Stars’ Guiel wins medal with Canada

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, Aug. 4, 1999 | 9:46 a.m.

Shortly before the start of Tuesday night's game against the Nashville Sounds, Aaron Guiel walked into the Las Vegas Stars locker room and found his locker covered with a large sheet of paper.

The paper was covered with various phrases written by Guiel's teammates, many of which can not be printed in a family newspaper and most saying less than complimentary things about Guiel's homeland of Canada. You know, things like, "Bleep Canada" and "Canada Bleeps."

"I get a kick out of this," Guiel, who helped lead the Canadian National Team to a stunning 7-6 upset of the United States in the Pan American Games last week in Winnipeg, said with a large smile. "It's all good-natured."

The Vancouver, British Columbia native had just flown back from Winnipeg after helping lead Canada to a 9-2 bronze medal victory over Mexico on Sunday.

Canada went 6-1 in the tournament, losing only to gold medal-winner Cuba in the semifinals, 3-2. Canada had beaten the Cubans, 8-1, earlier in the preliminary round.

But it was the seesaw 11-inning victory over the United States that helped make Guiel and his teammates the heroes of their country.

Guiel received worldwide publicity when he was featured in a photo running out of the dugout to celebrate Canada's surprising victory. That photo was featured in USA Today and a number of other publications.

"It was awesome," Guiel said. "I obviously don't think that (the United States) fielded the best team that they could have. There are guys that we play against in this league that I think would have made that team stronger if they had been allowed to play."

Still, when was the last time Canada beat the United States in baseball in any major international competition?

The fact the emotional contest was played in Canada just added to the drama.

"Those guys will say that we celebrated too much," Guiel said. "But any time you win a ball game in 11 innings where they get a lead, we tie it up, we get a lead, they tie it up ... it was probably one of the most exciting games I ever played in. It was incredible.

"I've got that game on tape but I won't ever forget it. The crowd, the players ... the whole experience was incredible."

And the whole country of Canada jumped on the bandwagon after the victory over the U.S.

"They didn't really expect us to go in and play very well," Guiel said. "But when we started to play our preliminary games and started winning, the numbers for our games on TV and in attendance just went through the roof. Seriously, the country was going crazy. It was awesome."

Guiel found himself in the middle of a couple of controversies when Canada played Cuba.

In Canada's 8-1 victory over the eventual gold medal winners, Guiel bowled over a Cuban catcher on one play which brought both teams out on the field.

"It was more a little bit of shouting going on," Guiel said. "They really didn't have much to say about the play. The benches cleared but nothing else happened."

Then in Canada's 3-2 semifinal loss to the Cubans, Guiel and his teammates came to the aide of a political protestor who ran on the field.

"He ran on the field with a sign that read, 'Free Cuba, Human Rights First,' " Guiel said. "He was right in front of me. All of a sudden the (Cuban) catcher tries to whack him over the head with his mask. We jumped in. We had a little melee there, too. I mean, the guy was a (jerk), but we weren't going to sit and let him get whipped over that."

Even though he missed two weeks of the Pacific Coast League season, Guiel, who was encouraged by the Padres' organization to play in the Pan Am Games, still leads the Stars in doubles (23).

"It's going to take a few days here to get going again," he said. "(Playing in the Pan Am Games) made baseball fun again. I wish I could have that much fun all the time."

* ROSSY STARS: Stars shortstop Rico Rossy hit two more home runs in a 7-3 win over PCL East Division-leading Nashville on Tuesday night at Cashman Field.

Rossy has hit six homers in eight games against the Sounds and now has nine home runs for the season.

Think you could have made some money if you bet that the 5-8 Rossy would have more homers at this juncture of the season than either Gary Matthews Jr. (6) or Mike Darr (6)?

* GAME RECAP: Despite a first-inning home run by former Green Valley High star Chad Hermansen, the Las Vegas Stars (49-60) won their first series in two months by rallying for a 7-3 win over the Nashville Sounds (67-41) on Tuesday night at Cashman Field.

Right-hander Bryan Wolff (6-10) allowed just eight hits and two earned runs in 8 1/3 innings to pick up his first win since May 24.

* UP NEXT: Following a day off today, the Stars fly to Tacoma where they open a four-game series with the Rainers on Thursday night. Las Vegas returns to Cashman Field on Monday night at 7:05 p.m. for a four-game series against the Salt Lake Buzz.