average of .381. He stands 6' 3" and weighs 185. As a third and second baseman, he throws right and bats from the left side of the plate and wears the number 4 on his uniform. Team Canada will play Team USA Saturday, Aug. 16. Check local listings for coverage.

International Rules

During the Summer games of Beijing, baseball will be played by professional and amateur players. Rather than to interrupt the pennant races in Major League Baseball, the minor leagues have lent their players for the international competition.

After numerous games have been played, there are eight teams left to compete for the gold, silver and bronze medals. Teams from Canada, China, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), Cuba, the Netherlands, Japan, South Korea and the United States will play one game each in a round-robin. The best four teams will then advance to play for medals.

With the professional players dominate on the team rosters, wooden bats are used. Aluminum bats can be very dangerous. As a manufactured product, the quality can be suspect. Also, given the velocity of a ball batted by an aluminum bat, a player can barely get their glove up to protect themselves.

The manager in international baseball is allowed three visits to the mound to discuss situations with his pitcher. In North America, a manager has one "free" visit before he has to replace a pitcher.

If the manager decides to remove his pitcher from a game prior to using up those three trips, it does not count as one of his free trips. Should the games go into extra innings, one free visit by the manager is allowed for every three innings of play.

Also, in the interest of speeding up the game, only one infielder at a time can visit the pitcher's mound, and only once per inning.

If a team is leading by 10 runs or more after seven innings, it automatically wins the game.

As Rogelstad walked into the Bird Cage for the Opening Ceremonies last Friday, Aug. 8, he was thinking of his immediate family, his grandmother Annabelle, his Uncle "Loopy" and of his cousins Dawn (Ron) Price, Toledo, Stacie (Joe) Zappone, Holland, and Crissy (Chris) Ballas, Allen Park, Mich.

His father Don and brother Dustin were in China Wednesday, Aug. 13 as Team Canada played China for their opening game. He thought of his Uncle Roger every day while qualifying for Team Canada and now at the Olympic games.