Roy Halladay's son hopes to pitch for Canada in March

Braden Halladay, son of former Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay, hopes to take a break from his high school baseball team in March to don a Team Canada uniform.

The Canadian Junior National Team will be visiting St. Petersburg, Fla., which is less than an hour's drive from his home in Clearwater.

His desire to play for the juniors came about last summer when he was told he'd be eligible because he was born in Canada.

"It kind of started last June in St. Marys when my dad was inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame," Braden told Bob Elliott of the Canadian Baseball Network.

Braden, who is a right-handed pitcher like his father, added that his Clearwater high school Calvary Christian Warriors coaches approve of him taking the time as long as it doesn't interfere with the school's schedule.

"Coach Hamilton replied in either late December or early January," Braden said. "My high school coach is on board with me pitching for Canada, as long as it won’t affect our school team. I’m really excited about the chance."

The senior Halladay died in a plane crash last November when the small seaplane he was piloting crashed in the Gulf of Mexico.