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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Monday, February 28, 2011

Glen Cairn Men's Fastball League registration

It's Glen Cairn Men's Fastball League registration time. This league which plays in Kanata is specifically looking for pitchers that might be looking for some more innings as well as any players looking to play more ball.

2011 GCMFL Registrations

Registration for the 2011 season of the Glen Cairn Men's Fastball League will be held at the Stittsville Broadway Bar & Grill on the following dates:

Sunday Febrary 27th: 7PM - 9PM
Tuesday March 8th: 7PM - 9PM

Players are asked to still register electronically as outlined below but can pay either in person or online.

The Stittsville Broadway Bar & Grill is located at 1261 Main St. in Stittsville Ontario.

Returning players must be registered and paid in full by end of day of March 15th in order to be eligible for player draft protection by their 2010 team. Fees have changed as follows:

$150 for new players
$150 for former members that did not play in 2010
$175 for returning players from 2010

League play runs from May through August, with playoffs in August and September. All teams play one regular season game per week for a total of 14-16 weeks depending on the number of teams. Teams are also guaranteed a minimum of three games at the mid-season tournament in June.

Regular season and playoff games are played at the A.Y. Jackson High School diamond at 150 Abbeyhill Road in Kanata. Game nights are Monday to Wednesday, with 6:30 PM and 8:30 PM game times.

For more information, please contact executive [at] gcmfl [dot] com

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Friday, February 25, 2011

French immersion is really paying off

Watching some hockey tonight with the Caveman and Fitzroy Junior. Highlights of the Penguins game are shown.

Caveman: "Daddy, is Martin J. Furry playing?"

Me: "What? Who?"

Caveman: "The goalie daddy, Martin J. Furry!"

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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Update on the Jim Bradford tournament

The Jim Bradford Tournament will be moving from Grafton to nearby Cobourg this spring. See below for information from organizer Steve Bedard as posted on Al's Fastball.

The Jim Bradford Classic is moving to beautiful Legion Fields in Cobourg for June 10-12.

It is in co-operation with Cobourg minor ball. This is a fundraiser and all proceeds will go to Cobourg minor ball. There will be hopefully 16 teams again this year.
4 divisions of 4
Entry $450.
With 16 teams = $3200 in prize money
Top 12 move on after round robin
Top 8 go for A side and 4 go to B side
A prize money
$2000 first prize - 2nd =$600 3rd = $200 4th = $200
B prize money
$200 for the winner on the B side
Hopefully everyone will come out and support the tournament and Cobourg Minor Ball.

For any info please contact:
Steve Bedard
905-885-0821
sjbgolf@hotmail.com
sjbgolf@sympatico.ca

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No more beer tents?

In a shocking announcement, the Ontario government is actually looking at loosening the liquor laws in the province to permit alcohol to be consumed anywhere at an event, instead of confining patrons to a fenced in "beer garden".

This would certainly improve things at fastball tournaments in the province and make it more like events in Quebec and the states.

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Fitzroy Jr and Caveman update - brought to you by COMBAT Sports

The Novice B hockey playoffs have begun and Fitzroy Junior's West Carleton team is now 2-0 in the round robin preliminary round. Big game coming up on Monday against Carleton Place, featuring reknowned goon Edgy Junior. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Also in Novice B news, Fitzroy Jr is very proud of his sponsorship deal with COMBAT Sports Group. When he brought it into the room the first time one of other kids said ‘Hey you got a new stick!’. You should have seen him puff out his little skinny chest and say ‘Yeah, and look, it’s made just for me, it says Fitzroy Junior and my brother has one that says The Caveman!'

The new 12 Cal stick, brought to you by COMBAT Sports Group, resulted in a spectacular goal a couple of weeks ago. Also spectacular was the post goal celebration. Hockey dads, you know what I mean - the kind of little dance and show of pure joy that has all the other hockey dads turn and look at you with a grin.

The same kid that noticed the new stick got a hat trick in that game, but the coach still gave Junior the hard hat as “player of the game”. When I asked why he said “For that goal celebration he did, he deserves it.”

The Caveman's season continues in the 'learn to play' hockey league. He's gone from detesting hockey last season to obsessively collecting hockey cards, pretending he's Sidney Crosby every chance he gets and watching the NHL highlights every morning. (I just hope he shows the same enthusiasm for softball this spring, as this year will mark his graduation from T-ball to "real ball", i.e. coach pitch.)

A little while ago, after the recent Montreal Canadiens - Boston Bruins dustup, TSN was showing the "Top 10 Boston - Montreal" moments the following morning. I'm whipping up breakfast for the lads and they are watching this particular Top 10. One of the feature incidents was the famous fight from the late 70s where Stan Jonathan pounds the living hell out of Pierre Bouchard (he was never the same after that). I'm putting peanut butter on toast and look over - there they are mesmerized by the TV, mouths open, watching the short scrappy Jonathan turn Bouchard's face into hamburger, followed by his subsequent bleeding all over linesman John D'Amico.

