Eastern Ontario Fastball Blog

A blog dedicated to news about the Greater Ottawa Fastball League and other happenings in the world of fastball / fastpitch softball in eastern Ontario and western Quebec, with occasional stories featuring Mrs Fitzroy Fastball, Fitzroy Fastball Junior and the Caveman. If you have info to send on, send me an email at fastball[at]fitzroyharbour.com. Follow @fitzroyfastball on Twitter.

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Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Quyon COMBAT Flyers NHL Playoff pool

The Quyon COMBAT Flyers are holding an NHL Playoff Pool again this year. Send any member of the Flyers an email to enter.

Select 2 goalies, 6 defensemen and 12 forwards. $10 per entry

Deadline for entry is 2 hours before “puck drops” on first playoff game.

Prizes: 1st place - $500; 2nd Place - $100; 3rd Place - $50

Points assigned as follows:
Goal & Assist = 1 point
OT Winning goal = 2 additional points
Goalie win = 2 points
Shutout = 3 additional points

Laddy is back!

Some good news from the Stittsville 56ers spring training camp has leaked out. Word is that Darren Ladouceur will be back on the diamond playing this season.

I am sure all members of the GOFL will be happy to hear that Laddy has recovered from his ordeal and will be back playing fastball.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

McNab/Braeside Minor Softball registration

McNab/Braeside Minor Fastball registration is now open until April 15th.

Please refer to the following webpage for more information and forms: http://www.mcnabbraeside.com/heritageandculture/recreations/minorball.asp

Monday, March 29, 2010

3rd Annual Gil Read Memorial Tournament - Ottawa

The 3rd Annual Gil Read Memorial Men’s Fastpitch tournament will be held at Carlington Park in Ottawa the weekend of July 23rd, 24th and 25th 2010.

The 1st 12 teams will be accepted with entry fee set at $450.00

Prize money will be handed out as follows:

1st Place $1800.00
2nd Place $700.00

Tournament is open to all players with pitchers required to be of ISC11 caliber.

Beer tent onsite!!

Contact Info
Al Read
613-599-9600 x246
aread[at]LWLaw.com

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Fitzroy Harbour Men's League seeks players

Fitzroy Harbour Men's Fastball League is a league for men 16+ interested in playing recreational fastball in Fitzroy Harbour from May to September, one night a week. All games at the Fitzroy Harbour Community Centre, with refreshments afterwards in the Hall. The league hosts a mid-season tournament in June and the season ends with playoffs and the annual banquet. No experience necessary - for more information, contact Greg at 613-623-1037.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Kars Aces to compete in the Greater Ottawa Fastball League

Coach, manager, second baseman and all around seasoned veteran, Kevin Chevrier announced today that the team formerly known as Ottawa Team Easton will compete in the Greater Ottawa Fastball League as the Kars Aces for the 2010 season.

The team will split their home season between Stittsville and North Gower, with the potential possibility of games at the Kars diamond later in the year.

ISC to hold U-19 tourney at the Worlds in Midland

There is going to be an under-19 men's tournament at the ISC Worlds in Midland, MI this August - check here for more info.

Manley wins Kiwi nationals

Jeremy Manley, whose arm helped the Shaggy Dog team from Erie, PA to a second place finish at the Elkland Labor Day Tournament last year, pitched his club team in New Zealand to a national championship this winter.

ISC Qualifier Update

from Blair Setford

With the weather turning warm, we want to take this opportunity to remind everyone about qualifying for the 2010 ISC World Tournament & ISC II Championship.

As you may have heard, this past off-season we combined the ISC WT and the ISC II Tournament of Champions into a new unified ISC World Tournament.

All 48 teams will start in the same bracket. The first 24 teams eliminated from the WT will then play in a single-elimination bracket for the ISC II Championship while the remaining 24 teams will continue to contest the WT title.

We have two qualifier tournaments planned in Ontario this summer:

June 18-20 in Innerkip - 2 berths available
June 18-20 in Napanee - 2 berths available

In addition, the June 25-27 Port Huron tournament (across the border from Sarnia) will have a berth for the top finishing Canada East team.

The 2010 ISC World Tournament is being played in Midland, Michigan - about a 2-hour drive from the border at Sarnia - during the week of August 14-21.

