Senior B / Intermediate Canadians in 2011?

from Al's Fastball

There's an interesting concept being floated by Softball Canada as it pertains to the 2011 Canadian Senior Men's Fastball Championship Tournament.

 

The Owen Sound Verge Investment Selects will host the National Men's Championship Tournament August 28th to September 4th at Duncan McLellan Park.

 

The concept being investigated is whether or not to expand the format and include a second championship within the week.

 

At the elite level, it's expected there will be close to a dozen teams competing from across Canada, including the host Owen Sound Verge Investment Selects.

 

The expanded format is considering adding a Tier 2, or Senior " B ", format that would allow a second level of teams from across Canada to stage their own National Championship Tournament, running concurrently with the traditional Men's Championship.

 

A complete interview on the proposal with Jamie Simpson of the Owen Sound Organizing Committee is posted at www.bayshorebroadcasting.ca under " Sports ".

The Caveman diet

I heard people talking recently about "The Caveman Diet". Apparently it's a way to eat like our ancestors did 10,000 years ago and has health benefits, at least according to some.

Well, at our place in Fitzroy, we have our own version of the Caveman Diet. I thought I would share with blog readers the particular dietary foibles of the T-ball Caveman. As regular readers know, he's got his, shall we say, 'unique attributes'. Don't get me wrong, he likes a lot of food that 'normal' five year old kids eat. But he does have some interesting habits.

First of all, the kid likes to eat. Ever see a kindergarten student polish off four hotdogs in one sitting? I have. (He had a baked potato too). Or try frying up half a pound of bacon like I did on Sunday - he'll match the old man piece for piece to finish it off.

But I think most interesting are his likes and dislikes in food. Check out the list below for what to serve him if you are ever hosting the Caveman:

Dislikes: Cake. Doesn't like it, don't bother to save him a piece. Sure, he wants to blow out the birthday cake candles at his own party, but doesn't want have any of the actual cake. Vanilla, chocolate, store bought, home made - doesn't matter. We've starting warning other parents since he was going to birthday parties and the other moms and dads were worried that he was "sick" since he didn't want any cake. Well, he's "sick" alright, but not that kind of sick!

Likes: Asparagus (or as he calls it "SPER-igus"). Loves it, can't get enough, thrilled when he sees it cooking. Because of course, what five year old doesn't get excited when asparagus is on the menu? Just tonight he was complaining at dinner that we hadn't had "SPER-igus" in a while and asked Mrs Fastball if we could have some soon. She said "sure we'll have it tomorrow" - much to Fitzroy Junior's disappointment.

Dislikes: Homemade chocolate chip cookies. Yes, he'll eat Oreos, and Fudgee-Os and other mass-produced cookies, but if you were to whip up a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies, he'll say "no thanks". Not interested. Might be the only person alive who can resist freshly baked cookies.

Likes: Risotto. If you haven't had it, it's a broth-cooked creamy Italian rice dish. Pretty tasty stuff, but not something you think your wee lad would flip for. Fitzroy Junior actual starts tearing up and saying "please don't make me eat it" when Mrs Fastball cooks some. But the Caveman wants more "RIZ-atta please!".

Dislikes: Cheese. Well, not entirely true - he likes melted cheese on pizza, a 'gorilla cheese' sandwich, etc. But he hates cheese in its non-melted form. I've seen Fitzroy Junior actually chase him around the house with a piece of hard cheese...."Ahhhhhh cheese get it away from me!"

Likes: Broccoli. Caveman really enjoys chowing down on broccoli. 'White broccoli' (cauliflower) , green beans and Brussels sprouts are also OK by him, but he really enjoys a good feed of broccoli. One night, we are back at the homestead after a night of kids' softball. Mrs Fastball is out so I'm getting the young lads ready for the night. Caveman asks for a snack before bed. "No problem" I say, "but it has to be healthy". I offer an apple, a banana, some strawberries, but he doesn't want any of them. We go through a few more options and he keeps saying no. I'm getting exasperated so I say "Well what do you want? Broccoli?" The Caveman says "Sure!". Turns out he's serious, he'd like broccoli for a bed time snack. I get the bag of Green Giant frozen stuff out, put it in the microwave, whip him up a bowl. And there's the Caveman, sitting in front of the TV watching cartoons before bed, snacking on bowl of broccoli like it was popcorn!