Fitzroy Junior turns to me and says "Did this happen last night Daddy!" (With the inference that, if it did, why the heck did you not get me out of my bunk bed to watch it live!). After assuring him that this altercation happened in 1978 when I was the Caveman's age, I wondered if watching this would have a lasting effect.

Apparently it has - now every mini-stick game between the two boys has to feature at least one "fight". Mrs Fastball is not pleased.......

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Friday, February 18, 2011

Umps wanted - article in the Barrhaven paper

Umpiring is not for the faint of heart
LJ MATHESON
laurie.matheson@metroland.com

Looking for a way to get back in the game? Are you even tempered, athletic and know a bit about softball?

These qualities will help build the perfect foundation that the Eastern Ontario Umpires Association is seeking for spring umpire clinics in the Ottawa area.

Barrhaven’s David Herbst is a former player who didn’t get into umpiring until his early 40s. Now some 13 years later, he’s an accredited Level 4 official and travels extensively for the sport.

He is also the Zone 10 fast pitch umpire-in-chief.

“It’s my hobby,” he said. “I enjoy it and I can make a little extra money on the side.”

There are about 50 to 60 umpires in the association that is governed by Softball Ontario. The Ottawa branch is seeking about 20 more officials – men or women – at least 18 years of age.

“We have about five women who are umpires, and we could use more,” Herbst said.

A level one clinic will be held for newcomers in April.

Accredited umpires can then offi ciate slo-pitch or fastball games.

“Youth have a great opportunity to make this a summer job,” Herbst said. “It’s a fun way for them to earn extra money… they can work as much or as little as they want.”

Each umpire is added to a pool of offi ciates for the area that covers Renfrew, Lanark, Carleton, Ottawa, Prescott and Russell, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry and Leeds-Grenville.

To become an umpire is not without a fee – which can be offset by the end of the first summer. Depending on the level of game, the official is paid between $35 and $45 per game. It’s the same rate for umpires behind plate or on the bases.

The initial cost of $75 is for the day-long course. Rule books are $10. Other annual costs required include the association fee of $35, the Softball Ontario fee of $100 which covers liability insurance, and equipment.

To umpire slo-pitch, the fee for equipment would be about $200. This includes a shirt, hat, bag, counter, brush, pants, socks and running shoes. For fast pitch, the equipment fee is larger due to the need for a chest protector, athletic protector, helmet or facemask and shin pads.

Visit www.softballontario.ca for a list of umpire clinics.

A level one clinic will be held April 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the R.A. Centre on Riverside Drive.

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Thursday, February 17, 2011

Blackburn Men's Fastball League Registration

from Derek Bergeron

Registration nights for the BMFL will be held on Wednesday March 2nd from 7pm to 9pm at the Blackburn Arms (2586 Innes Rd, Blackburn Hamlet) and Thursday, March 10th from 7pm to 9pm at the Barley Mow (2034 Tenth Line, Orleans). Registration for the 2011 BMFL season will be $225, this includes as always your entry to the year end dinner banquet.

The 2011 season is likely see an 8 team League playing at least 21 games plus best of 3 playoffs. We will do everything in our power to start the regular season by about the first week of May and end the playoffs by the end of September. Teams will play 1-2 games per week on Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday evenings at the Blackburn Arena Diamond.

If you have any questions or require more info please don't hesitate to contact bergeronderek[at]hotmail.com or visit us at www.bmfl.ca

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Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Trend Arlington league registration night

from Ivan Taylor via The Facebook

Trend Arlington Men't Fastball League is a men's recreational fastball league that is open to newcomers and veterans alike. It is especially friendly to father and son combinations. It costs only $175 for 24 regular season games plus round robin playoffs or $225 for late registration. Registration is March 7 from 7pm to 10pm at PJ Quigley's on Greenbank Road in Ottawa.

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Monday, February 14, 2011

Red Sox sign Kiwi fastball player

Got this story off "The Twitter" from TC. Check it out.

Did I mention that Fitzroy Fastball occasionally tweets?

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Bracebridge Tournament

26-27-28 Aug 2011 Men’s Open Fastball Tournament Bracebridge, ON
Guaranteed three games. $500 Entry fee with $2000 winner take all prize, to be offered with 8 team participating

Men’s Rec Division Fastball Tournament BracebridgeGuaranteed three games. $350 Entry fee with $800 to be divided between top 3 teams, with 8 teams participating.

Tournaments to be running at the same time in conjunction with Muskoka Beer Fest.

