Update from Cornwall
from the Cornwall Standard-Freeholder
Printed without any kind of permission, so don't tell them please.
Play Ball; Fastball league hoping for big things in fourth season of play
Kevin Lajoie / Standard-Freeholder
Sports - Wednesday, April 18, 2007 @ 09:00
After a decades-long absence, fastball has once again established a footing in Cornwall, and this coming season could be the biggest yet in the ongoing resurrection of the game.
A minimum of four teams are expected to take to the field this summer in the BMO Nesbitt Burns Cornwall and District Fastball League (the local company has signed on as title sponsor), and there is a possibility that number could grow larger before the first pitch is thrown in mid-May.
Organizer Jim Martell said there was talk of an Ingleside club joining the fold, though nothing is firmed up at this point. What's more, it's believed there could be a large group of players looking to get into the fastball league after the local slo-pitch league recently folded, Martell added. League officials could learn if that prediction proves true tonight when they hold a registration session at the Navy Club on Sixth Street East from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Registration is $100 and it is open to anyone looking for competitive action. Regardless of whether their ends up being four or more teams in action, Martell said he's expecting the coming season - the fourth for the young league - to be exciting for both players and fans alike.
As with the old fastball league, fans are beginning to stop by King George Park on game nights to take in the action, Martell said. Last year's all-star game and finals managed to draw some sizeable crowds to the park.
"It's almost the same as it used to 30 or 35 years ago," said Martell, who remembers going to King George with his father Louis to watch the teams in the old fastball league do battle.
While fun to watch, the league is also quite competitive, thanks in part to the draft system used to stock teams. In the last two seasons, there was only six to eight points difference between the first and fourth place teams. What's more, the last two championship teams held the fourth and final place in regular season play, Martell said.
Martell said before the league's birth, many local fastball players were travelling out of town to places like Kemptville to compete. Now, they're staying home and playing ball locally.
The league also provides a venue for younger and less experienced players to develop their game, Martell said. For example, if a team's winning by a large margin and a win looks like a sure thing, it's not uncommon to see a less experienced pitcher take to the mound to earn some game-time experience. It also gives the losing team a potentially easier opportunity to score some runs.
"It's a serious league, but we're all about playing ball and having fun," he said. Along with BMO Nesbitt Burns, Cornwall Cruising, O'Neill Home Renovations and the Navy Club have signed on as sponsors. The Navy Club has also offered to sponsor a tournament team which will compete in four to six tournaments over the summer.
Following tonight's registration, the team draft will take place next week. Play will begin in mid-May and continue through the summer with playoffs in August. Those seeking more info about the league can contact Martell at 613-931-2255.
Printed without any kind of permission, so don't tell them please.
Play Ball; Fastball league hoping for big things in fourth season of play
Kevin Lajoie / Standard-Freeholder
Sports - Wednesday, April 18, 2007 @ 09:00
After a decades-long absence, fastball has once again established a footing in Cornwall, and this coming season could be the biggest yet in the ongoing resurrection of the game.
A minimum of four teams are expected to take to the field this summer in the BMO Nesbitt Burns Cornwall and District Fastball League (the local company has signed on as title sponsor), and there is a possibility that number could grow larger before the first pitch is thrown in mid-May.
Organizer Jim Martell said there was talk of an Ingleside club joining the fold, though nothing is firmed up at this point. What's more, it's believed there could be a large group of players looking to get into the fastball league after the local slo-pitch league recently folded, Martell added. League officials could learn if that prediction proves true tonight when they hold a registration session at the Navy Club on Sixth Street East from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Registration is $100 and it is open to anyone looking for competitive action. Regardless of whether their ends up being four or more teams in action, Martell said he's expecting the coming season - the fourth for the young league - to be exciting for both players and fans alike.
As with the old fastball league, fans are beginning to stop by King George Park on game nights to take in the action, Martell said. Last year's all-star game and finals managed to draw some sizeable crowds to the park.
"It's almost the same as it used to 30 or 35 years ago," said Martell, who remembers going to King George with his father Louis to watch the teams in the old fastball league do battle.
While fun to watch, the league is also quite competitive, thanks in part to the draft system used to stock teams. In the last two seasons, there was only six to eight points difference between the first and fourth place teams. What's more, the last two championship teams held the fourth and final place in regular season play, Martell said.
Martell said before the league's birth, many local fastball players were travelling out of town to places like Kemptville to compete. Now, they're staying home and playing ball locally.
The league also provides a venue for younger and less experienced players to develop their game, Martell said. For example, if a team's winning by a large margin and a win looks like a sure thing, it's not uncommon to see a less experienced pitcher take to the mound to earn some game-time experience. It also gives the losing team a potentially easier opportunity to score some runs.
"It's a serious league, but we're all about playing ball and having fun," he said. Along with BMO Nesbitt Burns, Cornwall Cruising, O'Neill Home Renovations and the Navy Club have signed on as sponsors. The Navy Club has also offered to sponsor a tournament team which will compete in four to six tournaments over the summer.
Following tonight's registration, the team draft will take place next week. Play will begin in mid-May and continue through the summer with playoffs in August. Those seeking more info about the league can contact Martell at 613-931-2255.
posted by fitzroyfastball | 4/18/2007 10:14:00 am
2 Comments:
How did you find this story, FF?
Who pitches for Cornwall?
Good old Fitzroy Fastball has lots of connections out there in the fastball world. That's what makes this the #1 Fastball Blog in Eastern Ontario. (OK, so it's probably the only one.)
No idea who pitches for Cornwall or what calibre of team they would have from there.
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