DURHAM, NC – Eight current or former Can-Am League players made the 45-man provisional World Baseball Classic rosters that were announced on Monday. Three of the players, former Quebec Capitales pitchers, RHP Chris Begg, LHP Eric Cyr and LHP Bryan Dumensil are on the Team Canada roster.

The other five players include three Brockton Rox pitchers, LHP Craig Anderson (Australia), LHP Donovan Hendricks (South Africa) and RHP Wayne Lundgren (Australia); former North Shore Spirit RHP Josue Matos (Puerto Rico) and current Quebec Capitales RHP Ivan Blanco.

The World Baseball Classic is an international baseball tournament between 16 national teams from around the world consisting of professional and amateur players. The inaugural World Baseball Classic was held in March 2006 and won by Japan.

The 2009 Classic begins on Thursday, March 5. The first round opens in Tokyo, with defending champion Japan facing China. Mexico City, Toronto and San Juan, Puerto Rico, host the other three first-round brackets, as follows:

• Tokyo (March 5-9): Japan, China, Chinese Taipei, Korea

• Toronto (March 7-11): USA, Canada, Venezuela, Italy

• San Juan, P.R. (March 7-11): Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Panama

• Mexico City (March 8-12): Mexico, Cuba, South Africa, Australia

The semifinals and final will be played March 21 and 23 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.