45+ players sought for new team

From Dave Birnie, Masters fastball guru:

The Colborne Rutherflo (Grand Masters) Men's Fastball Teamare looking for a few players to complete their roster for the 2006 season. This is a brand new team being assembled to compete in the newlyformed Grand Masters divisions at both the Ontario (OASA) and Canadian (CMFA) Championships. This is not a league team, tournaments only. We have one confirmed pitcher and are looking to add 2 more as well as a few position players. Players and pitchers must be 45 years or older and can be 44 as long as you turn 45 anytime during this calendar year.
OASA Championship - Grafton Ontario July 21, 22, 23 / 2006
CMFA Championship - Cobourg Ontario Aug. 25, 26, 27 / 2006

For more information please contact ..........
Dave Birnie - ranger11@idirect.com
Alex Rutherford - rutherfordfinancial@bellnet.ca

Tournament rumours

Well, some of you wanted rumours......

Here are a couple:

Bay Bash may not happen this year. After five successful events, the west Quebec classic might not be held in '06. But there were rumblings that the fine folks up in the home of Len Burger - Chapeau, PQ (that's "Hat, Quebec" to you anglophones) - might be interested in hosting the Bash the year. Not sure if or when it will happen though. UPDATE - Looks like NOT.

With the Bay Bash date seemingly open, it looks like the Blackburn Bombers might be hosting their Intermediate Tournament on July 8-9. Once that's confirmed, good ol' Fitzroy Fastball will post, as the cool kids say, the "deets". The Bombers always put on a good event so if this happens, get your team signed up. UPDATE - Date of July 8-9 is confirmed.

Hopefully these rumours won't hurt feelings ;) - but if they do, feel free to post some comments.

Eastmain at Fitzroy ISC II Qualifier

The Eastmain Fireballs, a Cree team from northern Quebec, have shown interest in attending the ISC II qualifier in Fitzroy Harbour in June.

The Fireballs, led by Ray Shanoush who pitched in the states last year, appeared before in the Blackburn Open tournament in 2004. They were also supposed to attend the Stittsville tourney in 2004, but failed to show - except for Ray!

OASA sets Men's Tournaments for 2006

The OASA has confirmed that they will be holding two men's tournaments on two long weekends this summer:

Senior/Intermediate men's eliminations
St. Thomas, ON Aug 4-7
Double Elimination
Senior champs go to Canadians in Prince George, BC
Intermediate champs go to Eastern Canadians, location TBD
UPDATE (Feb 17/06): The Intermediate Men will play for a $2000 cash prize and the Provincial A Championship. There will be cash prizes for the top four finishers with each of the those teams eligible to represent Ontario at the Eastern Canadian Championships.

Intermediate men's provincials
North Fredricksburg, ON Sept. 1-3
Guaranteed 3 games
Preliminary round which will determine if the teams are playing for the B or C Championship
(North Fred is just south of Napanee)

Another potential addition to GOFL?

Another local group has indicated their interest in possibly joining the Greater Ottawa Fastball League. The team would be managed by a well-known local individual with past involvement in Senior fastball. More details here when the come available.

36th Annual Newboro Tournament

36th Annual Newboro Fastball Tournament.
Tournament takes place in Newboro, Ontario on August 18, 19, & 20. Contact Scott Rice at salrice@rideau.net or (613) 273-6706 or our team website at www.leaguelineup.com/newboro

GOFL meeting March 1st

The Greater Ottawa Fastball League will be holding a meeting for returning teams and other teams interested in joining the league for 2006.

Meeting will be Wednesday March 1st at 8PM at the Main Street Pub in Stittsville. If you are interested in attending, let me know at fitzroyfastball@yahoo.ca.

Blitz to play in Manotick, Pakenham taking shape

Looks like the Ottawa Blitz have found a home diamond this summer - in Manotick. The Blitz plan to share the Manotick diamond with the Manotick Lomor Printers as they join the Greater Ottawa Fastball League for their first campaign.

Things also seem to be shaping up for the "Antrim TruckStoppers" to play out of Pakenham this summer, as they actively recruiting players and going to approach the municipality about diamond time for 2006.

Fastball Showcase in Chapeau

Organizers in Chapeau, in west Quebec, are looking to host a 'showcase' day this summer.