So there you have it, some meal ideas if you have the Caveman over to eat anytime soon.

ISF Promo video

Thanks to TC for the tip

Check out this ISF promo video for men's fastball.

Some interesting scenes of recent world championships and other fastball footage. However, I think my favourite part is at the 2:20 mark. Is that blonde fan with the shades actually chewing tobacco?

Condolences

My condolences, Bradley.

http://obituaries.expressionstributes.com/?o=9916163455

GOFL announces 2010 All-Stars

The Greater Ottawa Fastball League is announcing the 2010 "All-Stars" as voted on by the managers of the eight league teams, based on regular season play. Thanks to all teams for their votes, and congratulations to all players being recognized.

First All-Star Team
Pitcher: Drew Hathway, Quyon COMBAT Flyers
Catcher: Dave Tubman, Kars Aces
First Base: Scott Jessiman, Stittsville 56ers
Second Base: Andrew Bruce, Ottawa Blitz
Shortstop: Kristian Knapp, Kars Aces
Third Base: Nick Armitage, Quyon COMBAT Flyers
Outfielders: Dan Jessiman, Stittsville 56ers; Cory Morrison, Kars Aces; Aaron Amo, Carp I4C Victory
Designated Player: Kyle Jamieson, Stittsville 56ers

Second All-Star Team
Pitcher: Brad Porter, Kars Aces
Catcher: Joe McCleary, Quyon COMBAT Flyers
First Base: Shawn Laframboise, Quyon COMBAT Flyers
Second Base: Steve Edgerton, Barrhaven Broadway Blues
Shortstop: Scott Herriot, Stittsville 56ers
Third Base: Chad Milne, Kars Aces
Outfielders: Don Cox, Barrhaven Broadway Blues; Ryan Bond, Stittsville 56ers; Steve McCord, Quyon COMBAT Flyers; Jon Daley, Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric (tie in voting so four named)
Designated Player: Tony MacDonald, Carp I4C Victory

Ottawa Indoor Softball tournament - fastball division proposed

from David Fox

Ottawa Indoor Softball League is proposing a men's fastball division at the annual Christmas indoor softball tournament Monday Dec. 27 (a stat holiday as Christmas & Boxing Day fall on a Saturday & Sunday) at the Louis Riel Superdome (the 2nd largest superdome in Canada).

Cost is $400/team for 4 games. We'd need 6 fastball teams to make this happen (format to be decided by the teams). Visit the webpage at: www.indoorsoftball.ca.

GeeGees Ladies Softball update

from Michelle Maheu

Dressed in pink for Breast Cancer Awareness, the GeeGees gave it all they had last weekend and pulled off 4 big wins against York and Queens in this year’s final regular season games.

The first game against York fell to a tiebreaker that ended with rookie Taylor Rogalsky parking it for the winning run in the 9th inning. With scores of 5-4 and 5-3 in favor of Ottawa, the GeeGees slept well Friday night and woke early the next day to beat Queen’s 7-0 and 3-1 for a great start to Thanksgiving Weekend.

Despite those four wins, Ottawa fell just short of the top 6 spot, putting them in the play-in tournament in Brampton this weekend to qualify for the Provincials next weekend at McMaster University.

Taggart's Welding wins the 2010 GCMFL Championship

from the GCMFL website
Taggart's Welding defeated East Side Mario's in two games, both by 1-0 scores, to win the 2010 Glen Cairn Men's Fastball League championship. Taggart's Welding - playing as Mattamy Homes last year - becomes the first team in over a decade to repeat as league champions.

Both games of the final featured great pitching by Neil Cooke of Taggart's Welding and Billy Gerber of East Side Mario's.

Game #2 went to extra innings, with Billy Gerber throwing a one-hitter through eight. Unfortunately for ESM, a one-hitter was not good enough as Neil Cooke threw a perfect game for Taggart's Welding, who scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the 8th on a bases-loaded walk.

Congratulations to both teams on a well played final.

Just missed the podium

Today was a regional cross country race for elementary schools in the western part of Ottawa. There had to be a thousand plus kids in grades 3 to 6 gathered at the Kanata Rec Centre to take part in a grueling run.

Ok, maybe not THAT grueling: 10 and 11 year olds covered 2km while Fitzroy Junior and the other 8 and 9 year olds squeezed out 1km. (That translates to 13 times around the bases in fastball, then go once more and stop at third.)