For more information, contact Blair Setford at blairjs[at]rogers.com

The ISC and Kitchener

As reported earlier this month, the 2011 ISC World Tournament is no longer being held in Kitchener as originally announced. The Kitchener Record ran this story earlier this month - thanks to TC for the tip.

A nail in fastball’s coffin? Kitchener told death of ISC ‘would be our fault’
March 12, 2010 By Christine Rivet, Record staff

KITCHENER – Not so long ago, Kitchener was heralded as the city that saved fastball.
Now, coming off its best showing ever on national and international diamonds, the city has been demonized as the game’s executioner.

“We were told that the death of the ISC would be our fault,” said Duncan Matheson, slated to be the chairperson for the 2011 International Softball Congress world tournament before Kitchener withdrew its offer to host the sport’s biggest event.

Kitchener-based organizers and the ISC reached an impasse on the tournament’s format, which led to a group of ball associations and service clubs, who would run the tournament and split the proceeds, to vote unanimously to walk away, Matheson said.

“We wouldn’t make the money that the groups expected to make,” he said. “And I’m not about to lead a group of volunteers down a rocky road.”

The American-based ISC, which oversees the world tournament, is exasperated because of the Kitchener group’s abrupt decision, said the organization’s executive director.

“We had an agreement I felt so confident in that we announced early (in May 2009) that Kitchener would be hosting next summer,” said Ken Hackmeister from his office in Farmington, Utah.

“This just hit me like a ton of bricks. I thought we had a lot of friends in Kitchener and I haven’t heard from any of them.”

Matheson said the ISC’s recent decision to combine the elite senior men’s bracket with the lesser intermediate men’s division diluted the event’s talent pool and wouldn’t draw the necessary spectators or sponsors to meet the tournament’s financial objectives.

Kitchener rose from obscurity in international softball circles to host the ISC worlds in 2002, 2006 and again at the last minute in 2007 when Decatur, Ill., pulled out.

When the Quad Cities of Iowa and Akron, Ohio, withdrew as possible hosts of the 2011 tournament, Kitchener stepped up to the plate last spring, that is, before the ISC changed its format.

In each of its previous world tournaments, local organizers estimated they raised close to $100,000 and drew about 50,000 fans.

The 2006 and 2007 world tournaments pumped about $7 million into the local economy through spin-off spending, local organizers have said.

Those previous events in Kitchener set the standard for the 71-year old ISC tournament, Matheson said.

“And now, we probably won’t ever see an ISC tournament here again,” he added.

The two-time defending ISC world champion Kitchener Rivershark Twins aren’t prepared to say never, according to team sponsor Jim Hallman.

“It’d be difficult for the ISC not to award the tournament here at a future date based on Kitchener’s record,” he said.

“(The local committee) has taken a responsible approach that’s pretty sound. How soon the ISC forgets that Kitchener stepped in before (in 2007) to help them out,” Hallman added.

The game of fastpitch softball has been under siege for decades, especially at the upper levels where sponsorship dollars have all but vanished.

Another popular ISC tournament destination, Kimberly, Wis., is no longer available to host the event because that city lacks the necessary diamonds for the new tourney format.

Local softball fans suffered another blow recently, when the 2010 World Fastball Invitational in nearby Monkton, Ont., was cancelled due to a lack of available teams.

Last summer, in addition to their latest ISC world title, the senior men’s Kitchener Rivershark Twins claimed their first national crown, while the Kitchener-Waterloo Krush captured the national senior women’s title on home soil.

Sign up yer kiddies for softball this spring

Lots of minor softball leagues conducting their annual registrations. Get yer kiddies signed up and get them hooked on fastball at a young age! Here are a few associations in our area.

West Carleton Minor Softball: Registration Sat March 27, 10am - Noon at Community Centres in Fitzroy Harbour, Constance Bay, Carp, Dunrobin and Kinburn. If you missed it and want to sign up, contact fastball[at]fitzroyharbour.com and we'll get you in contact with the right person.

Kenmore Minor Softball: Registration Sat March 27 9am - 11am at the Kenmore Hall.

Stittsville Minor Softball: Register online

Kanata Minor Softball: Register online

Orleans Minor Softball: Register in person Sat March 27 9am - 2pm at the Ray Friel Centre or online.

McNab / Braeside Minor Softball: Register online

Rideau Osgoode Minor Softball: Register online

Gloucester South Youth Softball: Register in person Sat March 27 9:30am - 12:30pm at the Sawmill Creek Pool or online.

