Mitchell, ON

Only six teams remain out of the 16-clubs which started the day at the South Perth Men’s Fastball League playoff tournament in Mitchell.

Out of the six, one team is a surprise – the 15th seeded Moorefield Dukes – who reeled off three straight wins after an opening narrow 3-2 defeat to the #2 seed St. Marys.

Top-seeded Sebringville Sting, the defending champion, showed no sign of relinquishing their title with three straight big wins – 9-2 over St. Pauls, 3-0 over Elora and 8-0 over Tavistock.

Sebringville will meet Bridgeport Proforma Braves in the undefeated game Sunday at 11 a.m., as Bridgeport is also a perfect 3-0 after a stellar day today – wins over Elmira Jrs 3-1, St. Marys 4-1 and Elmira Cubs 2-0.

Still alive, but with one loss can be eliminated at any time, will see St. Marys take on Tavistock at 9 a.m., with the upstart Dukes of Moorefield against Elmira Cubs, also at 9 a.m.
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Mitchell, ON

The 16-team playoff tournament for the South Perth Men’s Fastball League will be held this weekend, Sept. 16-18, in Mitchell’s Keterson Park – so eager, diehard faithful fastball fans can still have their fix of top-level quality fastball before the season ends!

The #1 seeded Sebringville Sting, with a 17-5 record during the regular year, will be looking to defend their league championship, but will be tested by a number of top-level teams eager to knock them off their perch.

A number of teams had impressive seasons, not only in South Perth play, but also in ISC II competition (Harriston, Elmira, Tavistock, and Bridgeport all played at this year’s ToC) and other major tournaments.

Any number of upsets could take place on the field during the double-knockout tournament – #11 seed Linwood has ace Jamie Simpson on their roster as one example. Top pitchers Don Scott (Sebringville), Todd Uhrig (Elora), Jeremy deBelleval (Hickson), Jim Schnarr (Bridgeport), Scott Smith (Harriston), Casey Halstead (Elmira Cubs) Rob Oliver & Steve Cook (Tavistock Smully’s Merchants), Fred Follings (Shakespeare Falcons) and Dan Martin (Elmira Jrs) are all slated to be in action for their respective teams, not to mention numbers of clutch hitters in this highly-competitive league.

The weather promises to be outstanding, and so does the competition.

First-round matchups are as follows:
Friday, Sept. 16 opening schedule

Sebringville (#1) vs. St. Pauls (#16), 7:00
Mitchell (#8) vs. Elora (#9), 7:00
Tavistock (#5) vs. Monkton (#12), 7:00
Harriston (#4) vs. Milverton (#13), 9:00
Elmira Cubs (#3) vs. Shakes. Falcons (#14), 9:00
Hickson (#6) vs. Linwood (#11), 9:00

Saturday, Sept. 17
Bridgeport (#7) vs. Elmira Jrs (#10), 10:00 am
St. Marys (#2) vs. Moorefield (#15), 10:00 am

Games continue all day Saturday and Sunday, with the championship set for 3 p.m. Sunday, followed by the ‘if necessary’ game thereafter.

Keterson Park in Mitchell is located on Wellington Street, four blocks south of the main street. Our 4-diamond complex has hosted the league tournament every year since the league changed from a series format to tournament. Mitchell is located 15-minutes west of Stratford on Highway 8, and 45-minutes north of London on Highway 23.

Andy Bader
South Perth Men’s Fastball League
Secretary/Statistician
519-348-8431 (work)
519-348-4606 (home)
apbader@ezlink.ca (home e-mail)

Ottawa, ON

The Upper Ottawa Valley Men’s Fastball League and the Greater Ottawa Fastball League final series are continuing, with both series currently tied.

In the UOVMFL, the defending champions Micksburg, ON Twins are tied with the Campbell’s Bay, QC Royals at two games apiece in the best of seven series. In the GOFL, the defending champions Kanata, ON Team Easton are tied with the Stittsville, ON 56ers one game each in the best of five finals. All games are being played in Stittsville.
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Chepstow, Ontario

The Owen Sound Scenic City Automotive Crunch won the 2005 Bluewater Fastball League championship tournament.

The Crunch went 3 & 0 at the tournament which was hosted by the Chepstow Aces.

After receiving an opening round bye, Scenic City Automotive downed the host Aces 8-2 in their first game.

In the ” undefeated ” game, the Crunch blanked the Howick Hitmen 8-0.

Howick rebounded from the defeat and worked their way back into the Championship Final.

However, the Crunch scored another shutout victory, this time 7-0, to take the 2005 championship.

Fred Wallace
Bayshore Broadcasting
Owen Sound

Golden Horseshoe Fastball League
Southern Ontario

Niagara Snappers won the Golden Horseshoe Fastball League playoff tournament Sunday evening, defeating the defending champion Hamilton Hawks 10-3, in a rematch of last year’s final.