I made the trek to watch the final race of the day for 8-year old boys. Junior had been talking about his practices, and being part of the team, etc. Lots of his softball teammates as well were participating and he was excited.

When I got there, I was surprised by the huge whack of kids from Fitzroy Jr's school that were there representing the same age group. As I confirmed with the young lad before the race began no "cuts" were made - you show up, you're on the team. I guess the world isn't as cruel as it used to be. (Remember the list of names written on the piece of foolscap taped to the coach's door? Man I hated those days.)

Anyway, I'm there cheering Junior on and he runs his little heart out. He ends up in 149th place, just missing the podium. He finished ahead of the fat kids and a few others. He's obviously got his dad's speed. Of course I'm proud of him and I can tell he's happy I'm there, searching for me in the crowd of soccer moms (cross country moms?) as he crosses the finish line.

But of course I have to ruin it......

Me: "Hey congratulations!"

Jr: "Thanks Daddy! 149th place!"

Me: "Good for you, I'm glad you did your best."

Jr: "Yeah, it was fun. Guess what? Athletic Kid from my class finished second!"

Me: "Wow, second. Good for him. But that's only 147 places ahead of you, son." [Keeping straight face].

Yikes, you should have seen the look he gave me after that. Looked just like Mrs Fastball when I say "I only had two beer" after a home fastball game. That look that says "Do you think I'm an idiot?"

Ah the kids today, they grow up too quickly.......

Blog stats for 2010

A few blog stats for those of you who care.

Hello? Anybody still reading?

Anyway, here are some numbers, as per Google Analytics (which is a simple and excellent way to track visitors to a website, even for a non-techie.) These selected statistics are for the 2010 ball season, from the beginning of May until today.

Number of visits to the blog: 28,472

Individual "page views": 40,103

Absolute unique visitors: 6,165

Percentage of visitors using mobile devices: 1.65%

Percentage of visitors that are returning: 78.68%

Total number of countries with at least one visit: 46

Top three countries visiting the blog:
1. Canada 27,056 - 95.0%
2. United States 1,096 - 3.8%
3. South Korea 198 - less than 1%

Local umps receive recognition

Hat tip to TC on this one

Congratulations to local fastball officials Sal Gara (Level V) and Dave Herbst (Level IV) for achieving their next certification level.

More info here and here.

Sens discount tickets for Friends of the GOFL

from Joe Allan

Once again the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and the Greater Ottawa Fastball League have come to an agreement on a year-long partnership. This has been a long drawn out negotiation and I am happy to report that friends and family of GOFL players once again have access to discounted tickets to the majority of games this season. Access is available by clicking the link below and entering the password SENGRPGOFL

www.capitaltickets.ca/sensgroups

Enjoy the off season and congratulations to the Kars Aces

Joe Allan – Broadway Barrhaven Blues
613-591-5404

PS. If you are looking for more than 10 tickets, please call me directly.

And so ends another season

Well, it's pretty much all over for another fastball season as the area men's leagues are now done with the exception of the Glen Cairn Men's Fastball League.

Don't be a stranger over the off season, as the blog will be updated with:

- The GOFL "all-stars" announcement
- Some fastball 'blasts from the past' as were posted last winter
- A new semi-regular off season feature I'm working on, as long as I get some cooperation
- And of course the occasional Caveman and Fitzroy Fastball Junior story

Blogging won't be quite as frequent, but check back every week or so, and while you're at it, click on some of those ads up there, Junior needs a new hockey stick (preferably one with some goals in it).

Kars wins GOFL Finals with 6-5 victory

The Kars Aces held on for a 6-5 victory on Thursday night to win the Greater Ottawa Fastball League finals in two games straight over the Quyon COMBAT Flyers.

The game went right down to the bottom of the seventh as the Aces held on for the win. Brad Porter was the winning pitcher while Drew Hathway took the loss.

Kars scored in the top of the first after Kristian Knapp walked, stole second, advanced to third on a ground out and scored on Cory Morrison's grounder for a 1-0 lead.

Quyon responded quickly in the bottom of the first as Matt Greer lead off with a homer to even things at one.

Both pitchers struck out the side in the second, and Kars went three up three down on Ks in the third.

In the bottom of the third, Luke Young lead off for Quyon with a single, but was caught stealing.

