Courtesy of the St. Thomas Times Journal
The seven-team St. Thomas and District Fastball League kicks off it’s season this week. Included in the league are several players from last year’s Canadian Champion St. Thomas Centennials along with ISC II contenders Alvinston Indians & Glencoe Astros.
Union aims to repeat as champs
Preview of St. Thomas and District Fastball LeagueMonday May 01, 2006
By Rob Ross
Times-Journal staff
Complacency will not hold back the reigning champions of the St. Thomas and District Fastball League.
From setting high goals to changing venues, the Union Storm now known as the St. Thomas Evergreen Storm has intentions to duplicate their success of last season.
The Storm finally a cleared a hurdle by winning the league championship after taking the pennant for the best record of the 2005 season.
Since winning the club’s first league championship in 2001, the Storm had the best regular season record each season but faltered in the playoffs.
With eight members riding the high of contributing to the St. Thomas Evergreen Centennials win of the Canadian senior men’s fastball championship, the Storm blew through the STDFL playoffs concluding by sweeping the defending champion Glencoe Astros in the final.
The star last season for the Storm was league and playoff MVP pitcher Dan Beecroft, who led with 16 wins and a 1.46 earned run average.
Also back in the lineup are leadoff man and centre fielder Mark Coleman, infielders Chris Wismer, Brian Harvey, Ty Lessard and outfielders Chris Payne and Troy Rick.
New in the Storm cloud are ex-Shedden Mission pitcher Brent Crocker and infielder Scott Bate, a former St. Thomas Tom Cat of the Junior IBL. Out of retirement comes Rich Silple.
This season the Storm, now based out of Fingal, are looking to be the first team to repeat as champions since the Alvinston Indians won back to back titles in 1999 and 2000.
The Storm also plan on not being gracious host of the year’s league all-star game July 11 in Fingal.
Each season the reigning champs play a team of all-stars selected from the other teams in the league. Other than a tie with Alvinston, the all-stars have always prevailed victorious. The Storm look to wash out that trend.
It’s the St. Thomas Storm but their home games will be played in Fingal, 15 minutes west of the city.
The Storm played the 2005 final in Fingal and enjoyed the more spectator friendly ballpark than Union with its washroom facilities, concession booth and better lighting for both the fans and players.
Home games are Thursdays or Tuesdays at 8 p.m.
Action begins tonight with the Storm in Belmont for the league’s season opener at 8 p.m.
Six teams hope to stop the Storm’s bid to repeat.
The Highgate Rock will not field a team this season however many of the club’s players have hooked up with other teams.BELMONT
Another club changing addresses is the former Aylmer Cardinals. The birds flew the old nest landing in Belmont as the Swiss Chalet Black Sox.
An improved spectator -friendly diamond is the major reason behind the move.
Most of the roster remains the same, led by pitchers Todd Winkworth, a league MVP, Mark Van Vleit and catchers Mark McCallum and Brad Van Gorp. The infield sees Rob Burns, Dwayne Gee, Jesse Brown and Jeff Ingram. Speedy Matt Lynch is joined by brother Tyler in the outfield. Pitcher Craig Walker jumps over from Shedden and pitcher Keenan Haight moves up from the junior ranks. Cory Winkworth adds to the infield.
Returning to the league in a Black Sox uniform are veterans utility man Darryl McCallum and outfielders Darren Shackleton and Scott Wilson.
The club has never advanced past the semifinals, losing the first round last year.
Home games are Mondays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.SHEDDEN
With the Storm moving in just down the road the rivalry with Shedden Mission will certainly not lose its intensity. Eying a move above the .500 mark Shedden will be led by Gary Cooke batting champion (.475) and co-home run leader (8). Also big on the long ball are outfielder Jeff Wilcox and pitcher Jason Dawdy, with eight each.
The infield sees Mike Unwin and Kyle Cornelius. Pitcher Corey Williams returns after missing most of last season with a broken wrist and should lighten the load for Dawdy. Standout pitcher Mike Joseph will be making occasional appearances for Shedden. New to the Mission are Joe Caponcini and former Storm catcher Paul Velma.
