This Week in Fastball (TWIF) Notes from Dennis Dosman
ENOUGH OF THE RAIN ALREADY…..
Here we are staring into the face of June and some teams are only one or two games into the season…..let’s get this rain overwith….and play some ball
Niagara Shootout June 3rd 4th 5th….
The Niagara Snappers are hosting their 8th Shootout, this year in Ker Park in Niagara Falls…don’t go to Virgil….head instead to the Big Waterfall …
The shootout opens on Friday night with two Niagara teams The Snappers playing the Blue Devils of Port Elgin and the Fury against the Elmira Expos.
The 3rd game has the KW Cubs up against the Owen Sound Selects
That’s two ISC East Travel League teams, a couple Golden Horsehoe teams and a couple South Perth teams…and that’s 3 of the best leagues in fastpitch represented..
Those games start at 6:45….
At 8:45 Alvinston Indians play Hill United
That is a great kick off Friday evening…
Then Saturday morning, Ashland Stock Pak versus Aurora Shoeless Joes, and Lake Simcoe versus Cree Nation; the Snappers again vs one of the top ranked junior clubs…certainly in Ontario if not nationally. the Napanee Jrs….and Quyon Flyers play thier first game of the tournament when they meet the KW Cubs
Play continues Saturday and Sunday….
Remember, Ker Park in Niagara Falls.
There are a couple other attractions in Niagara Falls, something about gambling and a whirlpool below some waterfall….
See you there…
Don Barr, former teacher and serious fastball fan reports that Mary Ann Stroh, former teacher as well and Earl, former Sauble Speedway racer, celebrated their 50th anniversary.
At Hillside June 11th/12th …The Midgets….
Bruce Young has the lineup ready for his Midget Invitational Tournament set for the June 11th weekend at Waterloo’s Hillside Park..
Teams include Cambridge, Stratford, Oshawa and two clubs from Wiarton, the Willies, and the Red Devils, Fullerton, Jarvis, Elmira, Owen Sound and Sydenham.
Opening games are at 9am on Saturday…play continues at Hillside and Conestogo diamonds and continues thru to Sunday at Hillside..
Waterloo Chippers are on the food wagon, so come on up to Hillside and watch some fastpitch softball….with some good young ball teams competing…
Scorers are required if you have some time for Bruce please give him an email at
bruce_h_young (at) teksavvy.com
OR let me know and I will forward it to Bruce…He is doing the scheduling for this event and as everyone knows it takes a village to raise a tournament…
Kitchener Outlaws Bell Cartage Tournament…
The RAIN forced cancellation of the Bell Cartage/Kitchener Outlaws tournament in St Clements this past weekend…Tough break for the Outlaws, who put a lot of effort into the tournament..purchased a lot of food, a beer licence and liability insurance, and made a lot of plans only to see the rain cover the infields..up to my ankles when I dropped by on Friday evening.
Enough of the rain!!!!!
The only good thing is that everyone must have their garage cleaned out, the lawn and flower beds in great shape and now we all can enjoy some fastpitch for the rest of the spring….and summer….
The KWCubs and the (new) Southern Ontario Jays played a double header exhibition in New Dundee. Both clubs had been ready to go in St Clements, and both drove across the county to Wilmot township to Doug Fischer Memorial Park and got in a double header on Saturday afternoon
The Cubs looked strong…..with some big bats in the middle of the lineup…some smart infielders on the stone dust and some quick outfielders on the turf…..and a nice lineup of pitchers to complete the roster..they look like a strong club to contend for the OASA Championships being held in New Dundee on the July/August long weekend…right at home at Doug Fischer park..
The Southern Ontario Jays under the leadership of Rob Way of Waterloo and Mike Terwood of Walkerton have put together a great team of 1st year juniors. Combing eight players from the Walkerton Wild, last years Canadian Midget Champions with 3 players from Oshawa, the 2010 Ontario Champs, the Southern Ontario Jays are positioning themselves for a run at the Ontario junior title this year in Owen Sound.
The Walkerton Wild midget graduates include Adam Alexander of Cargill at Shortstop, Kyle Bross (OF), Zack Bross (IF), Jordan Grubb (C/IF), Tyler Kuntz (P/IF/OF), all of Mildmay. From Walkerton, Joe Terwood, (P/IF/OF) and Jordan Turcotte (IF). Corey Way of Waterloo, (IF/OF) joined the Wild last year for the Canadians.
The Oshawa players include Travis Conor (P/OF) and Robert Kay (C/IF) of Stouffville, and Steve Ashbridge (IF/OF) of Port Perry.
The Jays are heading to Cobourg for the Jim Bradford tournament on June 10-12 and are in the Legends of Fastball, junior division in Kitchener June 23rd to the 26th. They open the tournament with a Thursday evening game against the Waterloo Cardinals of the Kitchener Fastball League at 6 pm on Diamond 3….Richard Ennis and Matt Esch will be behind the screen scoring and announding that game….
Those tournaments should set them up for the Ontario Juniors in Owen Sound on the July 1st Canada Day Weekend..
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New Zealand Black Sox tour
As all of you know the Black Sox are in Ontario to play in NewDundee against the KW Cubs and the TriCounty All Stars…and in the Legends of Fastball Classic tournament in Kitchener……..New Dundee on June 22nd and the Legends June 23rd to the 26th…
The Black Sox will open thier southern Ontario tour against the Golden Horseshoe Fastball League AllStars in St Catherines at Lancaster Park…Bernie Pollack says it is the best fastball park in Ontario….the double header games are at 7 and 9 pm…
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ISC OCC TOC ND KFL
The above is to remind you that the ISC, Ontario Challenge Cup, Tournament of Champions qualifier, this year will be in New Dundee and is hosted by the KFLs Kitchener Selects and if you want information please get in touch with Trevor Botting
Trevor is at tbotting@sympatico.ca
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Some disappointing news….Prince William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have released thier travel schedule for the Canadian Tour in late June…they will not be available to throw the opening pitch at the Legends of Fastball in Kitchener….Larry Lynch and Sue Sherry may be available to fill in……
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However on the brighter side….New Dundee Community Centre is hosting a 50s 60s Rock and Roll Dance on Friday June 10th….Door prizes, Best Costune prizes, Raffles, Silent Auction, Bar open and late lunch available…All proceeds to the New Dundee Parks Improvement Project..DJ Al will start spinning those classic rock tunes at 8pm…and shut it down at 1am…..Jail House Rock, Elvis, Roy Orbison and Cryin’, Crazy by Patsy Cline, Surfing USA, the Beach Boys, Hey Jude, the Beatles, Buddy Holly with Peggy Sue, Great Balls of Fire, Jerry Lee Lewis, Flowers on the Wall by the Stattler Brothers…
Tickets available at the New Dundee Village Market…for more information..please call Joy at 519 696 2563……This is a kick off event for the New Dundee official opening of the Doug Fischer Memorial Park….
Should you find a mistake in any of the above..remember the Ricky Van Shelton classic …the official anthem of the Blue Crew…..
“Everyone has the right to be wrong now and then”
OK, are we all agreed…..enough of the rain…..
Hope all who are heading to the Snapper Shoot out have a great weekend in Niagara Falls…
See you at the ball park…..
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Dennis Dosman
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