Kars couldn't get anything going in the top of the fourth, but the Flyers got two in the bottom half of the frame. Shawn Laframboise singled and moved to third on Joe McCleary's single to put runners on the corners. Hathway's sacrifice fly gave the Flyers the lead 2-1. After a fly ball out, Steve McCord walked to put men on first and second. Tim Craig's single scored Nick Armitage, who was running for McCleary on the "two-out catcher" rule to put the home team up by two.

Dave Tubman lead off the top of the fifth with a solo home run to get the Aces within one, and it looked like they might do more damage when Matt Alkerton was hit by a pitch and took second on a wild pitch. However, after a strikeout, a hard liner by Cory Alkerton was snagged by Young at second and brother Matt was doubled off to end the inning.

Laframboise had another single for Quyon in the bottom of five, but the Flyers left him on base and the score remained 3-2 after five complete.

Kars broke the game open with a big sixth inning. Scott Marion doubled to start things and was brought in by a Knapp double that deflected off the first baseman's glove to tie the game. Two hard hit balls up the middle were fielded by Hathway to get two outs, and when Chad Milne hit a slow roller it looked like the Flyers would get out of the inning with the game tied at 3. However, the grounder was misplayed, Knapp scored and the Aces took the lead. The next batter was Tubman, and he hit his second homer of the game, this a two run shot to stake Kars to a 6-3 lead. Matt Alkerton then doubled, but the next batter struck out to end the rally.

Hathway lead off the sixth with a single for the Flyers but was stranded.

The Aces went down in succession in the of the seventh, setting up the dramatics for the bottom of the GOFL's final inning of the year.

Young started things off by reaching on a ground ball that was misplayed, and Curtis Daley singled. When the Aces tried to get Young at third, Daley advanced to second putting two in scoring position with none out. Lead off man Greer singled, scoring both runners, to make it a one-run ball game. Laframboise then attempted a bunt which started fair and spun foul. Quyon challenged that catcher Tubman had touched the ball in fair territory, but veteran home plate umpire George Findley consulted with base official Teddy Metcalfe and it was ruled a foul ball. Laframboise subsequently flew out, and McCleary grounded out, moving Greer to second. With two out and a man on second, Kars elected to put the force on, walking Hathway intentionally to pitch to Armitage. When Armitage grounded to Porter, the game was over and Kars claimed the league title and the I4C Consulting trophy. (Not literally though - apparently the cup is still in the basement of the one of the 56ers.)

Pitching
Brad Porter - WIN 7IP 5R 4ER 9H 2BB 10K
Drew Hathway - LOSS 7IP 6R 3ER 5H 1B 10K

Kars Hitting
Kristian Knapp 2-3, BB, 2R, 2B, RBI, SB
Scott Marion 1-3, 2B, R
Dave Tubman 2-3, 2xHR, 3RBI
Matt Alkerton 1-2, HBP, 2B
Cory Morrison RBI

Quyon hitting
Matt Greer 2-4, HR, 3RBI, R
Luke Young 1-3, 1B, R
Shawn Laframboise 2-4, R
Joe McCleary 1-4
Drew Hathway 1-2, sac fly, RBI, Int BB
Tim Craig 1-3, RBI
Curtis Daley 1-3, R

RAIN OUT - Game 2 of GOFL finals

Game 2 of the GOFL finals is rained out for Wednesday night.

The game will be played, weather permitting tomorrow (Thursday) night in Quyon at 7:30pm.

The Guzzlers win the Blackburn Men's Fastball League

from Derek Martin

The Guzzlers won the BMFL final series two games to one by virtue of a 5-4 victory over the Knights in Game 3 on Tuesday night.

Jeff Barber had the win with help from his younger brother Andy while Jamie Blakely took the loss.

Game 1 of GOFL Finals - the deets

from Cory Morrison

Kars Aces took game 1 of the GOFL finals last night in North Gower by a score of 2-1

The Aces opened the scoring in their half of the 1st as leadoff hitter Kristan Knapp homered to make it 1-0

The score stayed that way until the 4th when Chad Milne went deep to put the Aces up 2-0. 