“We’ll need better defence because we have the offence. If we improve on the defence we’ll improve our record,” manager Paul Unwin said. “Fewer walks and fewer unearned runs.”
Home games are Tuesdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.BLENHEIM
Heading to the post season, Blenheim Home Run Restaurant looked for a long playoff run after finishing second. Instead the Restaurant was closed down in the first round.
Back to erase a disappointing end to the club’s season are pitchers Greg Guy and Paul Ceppi, infielders Gregg Haskell, Chris Drew, Steve Donald and outfielders Ryan Gray and Chris Fenton. New entrees on the Home Run Restaurant menu are catcher Bryan Depencier and last season’s rookie of the year Geoff Gunson from Highgate.
“To stay up in the top three and do better in the playoffs, we’ll need the same dedication as last year,” said Matt Haskell of the team’s 2006 hopes. “We’ll rely on consistent pitching and being able to manufacture runs. With our youth and speed we’ll put pressure on opponents.
Haskell would like to see a higher team batting average.
Home games are Wednesdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Two games will be played in Merlin, May 7 and a June 11 double-header against Fingal.MORPETH
Even a magician or witch likely couldn’t have helped the Morpeth Magic from a dreadful league debut. The expansion team finished last with just seven wins in 28 games. “Our first year didn’t go as planned. Our starting pitcher (Warren Voth) got hurt three games in and was out for most of the season,” manager Scott Ryckman said. “We’ve picked up another pitcher and added a few key players. We’re expecting to finish top three.”
Hoping to forget any memory of last season are returning outfielders Jeff Parney, Scott Lackei, Wes Shaw, Mike Taylor, shortstop John Pickering and team MVP catcher Jeff Hope. That new pitcher is Ben Blonde, the long time star on the Highgate Rock mound. Also coming over from the Rock are second baseman Norm Logan and first baseman-catcher Jason Hope.
Those new additions have given the Magic talent to enter two big tournaments, an ISC 2 qualifier and the KW Pride in St. Catharines later this month. Watch the Magic Fridays at 8 p.m. and occasionally Thursdays at 8 p.m.ALVINSTON
A familiar line-up returns to the field for the Alvinston Indians, the last club to repeat as league champions.
Pitchers Doug Charlton and Brad Young continue to be aces on the mound with Scott Smith back as catcher. First baseman Mike Black, second baseman Joe Triest, outfielders Marc Greenwood, Andy Triest and Ryan Chapman, plus designated hitter Jeff Huston and pitcher Greg Moore are back as the Indians usual suspects. Also Scott McAuley.
New faces are first baseman Shawn Fenton and utility man Darryl Smith both move from Highgate and catcher/ DH Greg Huston from Glencoe.
Pitcher Derwyn Hodgins comes out of retirement to pitch.
Manager Paul McCart says the Indians want to improve on last season’s result. Having a more consistent attendance at games will surely add to the win column.
Outside of the league the Indians will be working towards winning the ISC 2 tournament and the OASA Intermediate Eliminations Aug. 4-7 held in St. Thomas. Eight players from the league roster are part of the Alvinston team that has won the OASA Masters provincial title for the past two years.GLENCOE
Only two years in the league the Glencoe Astros have been to the final twice winning in 2004. The goal is to return again but the team will have the goal with a younger roster.
The Astros loss eight players with many fresh faces filling in the spots. Pitching remains strong with Shaun Winship and Brett Neal.
Back as Astros are catcher Ed Gould, first baseman Ron Pazitka, John Gougoulais, third baseman Bill Piskorowski and outfielders Greg Eichenberger and Kyle Mitchell who also serves as team manager.
One veteran star added to the team is former Highgate infielder Theo Metron and infielder Rowan Lamb. “We’re confident we can be right back in the final,” Mitchell said. “We have strong pitching. The biggest challenge will be our hitting because we’re young.”
Home games are Tuesdays at 8 p.m.