UOVMFL possibilities for 2007
This article reprinted with permission from Wilbur McLean
Pontiac Equity Oct 11, 2006 edition
fitzroyfastball ed. note: Wilbur did a great job reporting on fastball all year long for the weekly Equity newspaper
Struggling fastpitch league examines options
WILBUR MCLEAN - Equity Reporter
SHAWVILLE • A number of options are currently being discussed by different camps to ensure the Upper Ottawa Valley Men’s Fastball League remains viable. This year, the UOVMFL was forced to play out the season with only three teams after Beachburg folded early in the year.
The league, which has been in existence since 1962, would likely shut down without additions.
The idea that appears furthest along at this point is combining the Upper Ottawa Valley league with the five-team McNab/Braeside Junior league, for players 23 years of age and under.
Micksburg Twins Manager Jerry McIntyre said he has been in touch with the Micksburg Junior Twins of the McNab/Braeside league and a meeting is being planned between representatives of the two leagues.
“I think it’s time we tried to do something to expand the league — obviously with three teams we have to — and this looks like a good way to do it,” said McIntyre. McIntyre said the Eganville Youngblood of the junior league have expressed an interest in the move as well. This year, the junior league had teams in Shawville, Micksburg, Eganville, Fitzroy Harbour and McNab.
The obvious problem presented by this proposal, as acknowledged by McIntyre, is the difference in quality between a team like Micksburg and some of the squads in the junior league. Micksburg were semi-finalists at this year’s 35-team International Softball Congress Tier II North American championships, defeating teams from Illinois, Pennsylvania and Ohio along the way.
Some of the junior teams, meanwhile, consist of players in their late teenaged years whose fastpitch skills are limited when compared with those of a team like Micksburg. McIntyre said he plans to level the playing field by proposing a pitching list, whereby certain elite pitchers in the league would be limited to pitching a set number of innings per contest.
McIntyre said he would prefer combining with the junior league over moving to the Greater Ottawa Fastball League.“We want to stay as local as we can,” he said.
The President of the McNab/Braeside Junior League, Harold McMullin, was in favour of combining the leagues but could not say the likelihood of the amalgamation happening.
“That’s the million dollar question right now — will they move up?” said McMullin. “Some of those (junior) guys are getting older now so at some point they’ve gotta step up ... If all the junior teams moved up, it would be great.”
Coulonge and Cobden to join?
There is also discussion of new senior clubs joining the Upper Ottawa Valley league. Both Fort Coulonge and Cobden are in the preliminary discussion stages of forming teams to enter the UOVMFL.
René Ladouceur, who currently operates the successful slo-pitch Pontiac Ball League in Fort Coulonge, said it was too soon to tell whether there would be a team but confirmed that if there was one, he would be involved in its creation.
“We’re not sure yet,” said Ladouceur. “We’re going to sit down and discuss things this December.” Ladouceur said the team already has an experienced competitive pitcher lined up, which is the aspect of starting a fastpitch team that is often the most difficult.
A team based out of Cobden is also being organized, according to Pontiac Royals’ player and Cobden resident Ron Laronde. He told THE EQUITY that Cobden man Steven Eckford is the one putting the team together. Eckford could not be reached before deadline.
In addition, the Quyon Junior Flyers, who were regular season champions in the Ottawa R.A. League this year, are considering a move to either the Greater Ottawa Fastball League or the UOVMFL.
Shawville, Pontiac plans
Earlier this spring, Pontiac Royals Manager Tim Ferrigan had said he was considering moving his team to the Greater Ottawa league, concerned that Beachburg would fold. For next year, however, Ferrigan said he would not be in favour of doing that. “Our younger guys would be willing to do it but they all play for the Quyon Flyers anyway and my older guys don’t want to have to go that far,” said Ferrigan.
The Greater Ottawa league contains teams as far away as Manotick, Ont. Ferrigan said he was not sure what he would do if the UOVMFL folded.
As was their problem prior to this season, the Shawville Athletics are looking for a new manager after this year’s player/coach, Darron Barr, said with a baby on the way, “I’m not sure I want to organize it again.”
Al Keuhl, who was the team’s manager for a few seasons up until last year, also said he would prefer not to organize the squad.
“I’d rather not but the guys (on the team) have been trying to convince me to do it again,” he said.
