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By Trey Williams
JC Press Sports Writer

ELIZABETHTON - Sticks are usually complemented with skates and ice instead of spikes and dirt where Jonathan Waltenbury grew up.

But hockey's easy to quit when you start reminding coaches of Justin Morneau at 16 years of age.

Waltenbury, a 20-year-old Canadian who plays first base for the Elizabethton Twins, began concentrating full-time on baseball when he was 16.

"Justin played for Team Canada a few years before me," Waltenbury said, "and my coach would compare me to him."

Waltenbury isn't ready to win Major League Baseball's Home Run Derby, but he's progressing steadily. He is hitting .314 with 11 doubles, two triples and three home runs this season. Morneau hit .217 with a home run in 23 at-bats during his brief stop in Elizabethton in 2000.

Waltenbury grew up admiring countryman Larry Walker.

"I loved to watch Walker growing up," Waltenbury said. "I also liked (Ken) Griffey, but who didn't back then? Larry Walker was fun to watch and whenever I was playing video games I would always pick Colorado.

"When he retired and then Justin Mourneau came up, I started watching him a lot. I guess it's just a thing with left-handed power hitters from Canada."

High school baseball in Canada is an afterthought.

"We had an eight-game season with a tournament," Waltenbury said. "You might play 12 games the whole year."

Waltenbury and his travel-ball teammates treated high school baseball like sandlot ball.

"We'd always switch-hit and have fun with it," he said. "I'm a first baseman and at the time I played outfield. They stuck me at shortstop in high school, and I'm not really known for my hands."

Waltenbury cut his teeth with the Ontario Blue Jays of the Premier Baseball League of Ontario.

They would travel for a month in the fall and another in the summer.

"We played Walters State and the University of Nebraska," he said. "Actually one of my old teammates who pitches for Danville, David Francis, just got drafted out of Walters State this year."

In the summer they'd travel to some of the nation's most highly scouted venues, like East Cobb, Ga., and Memphis (All-American Classic).

"My coaches Dan Bleiwas and Sean Travers were a big influence," Waltenbury said. "They saw me hit and took a real interest. They said I could go a long way if I worked hard."

Waltenbury was drafted in the seventh round in 2006. He started with the Twins last year, playing in the Gulf Coast League.

He opened his Appalachian League season red hot. He went 3-for-4 with a home run and a double on opening night.

"He's strong," Elizabethton manager Ray Smith said. "He's definitely got some sting in his bat."

In the season's second series, he needed a single in either of his final two at-bats to hit for the cycle at Pulaski. He'd homered, doubled and tripled, respectively, in his first three at-bats, and was facing a left-hander - Waltenbury bats from the left side - with a 3-2 count in his fourth at-bat.

"He threw me a curveball and I actually hit it pretty good," Waltenbury said. "I guess I hit it a little too hard because the center fielder ended up running in and made kind of falling, diving catch. It was a tough play.

"I thought, 'There went my single for the cycle.' And then my fifth at-bat I ended up striking out to end the game."

Waltenbury believes the E-Twin most likely to reach Minnesota is pitcher Shooter Hunt. The 6-foot-3 right-hander is scheduled to be promoted after lowering his ERA to 0.47 when he allowed no earned runs in five innings at Johnson City on Monday.

"I haven't seen the gun on him, but I'd say he's 92 to 94 (mph) and he has a really good curveball," Waltenbury said. "I know I wouldn't want to hit off of him."

Waltenbury said Elizabethton manager Ray Smith and assistants Jeff Reed and Jim Shellenbach provide an ideal environment to learn.

"They're really cool to play for," he said. "They tell you how it is and they're really laid back. It's really easy to pick up things the way they teach."

The loyal fans seem to enhance development too.

"The people of Elizabethton, it's unreal how much they're behind the team and how much they do for the players," Waltenbury said. "I mean they've got tailgate parties and they tell us to come out and get some food. It's hard to describe. It's an honor to play for them really."

The Twins lead the Appy League West Division, though they'd lost 8 of 10 entering Monday's game to tighten the division. All teams in the West were within four games.

Such a skid is almost unheard of in Elizabethton, the Appy League's version of Title Town. And while developing players is the primary goal at the rookie-league level, learning to win is part of that process.

"I know I'm pretty heated after a loss, especially when I don't perform," Waltenbury said. "I'm sure we'll get back on track and start winning games again."

Updated July 21, 2008