Greely Minor Softball: Register in person April 10 from 10am - noon at the Greely Community Centre.

Richmond Munster Minor Softball: Check out their website and see if you can figure it out.

Maynard Minor Softball: I have to admit, I had no idea where Maynard was until I looked it up. (In fairness, I'm sure your average Maynard resident couldn't find Fitzroy Harbour on a map). Anyway, they're playing ball there too! (hat tip: TC)

August Minor Softball: This is the league in which the folks from Maynard hope to play.

Hockey season officially over, GOFL schedule to be ready soon

Well, Fitzroy Fastball Junior's hockey season is officially over, so I can concentrate more on fastball blogging and drafting the GOFL schedule to be released soon.

I know most of you are eagerly awaiting the FFJr hockey update.

The good news: West Carleton Warriors Novice B3 were playoff champs of their league, running the table undefeated in regular season and playoff play to capture the Lanark Carleton Minor Hockey League banner.

The less good news: Good ol' Fitzroy Junior finished the season with a big goose egg in the "G" column. He never did get that first goal. After 25 games his stats line was as follows:
  • Goals: 0
  • Assists: 10
  • PIMs: 0
  • Times almost knocked unconscious: 1
  • "Almost scored, Dad": too numerous to count

After the last game he was pretty happy about winning it all, but he did mention that he didn't get a goal all season. He said "Dad, do guys in the NHL ever go a whole season without scoring a goal?" So I told him it doesn't happen often, but sometimes!

Monday, March 15, 2010

Orleans Gators take leave of absence from the GOFL

The Orleans Gators have informed the Greater Ottawa Fastball League that they will be unable to field a team this season, despite the best efforts of organizers.

With some key players with summer work committments outside of the Ottawa area, the Gators have decided to withdraw from the GOFL in 2010 and make an effort to re-enter the league in 2011.

The GOFL draft schedule, based on the remaining eight teams, should be available soon.

Participants in the GOFL for 2010 will be:
Stittsville 56ers
Quyon COMBAT Flyers
Ottawa Team Easton
Carp I4C Victory
Manotick Lomor Printers
Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric
Ottawa Blitz
North Gower Marlboroughs (formerly Greely Eagles)

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Kitchener pulls the pin on 2011 ISCs

This was on Al's Fastball today:

Kitchener Withdraws as 2011 ISC Host City
Tuesday, March 9, 2010

The Kitchener Fastball Promotions group recently informed the ISC that they were withdrawing as host of the 2011 ISC World Tournament.

Currently, we are in discussions with three other locations as possible hosts for not only 2011 but 2012 and 2013 as well. We hope to announce the 2011 host city within the next few weeks.

The Kitchener withdrawal was completely unexpected as we had been involved in good faith discussions since April 2009 and at Kitchener's request, issued a release last May announcing Kitchener as our 2011 host city.

During that 10-month negotiating period, there were no major concerns brought up and just prior to the Christmas holiday period, we agreed to suspend discussions until after the first of the year. At that time a final contract had been developed and mutually agreed upon.

When discussions began again in January, we were unable to come to an agreement on a number of new issues presented by Kitchener Fastball Promotions, none of which had been previously brought up. Following a February 3rd, 2010 KFP meeting, we were informed of their formal withdrawal as hosts of the 2011 ISC World Tournament.

Ken Hackmeister
Executive Director
Farmington, UT
iscken@comcast.net
http://www.iscfastpitch.com/

Monday, March 08, 2010

Softball Canada Internship

from Mike Branchaud

Softball Canada is a non-profit member-based National Sport Organization that provides a range of opportunities for softball athletes, coaches, officials, clubs and Provincial/Territorial Softball Associations through the development, delivery and promotion of softball programs and services at the National and International level.