Quyon got on the board in the 7th with two outs as Joe Mcleary singled and was replaced by a pinch runner. Steve McCord then singled to left to put runners on 1st and 3rd. The next batter Tim Craig hit a chopper up the middle that eluded the Kars second baseman to made the score 2-1. With the tying run on 3rd base Brad Porter was able to get Luke Young to ground out to short and end the game.

Game 2 is tonight at 7:30pm in Quyon, if the weather cooperates.

Brad Porter - Win 7IP 1R 4Hits 0BB's 10K's
Drew Hathway - Loss 6IP 2R's 4Hits 0BB's 8K's

Kars
Kristian Knapp 1/3 HR Rbi
Chad Milne 1/3 HR Rbi

Quyon
Joe McCleary 2/3
Steve McCord 1/3

Note to self - punch a wall instead

Message to all you kids out there, from ESPN.com

Brian Roberts knocked himself out of the Baltimore Orioles' lineup. Literally.

The veteran second baseman explained Monday that he missed the last six games of the season for concussion-like symptoms after hitting himself in the helmet with a bat.

"In frustration [after a strikeout], I whacked myself on the head with my bat in the ninth. I had my helmet on," Roberts told reporters. "It's something I've done a million times, but I still can't tell you for sure if that was it. But that's the only thing that I can point to because that night and the next morning, I just didn't feel good. So it's been going on since then."

"I just have some lack of balance and some headaches, and just stuff that hasn't been a whole lot of fun," Roberts said. "It's a lesson to myself, a lesson to the kids to not do that, no matter how frustrated you are."

Kars takes first game of finals 2-1 over Quyon

txt msg from Cory Morrison

The Kars Aces prevailed by a score of 2-1 in the first game of the GOFL Finals against the Quyon COMBAT Flyers at the North Gower diamond on Tuesday night.

Brad Porter had the win, throwing a 4-hitter, while Drew Hathway took the loss, also only allowing 4 hits.

Chad Milne and Kristian Knapp had solo homers for the Aces.

Game 2 is Wednesday night in Quyon at 7:30pm.

Note: City staff tell me that the Carp Road WILL be open tomorrow night so no need for a detour.

Gil Read Coaches Honour Roll nominations sought

from the OASA newsletter

The OASA is still looking for nominations of Coaches for the Gil Read Coaches Honour Roll and Associations for the Association Merit Awards. Please have your nomination in to Christine Patenaude no later than October 10, 2010. Forms can be found online at www.oasa.ca under Information, then Forms or you can send an email to lat@love-a-tree.com.

Pineapple Rizzer

hat tip to TC

Do not try this at home.....(I can envision coming home from work one night and seeing the Caveman lined up to throw at Fitzroy Junior with some sort of fruit tied to his helmet).

GCMFL Finals feature Taggart's vs ESM

from Eric Rosenquist

The GCMFL playoff finals get underway this week, with regular season champs East Side Mario's playing host to #2 ranked Taggart's Welding.

 
East Side Mario's advanced to the finals by way of an extra inning 2-1 win over Mattamy Homes in game #3 of their semi-final on Monday night. Taggart's Welding got past ASAP Print Management in two games in the other semi final.

 
Game #1 of the best-of-three series is on Wednesday October 6th at 6:30 PM, with games 2 and 3 scheduled for Tuesday October 12th and Wednesday October 13, also at 6:30 PM. All of the games will be played at the AY Jackson diamond at 150 Abbeyhill Rd in Kanata.

BMFL playoffs down to final game

info from Ivan Taylor

The Blackburn Men's Fastball League is down to its final game of the 2010 playoffs.

The final series features the Guzzlers (#1 seed) versus the Knights (#3 seed).

The Knights won game 1 in 8 innings by a score of 4-1. Jamie Blakely had the win while Andy Barber took the loss.

In Game 2 on Sunday night, the Guzzlers came back with a 4-0 win. Jeff Barber had a perfect game to earn the victory.

Game 3 of the finals is Tuesday night at 7pm for the Championship.

GOFL Final Series to be played this week

After a few delays, the Greater Ottawa Fastball League final series will now get on track this week. Kars Aces will be facing the Quyon COMBAT Flyers in what is now a best-of-three series for the I4C Consulting trophy.

Game 1 is Tuesday night (Oct 5) at 8pm in North Gower.

Game 2 is Wednesday night (Oct 6) at 7:30pm in Quyon.

Game 3 is Thursday night (Oct 7) at 8pm in North Gower, if necessary.