Russ Smithson and Mike Bird join the Tritons Coaching Staff
The White Rock Tritons Baseball Club is very pleased to announce the appointment of Russ Smithson as the Head Coach of the Tritons 16U Club in preparation of the upcoming 2010 season.
A Port Coquitlam native, Russ went on to play for the Fraser Valley Orioles as part of their Championship team winning the 2000 Big League World Series, one of the very few Canadian teams ever to win this title. Later Russ joined the Langley Blaze (Big League) during their infancy (in 2001) winning a National Big League title. While with the Blaze he enjoyed a successful season that then propelled him onto the Canadian Junior National Team as a starting infielder. He capped his summer with a scholarship to El Paso CC in Texas were he helped the Tejanos’ win back to back Conference Championships. Russ finished his distinguished college career off at the University of Kentucky in 2006.
After his very successful playing career Russ shifted his attention to the coaching ranks returning to his roots. For the past 2 years Russ has managed the Tri-Cities Midget AAA club in addition to heading up the Coaching and Player Development Program for Port Coquitlam Minor Baseball.
With the addition of Coach Smithson, the club is very excited at the prospects of what we feel is a quality individual who will able to share his experience and knowledge with the players entering our program this fall and many seasons to come. The Tritons consider this a significant addition to the coaching staff and program in general; one that we are confident will continue to provide dividends for the future.
Joining Coach Smithson will be long time friend Mike Bird who himself has gathered a rather extensive and impressive coaching resume. Coach Bird is just coming off a successful 2009 season winning the Western Canadian Bantam AAA title as the coach of the Tri Cities Indians. In his previous 11 year career, Mike has won a Midget AAA Provincial Championship with the Tri Cities and been a Provincial finalist twice.
Mike too is Port Coquitlam native who played his minor baseball for the Indians, winning two Provincial Championships and a Western Canadian title over his playing career. Mike brings to the Tritons a wealth of experience in dealing with the young players that will be joining the program. We are very confident that Mike will be provide the necessary skills to help develop these talent players for the future. We are extremely happy and indeed fortunate to have Coach Bird join our staff. Coach Bird’s contact information in addition to Coach Smithsons’ information will be posted as soon as possible for those who may wish to contact them.
Coaches Smithson and Bird will assume their duties and responsibilities with the team immediately. Last year Assistant Coach, Adam Ladoucuer will now assume more responsibilities with the Senior club this fall. Further news and additions to our staff will be announced in the near future.
In closing we wish to acknowledge the tremendous contribution and efforts former Coach Quinto made to the improvement our program. We are very sorry to see him leave but are at the same time very happy for him in his new role as an Assistant Coach at Menlo College in Atherton, California. We wish him every success in this the next stage of his career and very much look forward to our new relationship with him. Ben you will be very much missed by all. Good Luck!