Internship Opportunity: May 3 - August 27, 2010 (Five days per week or 37.5 hours)
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Job Summary: Softball Canada requires an energetic and ambitious individual for an exciting internship within our office in Ottawa. In this position, you will offer administrative and project-related support in all areas of Softball Canada’s operations including but not limited to: program development/delivery for athletes, coaches and officials, marketing and communications, sponsorship, event management (Canadian Championships and Softball Canada events), as well as assisting in the Learn to Play Program.
Key Responsibilities:
§ Assist in the development and delivery of Softball Canada programs and services
§ Assist in organizing Softball Canada events including up to ten (10) Canadian Championships and various Learn To Play events
§ Assist in marketing and promoting Softball Canada programs and services including writing articles for monthly newsletters, updating Softball Canada’s web site, and assisting in media releases
§ Assist with various administrative tasks including answering phones, filing, processing resource orders, etc.
§ Other duties as required

Qualifications:
§ Degree or a student in sport management, physical education or related programs
§ Experience in any of the following areas:
o Program development, delivery and promotion
o Event management
o Marketing and Sponsorship
§ Experience working with volunteers
§ Demonstrated leadership skills
§ Excellent computer skills (Proficient using Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)
§ Strong written and verbal communication skills
§ A creative self-starter with the ability to work independently or as a part of a team
§ Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills with the ability to work on a large number of projects simultaneously, while meeting deadlines
§ Be registered as a full-time student in a community college or university in the 2009-10 academic year and intend to return to school on a full-time basis in the 2010-11 academic year
§ Not attending school full-time while employed in this position
§ Bilingualism is an asset
§ Flexible to work occasional evenings/weekends as required

Application Deadline: March 22, 2010
Compensation: $11/hour (Please note that housing or transportation is not provided)
Send cover letter and resume to:
Softball Canada Attn: Mike Branchaud
Suite 212 - 223 Colonnade Road
Ottawa, Ontario K2E 7K3
Fax: 613-523-5761 or Email: mbranchaud@softball.ca
www.softball.ca

We would like to thank all candidates for their applications but we will only be contacting those selected for an interview.

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

Blast from the Past

Check out this story from 16 years ago about a young lad playing Junior fastball for Oshawa was named top hitter - but once he lost to Stittsville, decided to become a 56er (in the future anyway).

Bonus update on the Fitzroy Fastball Junior goal scoring watch: still goalless with one playoff game complete. I can report, however, that while he has not yet put one in the net this season, he has experienced another right of passage - getting body checked so hard that the snot was shaken out of him. FF Jr. had the puck in his skates and his head down accordingly when a Stittsville goon (boo Stittsville Novice B5 and their rough style of play) ran over Junior with a devastating body check which involved a forearm to the facemask. Think any Wendell Clark hit from back in the day. Full credit to Junior though, he popped right back up on his skates as the other kid was taken to the penalty box. Held in the tears (but not the snot) and got to the bench slightly wobbly-legged. In the room after the game: "When are we allowed to body check without getting a penalty, Dad?" "Not till Peewee - another 4 years yet." "Well, I can't wait until I can body check other guys!"

Now on to our story:

Oshawa teams come up short in provincials
Herriot excels in tourney won by Stittsville
Sam Laskaris; Toronto Star. Toronto, Ont.: Jul 14, 1994. pg. SD.6

A pair of Oshawa teams bowed out sooner than they had hoped to at the Ontario eliminations junior men's fastball tournament.

The Double B Juniors compiled a 4-2 record and placed fourth in the double-knockout tournament, which concluded on Sunday in Oshawa. Meanwhile, the Double B Juveniles were eliminated after playing four matches.

Stittsville, north of Ottawa, captured the 37-team event with a 4- 0 victory over Owen Sound in the final. Both finalists qualified for the Canadian championships, set for Aug. 7-14 in St. Catharines.

Oshawa's juniors had entered the softball tourney as one of the favorites after capturing the Ontario title (which is different from the eliminations tourney) last summer. Though they didn't win, manager Peter Coates said his troops put in a satisfactory effort.

"They're pleased with what they did," he said. "Unfortunately, they're not going to the nationals which was a goal at the start of the year."

Coates' squad will still compete at the Ontario junior finals set for Aug. 20-21 in Smith's Falls.

Though the team fell short, Oshawa junior shortshop Scott Herriot picked up some hardware. He batted .571 in six games and was dubbed the tourney's top hitter.

Rob O'Brien of Stittsville 56ers threw six complete games, all victories, and was named the tourney's most valuable player. And Paul Fitchett of Garson (near Sudbury) compiled a 3-2 record and was named the event's top pitcher.

As for Oshawa's juveniles, they were up against squads with players up to four years older. The club will move back to its own age group to battle for the Ontario juvenile crown, also set for Aug. 20-21. Oshawa is playing host to this event.