Dan Duemo won his third game of the tournament to go along with one save as the Snappers went undefeated at 4-0 to win their first GHFL title. Duemo was named the 2005 GHFL Playoff MVP.

On Saturday, the GHFL named the 2005 Award winners:

2005 GHFL Top Pitcher
Dan Duemo, Niagara Snappers, 8-0, 54 IP, 76 Ks, 4 BBs, 1.76 ERA
Special note – In ISC, GHFL and tournament play, Dan Duemo pitched 226 innings this year and struck out his 300th batter of the season in the championship game, ending the year with 305 Ks and record of 33-7. Congratulations on a tremendous season, Dan!

2005 GHFL MVP
Tim Coe, Mississauga Arrows, .588, 6 HRs, 17 RBIs in 13 games played
Special note – Tim had a total of 22 HRs on the season, including four in the playoff tournament, combining power with spectacular defence game in and game out at shortstop.

2005 Al & Janet Greatrix Dedication Award
Inaugural Presentation made to Al & Janet Greatrix
Special note – Al & Janet have been active in minor softball in Niagara Falls for years and have been the guardians of the Niagara Falls Men’s Fastball League since the early 1990s. When health issues curtailed some of the time they could spend at the park this year, it took a lot of volunteers to do only some of the things that Al & Janet do. We’re glad to have them back at the park and in good health and look forward to many more years of fastball in Niagara Falls.
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Golden Horseshoe Fastball League
Southern Ontario

2005 Playoff Tournament at Ker Park in Niagara Falls
September 8-11

Game 1
Niagara Falls Cool Hand Luke’s 5
Niagara Falls Fury 4 – 8 innings

Game 2
St. Catharines Red Hot Chili Pepper 4
Smoke of Millgrove 3
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Ottawa, ON

In Greater Ottawa Fastball League http://ca.geocities.com/fitzroyfastball/GOFL.htm play, both semi-finals series ended after three games on Wednesday August 31.

At Fitzroy Harbour, ON: Stittsville 56ers defeated Fitzroy Harbour WC Electric by a score of 5-0 to sweep the series. Dan Bradley threw his second consecutive shutout, with a 5-hitter. Over 21 innings against Fitzroy Harbour, Bradley allowed only one run. Bud Hanlon took the loss for Fitzroy with relief from Brad Porter. Scott Herriott led Stittsville offensively with two infield singles, a stolen base and scoring two runs. Fitzroy Harbour had several base runners in the game, including having the bases loaded in the fourth, but couldn’t push any runs across for their supportive home crowd of about 150 fans.

At Manotick, ON: Kanata Team Easton defeated Manotick Lomor Printers by a score of 6-0 to sweep their semi-final series. Dan Konkle won his second game of the series, with five innings of no-hit ball. Trevor Lahey took the loss for Manotick. Konkle did not allow a run in either of his appearances and allowed only one hit. Bill Gerber had the other pitching victory for Kanata. Dave Tubman had a home run for Team Easton in the Game three victory. Manotick finished first overall in regular league play for the second season in a row, and once again was put out in the semi-finals.

Team Easton will now face Stittsville in a best-of-five final. Team Easton are two-time defending champions.

In Upper Ottawa Valley Men’s Fastball League http://ca.geocities.com/fitzroyfastball/UOVMFL.htm play, the best-of-seven final is under way, with Micksburg taking game one by a score of 8-0 over Campbell’s Bay Royals on Tuesday August 30. At Micksburg, ON, Corey Costello continued his outstanding season, throwing a one-hit shutout with eighteen strikeouts. Costello also contributed offensively with a home run, as did Jamey Mick. Len Burger suffered his first loss of the playoffs, after winning three semi-final games in a row. Game two is on Friday September 2 at 8:00PM in Bryson, Quebec, the playoff home for the Royals.

In other eastern Ontario area league play, at Ottawa, ON the Ottawa Valley Raiders repeated as the champions of the seven-team Ottawa RA Fastball League with a 2 games to 1 series victory over the regular season leader Ottawa Atlantic Storm in the best-of-five final. At Newboro, ON the ten-team North Leeds Men’s Fastball League http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=nlmf title was won by Newboro Rideau Insurance who defeated the Lansdowne Longhorns in the six-point final series in which Newboro won two games, lost one and tied two.

regards,
Adam Brown
Fitzroy Harbour WC Electric Fastball

Editor’s Note: Dan Konkle, Corey Costello (All-Tournament Designated Player) and Dan Bradley were the pitching staff for the Ottawa, ON Team Easton Thunder, the 3rd place finishers at the 2005 ISC II Tournament of Champions.