McNab / Braeside to host ISC II Challenge Cup Ontario East in 2009

McNab/Braeside Minor Softball will be soon officially announced as the 2009 host for the ISC Ontario Challenge Cup East. McNab previously hosted this qualifier in 2007, while Fitzroy Harbour were 2008 hosts.

The tournament will be held from September 18-20 with 8 teams from leagues in eastern Ontario/western Quebec. The winner will be offered a berth to the 2010 ISC II Tournament of Champions.

Congratulations to Harold McMillan and crew - I'm sure they will do another excellent hosting job this upcoming season.

City of Ottawa proposed ball diamond rates

The City of Ottawa proposed ball diamond "adult" rates as per the 2009 draft budget: $20 / hr (no lights) and $31 / hr (with lights). This compares to the 2008 rates of $15.07 no lights / $ 26.07 lights and the 2007 rates of $9.42 no lights / $21.19 lights.

This hasn't been passed yet and will be up for debate in December.

Grey Cup tickets for sale **SOLD**

As some of you know, good ol' Fitzroy Fastball heads to a Canadian Football Championship game every year - Vanier Cup or Grey Cup (sometimes both).

Anyway, we have a group of 24 tickets for the Grey Cup in Montreal this Sunday - but we have three guys that bailed for various reasons.

If anyone is interested in going to the game let me know. Tickets are in the nosebleeds, $95 each (cost).

Group of three preferred, but if you only want 2 I'll consider it.

Email me at work if you have it, or at fastball[at]fitzroyharbour.com.

(I promise, no more classified ads). NOW SOLD.

No more paying for rain out games in Ottawa

From the November 12 City Council meeting in Ottawa

WAIVER OF RENTAL FEES FOR PARKS AND SPORTS FIELDS FOR RESCHEDULING DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER
Committee Recommendation: That Council approve that local sports leagues are not charged additional fees to reschedule bookings which result from inclement weather.

CARRIED

**********

So if your contract is with the City of Ottawa, your diamond fees may go up depending on the City budget, but you won't pay for rain outs.

Softball Ontario message

SOFTBALL ONTARIO SEEKS A MEMBER FOR ITS COACHING COMMITTEE

NORTH YORK, ON- Softball Ontario's Coaching Committee is pleased to announce an opening on the Coaching Committee. Coaching Committee Volunteers are an essential part in the delivery of Softball Ontario's National Coaching Certification Program including Learn to Coach; Keep Coaching; Competition-Introduction, Softball; Level III Technical Softball and Minor Development clinics. Successful candidates will take a leadership role in the development of the Coaching Program in Ontario and will assist the Coaching Committee Chairman in setting program goals and objectives, representing the Coaching Program and working to provide Coach Education in the Province of Ontario.

Coaching Committee members will be expected to attend all committee meetings (approximately two (2) per year) as well as facilitate two (2) National Coaching Certification Program clinics. Ideally, a Coaching Committee Member will have experience coaching softball in addition to the following qualifications:

Keen interest in Coaching Development and Education
Strong Communication and Administrative Skills
Willingness to complete tasks assigned by the Chairman
Coaching Experience is a definite asset
The Coaching Committee is currently involved in the following programs, with more projects underway:

The National Coaching Certification Program for Softball in the Province of Ontario at the Community Sport and Competitive Stream
Piloting new National Coaching Certification Program clinic – Keep Coaching (officially called Community Sport Initiation)
Piloting new On Field Evaluation Component for Competition-Introduction, Softball
International Coaching Symposium with Softball Canada
How to Apply

All interested candidates are asked to apply in writing, expressing your interest along with a detailed resume outlining your softball and coaching background and qualifications for this position. Applications should be sent no later than November 28, 2008. If you have applied in the past for a position on the Coaching Committee, Softball Ontario asks that you re-submit your resume.

Email your resume to Stephanie Sutton at ssutton@softballontario.ca for consideration.

Skippy wins 10 mil

Veteran fastballers in the area will know the newest millionaire in town. Dave "Skippy" Nicholson and his wife earned it the old fashioned way - they won $10.1 million in the Lotto 6/49.

Kars To Form New Team For 2009

from Shawn Williams

The Kars Aces are forming an Intermediate/ISC II team for the 2009 fastball season.

The team plans to apply for membership in the Greater Ottawa Fastball League (GOFL) for 2009. When the GOFL announces its Annual Meeting representatives of the Kars Aces will ask to attend that meeting and apply for membership.

In addition, the team plans to play a seven tournament schedule, including the Gil Read Memorial which was recently sanctioned as an ISC II Qualifier for the Eastern Canada Region.

Kars has secured financial sponsorship for 2009.

If there are any players in Eastern Ontario/Western Quebec area that are interested in playing for Kars in 2009, they may forward an e-mail to Kars Aces Manager, Shawn Williams at shawn_e_williams@yahoo.ca. Shawn previously managed Carp I4C Victory in the GOFL in 2006 and 2007 and was an Assistant Coach with the Waterloo Twins Senior Men (2001), the Stittsville 56ers Senior Men (1998-2000) and the Kemptville Thunder Senior Men (1997), which won the 1997 OASA Senior Men's Championship and represented Ontario at the Canadian Senior Men's Championship in Victoria, BC that same year. Shawn also spent 18 years as an umpire officiating at two National Championships (Midget Boys, 1988 and Junior Men's, 1991) as well as several Ontario elimination tournaments and was an original member of the Perth Fastball Shootout umpring crew.

Kars looks forward to continuing to help the sport of fastball thrive and grow in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec and continue to keep interest in the sport strong among young people in our community.