Local Junior and Intermediate teams from eastern Ontario and western Quebec will be invited to participate, building on "Ballerama" which was a successful Ontario v. Quebec challenge from 2005. Large crowds are expected out to watch - the date is still to be determined.

RA League back for 2006

Looks like the rumours out there were just that - rumours.

According to a few emails I've received looks like the Ottawa RA Fastball League is back in business for 2006. Thanks for the folks that set the record straight on this issue.

From Mark Fish of the RA Centre:

Per your notice of the “rumour” that the RA will not offer a Men’s Fastball league this upcoming season, please know that this is 100%, completely false!

It IS the intention of the RA to offer a Men’s Fastball league. Feel free to publicize this FACT versus the “rumour”.

Local tourneys 2006

Here is a list of local tourneys so far in the area for this summer:

May 20-21 Kingston Cowboys Victoria Day Tournament
Sydenham, ON (Adam Lake 613-484-1313)

June 2-4 Dickinson Days Fastball Tournament
Manotick, ON (Tony Riches 613-286-5284)

June 9-11 Quyon Flyers Fastball Tournament
Quyon, QC (Joe McCleary 819-684-0583)

June 16-18 ISC II Ontario East Qualifier
Fitzroy Harbour, ON (Adam Brown 613-623-8867)

July 21-23 Ottawa Blitz Fastball Tournament
Carlington Park – Ottawa, ON (Scott Dumouchel 613-721-3532)

If you know about another area tournament, let me know at fitzroyfastball@yahoo.ca and I'll put in up here.

ISC II qualifier update

The ISC has formally annouced the ISC qualifiers to be held in Ontario:
******************
Bob McGowan, ISC Area Commissioner for Eastern Canada, is announcing the dates and sites for ISC tournaments which will send one team to the ISC World Tournament and a pair of teams to the ISC – II Tournament of Champions.

Here’s how it will unfold: The weekend of June 16 – 18 will see two qualifying tournaments held in Innerkip, Ontario. One of these events will find teams competing for a berth in the International Softball Congress World Tournament, to be held in Kitchener August 11 – 19. The format for this tournament will be double elimination. Entry fee is $350 with a check payable to ISC Ontario Qualifier. Teams from Quebec and the Maritimes are welcome to participate as well as those from Ontario. The winning team will advance to the ISC World Tournament.

That same weekend (June 16 – 18) a second tournament will be held in Innerkip. An additional tournament will also be held that weekend in Fitzroy Harbour. Each of these events will qualify a team for an automatic spot in the ISC – II Tournament of Champions. The format for both the Innerkip and the Fitzroy Harbour qualifiers will be double elimination. Entry fee for either ISC – II qualifying event is $300 with a check payable to ISC – II Ontario Qualifier. Teams from Quebec and the Maritimes are welcome to participate as well as those from Ontario. Teams MUST identify whether they plan to play in either Innerkip or Fitzroy Harbour. Player rosters for either event must be submitted by June 7th. The winning team from each event will advance to the ISC – II Tournament of Champions to be held in Kitchener August 13 – 18.

Entries and fees for these events should also be sent to Bob McGowan
Bob McGowan
R.R. #1
Orangeville, Ontario L9W2Y8
e-mail: jbob99@allstream.net

Ottawa RA Fastball league to fold?

Rumours are out there that the Ottawa RA Fastball League, a mainstay in the area and at one time one of, if the, top league in eastern Ontario will not be in operation for 2006.

If this is true, there will be a lot of players and teams out there looking for a home.

Anyone with information out there? Let us know fitzroyfastball@yahoo.ca

UPDATE: See February 6th post for the "facts" - RA League will NOT be folding.

GCMFL looking for new players

The Glen Cairn Men's Fastball League is looking for players. The league plays in the Kanata area.

Details: registration for the 2006 ball season will be held at the Kanata Sports Club on the following nights:

Sunday Feb 19, 7-9PM
Sunday Feb 26, 7-9PM
Tuesday Mar 7, 7-9PM

The registration fee for 2006 is $130. New players can to the website for information and sign up forms (http://www.gcmfl.com/).

As usual, we expect to need 20-30 new players to be able to fill the 144 spots. Pitchers and catchers are especially in demand.