Pontiac Equity Oct 11, 2006 edition
fitzroyfastball ed. note: Wilbur did a great job reporting on fastball all year long for the weekly Equity newspaper
Struggling fastpitch league examines options
WILBUR MCLEAN - Equity Reporter
SHAWVILLE • A number of options are currently being discussed by different camps to ensure the Upper Ottawa Valley Men’s Fastball League remains viable. This year, the UOVMFL was forced to play out the season with only three teams after Beachburg folded early in the year.
The league, which has been in existence since 1962, would likely shut down without additions.
The idea that appears furthest along at this point is combining the Upper Ottawa Valley league with the five-team McNab/Braeside Junior league, for players 23 years of age and under.
Micksburg Twins Manager Jerry McIntyre said he has been in touch with the Micksburg Junior Twins of the McNab/Braeside league and a meeting is being planned between representatives of the two leagues.
“I think it’s time we tried to do something to expand the league — obviously with three teams we have to — and this looks like a good way to do it,” said McIntyre. McIntyre said the Eganville Youngblood of the junior league have expressed an interest in the move as well. This year, the junior league had teams in Shawville, Micksburg, Eganville, Fitzroy Harbour and McNab.
The obvious problem presented by this proposal, as acknowledged by McIntyre, is the difference in quality between a team like Micksburg and some of the squads in the junior league. Micksburg were semi-finalists at this year’s 35-team International Softball Congress Tier II North American championships, defeating teams from Illinois, Pennsylvania and Ohio along the way.
Some of the junior teams, meanwhile, consist of players in their late teenaged years whose fastpitch skills are limited when compared with those of a team like Micksburg. McIntyre said he plans to level the playing field by proposing a pitching list, whereby certain elite pitchers in the league would be limited to pitching a set number of innings per contest.
McIntyre said he would prefer combining with the junior league over moving to the Greater Ottawa Fastball League.“We want to stay as local as we can,” he said.
The President of the McNab/Braeside Junior League, Harold McMullin, was in favour of combining the leagues but could not say the likelihood of the amalgamation happening.
“That’s the million dollar question right now — will they move up?” said McMullin. “Some of those (junior) guys are getting older now so at some point they’ve gotta step up ... If all the junior teams moved up, it would be great.”
Coulonge and Cobden to join?
There is also discussion of new senior clubs joining the Upper Ottawa Valley league. Both Fort Coulonge and Cobden are in the preliminary discussion stages of forming teams to enter the UOVMFL.
René Ladouceur, who currently operates the successful slo-pitch Pontiac Ball League in Fort Coulonge, said it was too soon to tell whether there would be a team but confirmed that if there was one, he would be involved in its creation.
“We’re not sure yet,” said Ladouceur. “We’re going to sit down and discuss things this December.” Ladouceur said the team already has an experienced competitive pitcher lined up, which is the aspect of starting a fastpitch team that is often the most difficult.
A team based out of Cobden is also being organized, according to Pontiac Royals’ player and Cobden resident Ron Laronde. He told THE EQUITY that Cobden man Steven Eckford is the one putting the team together. Eckford could not be reached before deadline.
In addition, the Quyon Junior Flyers, who were regular season champions in the Ottawa R.A. League this year, are considering a move to either the Greater Ottawa Fastball League or the UOVMFL.
Shawville, Pontiac plans
Earlier this spring, Pontiac Royals Manager Tim Ferrigan had said he was considering moving his team to the Greater Ottawa league, concerned that Beachburg would fold. For next year, however, Ferrigan said he would not be in favour of doing that. “Our younger guys would be willing to do it but they all play for the Quyon Flyers anyway and my older guys don’t want to have to go that far,” said Ferrigan.
The Greater Ottawa league contains teams as far away as Manotick, Ont. Ferrigan said he was not sure what he would do if the UOVMFL folded.
As was their problem prior to this season, the Shawville Athletics are looking for a new manager after this year’s player/coach, Darron Barr, said with a baby on the way, “I’m not sure I want to organize it again.”
Al Keuhl, who was the team’s manager for a few seasons up until last year, also said he would prefer not to organize the squad.
“I’d rather not but the guys (on the team) have been trying to convince me to do it again,” he said.
posted by fitzroyfastball | 10/11/2006 09:43:00 pm
1 Comments:
There are three teams that I am aware of that have expressed interest in possibly joining the GOFL.
I think there is a good chance that the Quyon Jr. Flyers will join, and I hope they do as a Fitzroy vs. Quyon rivalry would be fun and they are a great bunch of young lads.
I'm not going to mention the names of the other two teams here right now as I don't was to cause any problems with other leagues. But these two teams have been 'kicking the tires' so to speak and may or may not be interested in joining for 2007.
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