[Alsfastball] South Perth Men's Fastball League playoff tournament

[Al Doran]

From: Andy Bader <abader at bowesnet.com>
Subject: South Perth Men's Fastball League playoff tournament
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2004 16:47:52 -0400


Mitchell, ON

         We're all hoping the weather continues to be as nice as much of 
Ontario has experienced this month, as plans are all but finalized for the 
annual 16-team South Perth Men's Fastball League playoff tournament, which 
will take place in Mitchell this weekend, Sept. 17-19. We might have to 
dodge the remains of Hurricane Ivan, but we're much better off than our 
friends to the south.
         As usual, it was a race to the wire to determine the final 
seedings of the 21-team league.
         When the final game was played Sunday, Sept. 12 there was some 
jockeying for position, but what it boils down to it's any team's 
championship to win, especially in this highly-competitive league. Last 
year's champions, the K-W Pride, came out of nowhere to win the title, and 
there will be a new champion this season due to the withdrawal of the Pride 
from the league this season. Sebringville, the top seed with just five 
losses all season, had won back-to-back titles prior to last season, and 
will be the team to beat again this time around with fireballing 
righthander Don Scott in fine form and their high-powered offense as well 
as their league-leading stingy defence with just 52 runs allowed this 
season, or an average of two runs per game. Catcher/DP Brian Stere is the 
heart of the order, with centerfielder Dale Levy and third baseman Derek 
Shackleton a threat with the bat anytime they walk near the batter's box. 
Scott, who is pitching as well as ever, is fresh off a fine showing at the 
Sr. Canadians. Upon his return to SPMFL play, Scott fanned 25 and tossed a 
no-hitter but lost a 2-1 decision to the upstart Elmira Midgets Sept. 8 in 
9-innings. (The game was scoreless after 7, both teams failed to score in 
the 8th with the international tiebreaker rule in effect and the teams 
scored all their runs in the 9th, with defence betraying Scott in this one. 
Lefty Dan Martin didn't fare too bad himself, as the Midgets continue to 
play really well since their return from PEI and their second straight 
Canadian Midget championship in August).
         Elora, seeded #2, are also a threat obviously, especially with the 
pitching of Todd Uhrig. Mitchell, which won the Northwest Division and the 
#3 seed, are in the top 3 in runs scored (just one behind the Tavistock 
Merchants, who finished as #5 seed), so are a threat offensively with the 
likes of Joe Harris, Bob Ward, Kevin Gettler and Jeff Pauli.
         The two expansion Elmira teams were a surprise, with the Cubs 
fading down the stretch but still a high-powered offensive team to finish 
9th, while the Midgets - the two-time defending national midget champions - 
allowed just 63 runs all season to finish 8th overall. They don't score 
much, but then they hardly allow any runs either which is obviously a key.
         And how can you count out Breslau and their veteran roster 
(pitchers Don Stebbings, Kevin Pomfret and Don Harris), Bridgeport with 
their added pitching depth (Jim Schnarr, Mel Ross and Kevin Frank) and 
Linwood and Hickson with their pitching aces scheduled to appear, Jamie 
Simpson (Chiefs) and Jeremy deBelleval (Reds)???
         There are also oodles of young pitchers capable of knocking off 
the big teams, including Fred Follings (Shakespeare Falcons), Dean Buchanan 
(Monkton), Steve Cook (Tavistock), Drew Hathaway and Ryan French (Waterloo) 
and Tim Lang (Millbank....sorry, no Aussie as Andrew Kirkpatrick, who 
played with Millbank the past two seasons, won't be available. Unless the 
lanky lefty is flown in by wily coach George Nahrgang. And no one can ever 
take Mr. Nahrgang at face value anyway.....)
         There no doubt will be surprises in the tournament, just as there 
has been all season, so you'll have to check it out for yourself this 
upcoming weekend, Sept. 17-19, in Mitchell's Keterson Park. Admission is 
free, so the price is certainly right to see some outstanding intermediate 
men's fastball.
         You won't be disappointed!

TOURNAMENT DRAW
Opening games:

Game 1 - Fri. Sept. 17 - Sebringville Sting (#1 seed) vs. Shakespeare Colts 
(#16 seed), 7 p.m.
Game 2 - Fri. Sept. 17  - Tavistock Merchants (#5) vs. Monkton Muskrats 
(#12), 7 p.m.
Game 3 - Fri. Sept. 17 - Elmira Midgets (#8) vs. Elmira Cubs (#9), 7 p.m.
Game 4 - Fri. Sept. 17 - Breslau KJ Sox (#4) vs. Shakespeare Falcons (#13), 
9 p.m.
Game 5 - Fri. Sept. 17 - Mitchell Mets (#3) vs. Waterloo Jr. Hallman Twins 
(#14), 9 p.m.
Game 6 - Fri. Sept. 17 - Millbank AW Jr. Millwrights (#7) vs. Linwood 
Chiefs (#10), 9 p.m.
Game 7 - Sat. Sept. 18 - Bridgeport Braves (#6) vs. Hickson Reds (#11), 10 a.m.
Game 8 - Sat. Sept. 18 - Elora Rage (#2) vs. St. Marys Gunners (#15), 10 a.m.

Games to follow all day Saturday, continue Sunday with final set for 3 p.m.


Andy Bader
South Perth Men's Fastball League
Secretary/Statistician

From: Andy Bader <abader at bowesnet.com>


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