Wilbur McLean, the Pontiac Equity's ace sports reporter, has a story on the revival ("90% revived") of the UOVMFL.
Quotes included from Big Joe McLeary, Ronnie Laronde and a toe-tappin' lefty from Chapeau.
Text provided courtesy of Wilbur McLean:Wilbur McLean
Equity Editor
PONTIAC •
After a one-year hiatus it appears competitive fastpitch will return to the Ottawa Valley this year.
Discussions for the revitalization of the Upper Ottawa Valley Men’s Fastball league are in the advanced stages and a team from Shawville will definitely be included and one representing Fort Coulonge is likely.
“Hopefully we can get it off the ground with just a small schedule,” said Ron Laronde, a catalyst in the league’s revival. Laronde said the league is “90 per cent a go” and other teams will likely include Micksburg men, Micksburg juniors, McNab/Braeside and Fitzroy Harbour.
The league’s framework was discussed at a meeting early last week in Cobden. Shawville’s team will be led by Quyon Flyers pitcher Matt Greer while the proposed Fort Coulonge team is being organized by experienced Allumette Island hurler, Len Burger.
“I’m certainly looking for a team in the Pontiac area,” explained Burger, 44, who said he hoped to attract a pitcher by the name of Drew Hathaway to the team. Hathaway was a top pitcher in a southwestern Ontario fastball loop for years but Burger said he recently moved to Fort Coulonge.
“If I can get him out we’d be a competitive team for sure.”
The Shawville team would be the Snappers, a former junior champion side who have been active for a few years.
“The wheels are turning for sure,” said Joe McCleary, player/coach for the Snappers in 2007.
After a decades-long run the Valley league did not get started last year because of a lack of interested teams. The league had dwindled to an all-time low of three teams in 2006, with only sides from Micksburg, Campbell’s Bay and Shawville participating.
Laronde said organization was a problem with the league for the last few years and one he hoped to correct.
“In the past they always left the (organizational) meeting too late and it couldn’t get off the ground.”
Already a second meeting is planned for March 24 in Cobden to further discuss details. Laronde said the league intends to limit itself to a maximum 12-game schedule plus playoffs with the season concluding by Sept. 1 so student players could return to their post-secondary studies.
Burger encouraged interested fastpitch players in Pontiac to contact him at 819-689-2905. “I’m looking for help,” he said.
Will it be competitive? One issue Laronde said was discussed at the first league meeting was that of competition and the possible disparity between the best and worst teams in the proposed league.
The Micksburg men’s team were semi-finalists in the 2006 North American fastpitch championships and their primary pitcher, Corey Costello, is one of the best on the continent. He set the strikeout record at the 2006 championships and routinely throws no-hitters.
Some of the other proposed teams have only ever competed in junior leagues where the maximum age is 23 and the level of skills is significantly lower.
At first glance, that’s what everybody would probably say about it,” said McCleary. However, he said that situation was very similar to the former Campbell’s Bay Royals team of a few years ago and that bunch quickly improved to be sharply competitive with Micksburg.
“That’s the only way to get better and facing guys like Corey you’re going to get better a lot faster.”
Laronde said he had no intention of placing an innings limit on pitchers but added Costello may not be interested in throwing very often.
“He’s into his 30s now and he’s got other commitments too,” he said.
