Legends of Fastball Classic Kicks off Major Men's Fastball in Ontario

[fastball]

Received: 4/23/06 4:15:59 PM 
From:  <larry.lynch(at)city.kitchener.on.ca>  
Subject:  Legends of Fastball Classic Kicks off Major Men's Fastball
in Ontario  
  

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The summer of 2006 should prove to dispel the rumour thatmajor
men’s fastball is a dying sport in Ontario, or forthat matter
North America.  While teams may continue to dissolveand in some
cases merge, one thing is constant, the hub of the major tournamentwheel
will roll through southern Ontario again this year.

 

With major tournament announcements already placing Monktonand
Orillia on most ardent fans “must attend” list this summer, andboth
the ISC World Tournament and the ISC 2 Tournament of Champions
slated forKitchener in August, the only thing missing to wet
the appetites of  thegames most rabid and knowledgeable fans
is the kick off event that sets thetone for all major men’s events
in Ontario.

 

It is with great pleasure that the Legends of FastballClassic
announces its return to Woodstock, June 2,3and 4, at the beautiful
Woodstock andDistrict Community Complex. The Legends event has
quietly become a mainstay onthe Ontario tournament schedule over
the past 3years, and organizers take great pride in being able
to showcase the very bestof home grown talent while enticing
some of the best of American based teams tomake the trek into
the dairy capital of Southern Ontario.

 

The Legends event is unique in many ways. First of all it isheaded
up by a trio of ex-players in Brian Paton, Chuck Hendricks and
Larry Lynch.These three have travelled to major tournaments around
the globe and their experienceand focus is to put fastball at
the forefront of the Legends weekend. Secondly,the concept of
honouring “legends of the game” brings the players, buildersand
characters of bygone eras back to the ball park for one more
curtain callon what was certainly their legendary careers. Local
radio and televisionpersonality Brad Janssen brings class and
professionalism to the center of thelegends ceremony, and his
wife Marg heads up the  administrative role ofthe organizing
committee.

 

The Legends is also unique amongst major Ontario fastballevents
by focusing on Ontario based teams. Thecore of the tournament
line-up over the past 3 years has been the member teamsof the
ISC Travel League. This year will be no exception as 4 of the
premierclubs will participate including Orillia Riversharks,
Innerkip Bright CheeseHouse Eagles, Kitchener Hallman Twins,
and the Jarvis Merchants. 

 

With the ISC returning to Kitchener later this year ,Legends
organizers are happy to welcome both the 2005  ISC 2 ChampionElmira
Cubs and the 2006 host team, the Bridgeport ProForma Braves to
the fieldof participants. Likewise, the reigning Canadian National
Champions, theSt.Thomas Evergreen Centennials will try to capture
their first Legends Classictitle after losing out to the Broken
Bow Spirit in the finals of the 2005event. 

 

The Legends  Classic has always been an internationalevent and
organizers are pleased to welcome back the Midland ( Michigan
)Explorers, Heflin ( New York ) Buildersand the New York Patsy’s.
Most of the players on these 3 teams have beentravelling into
Southern Ontario for many years, andfans will certainly recognize
a lot of familiar and talented performers overthe 3 day event.

 

The tournament is a 10 team , 2 division round-robin formatwith
the top 3 teams in each division advancing to a single knock-out
eliminationplayoff. The  2 division winners will receive a bye
in the first round ofthe playoff and there will be an immediate
cross-over between divisions , withthe second place team playing
the third place team on the other side. TheChampionship game
will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sundayafternoon and will be telecast
on the Rogers Cable Network in Woodstock .

 

Stay tuned for the complete schedule and team profiles overthe
next few weeks.

 

One thing is for certain, there will be a new Legends ofFastball
Classic champion in 2006.  While the Broken Bow Spirit haveetched
their legendary name on the first two tournament trophies, it
is a wholenew ball game in 2006 !

 

Pencil in Woodstock, June 2,3and 4, for the Legends of Fastball
Classic.
 

<larry.lynch(at)city.kitchener.on.ca> 
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