Team passes will be available at a discounted rate.

Contact: Ted CONWAY 705-645-8490 Blackdog Farm Bracebridge, or contact at tedconway@muskoka.com

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Wednesday, February 09, 2011

4th Annual Gil Read Memorial Tournament UPDATED

The 4th Annual Gil Read Memorial Men’s Fastpitch tournament will be held once again at the Carp Fair Grounds in Carp Ontario the weekend of July 22nd, 23rd and 24th 2011.

The first 12 teams will be accepted with entry fee set at $450.00.

UPDATE: The tournament committee has decided that this year's event will be an OPEN event with no player restrictions.

Prize money will be handed out as follows (Based on a 12 team format):

1st Place $1,800.00
2nd Place $700.00
3rd place tie - $250 each

Last years winners were: Quyon Combat Flyers -$1,800, Kars Aces -$700,

Beer tent onsite!!

Contact Info
Al Read
613-599-9600 x246
aread@lwlaw.com

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Tuesday, February 08, 2011

ISC Ontario Qualifier announced for Springfield, ON

from Blair Setford

2011 Canada East ISC Qualifier announced for Springfield

February 8, 2011 – The 2011 Canada East ISC qualifier tournament will be held in Springfield, Ontario June 17-19.

Three berths to the 2011 ISC World Tournament in Quad Cities will be available to be won through this planned double-knockout event. Teams should note that any invite berths will be awarded either through the ISC Travel League or through this tournament.

Springfield is located south of Hwy 401 and east of St. Thomas/Aylmer. Teams are encouraged to stay at the London Ramada Inn, the host hotel which is located at:

817 Exeter Road
London, Ontario N0L 1J0
Phone: 519-681-4900
Toll-Free 1-800-303-3733
www.ramadainnlondon.com

Please use special event code CGISC to receive the $85.00 per night rate.

We are pleased to announce that the umpires for this event will be part of the Level V certification program being run that weekend.

The first 16 Canada East teams to pay the entry fee will be accepted for the tournament. The deadline for entry is May 15.

Entry fee is $375, payable to ISC Canada East.

Please send payment to:
Blair Setford
ISC Canada East
2927 Nipiwin Drive
Mississauga, ON L5N 1Y1

For additional information, please contact:

Blair Setford
ISC Canada East VP
blairjs@rogers.com

Joe Todd
Canada East Regional Commissioner
ftode739@rogers.com

Local contacts:
Mark McCallum nmmccallum@yahoo.ca
Shaun Winship winship@me.com

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Friday, February 04, 2011

Cobourg league news from the Interweb

Four teams will return to compete in Cobourg Men's Fastball
Northumberland Today

COBOURG — All four teams are expected to return for the 2011 season of the Cobourg Men's Fastball League this summer

League officials called an emergency meeting last week to ensure that at least the same four teams -- Grafton Jays, Foodland Crush, eagle.ca and B&B Electric -- would be back.

The teams were all represented at the meeting.

The next meeting will be held in late March, which is when preparations usually begin for the new season.

Anyone interested in entering a team into the league or an individual wishing to join an existing team can contact president Layton Dodge at 905-372-9522.

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Wednesday, February 02, 2011

GOFL Winter Meeting 2011 - new playoff format

The GOFL annual winter meeting was held on Monday.

With the departure of North Gower, seven teams will compete in the league in 2011: Kars, Stittsville, Barrhaven, Ottawa, Fitzroy Harbour, Carp and Quyon.

The biggest news coming from the meeting is the new playoff format. In an effort to prevent the playoffs from dragging on into October as they have the last few years, the teams decided on a new concept proposed by Big Papi Fleck of Quyon and passed unanimously at the meeting.

After the regular season, the top team will get a bye. (If the top team doesn't want the bye it can be waived and offered to the second place team, they can waive it, etc. and so on down the standings.)

The remaining six teams will play a best of five play off series to be completed in the month of August. (2nd vs 7th, 3rd vs 6th and 4th vs 5th).

The three teams winning the series, plus the bye team will advance to the "Final Weekend Showdown". Essentially the FWS will be a four team double knockout tournament to determine the playoff champion. Top seed to play lowest seed in the first round of the double knockout. The Final Weekend Showdown will take place on the second weekend of September, with two games on Friday Sept 9 and the remainder on Saturday Sept 10 with Sunday as the rain date.

This year Quyon will host the FWS and assuming the GOFL keeps the format, the FWS will rotate to different venues.

See below for the minutes with other details for the upcoming season.

GOFL meeting, 2011

Greater Ottawa Fastball League organizing meeting January 31, 2011 at I4C Office in Kanata

Attendees:
Adam Brown (WC Electric)
Steve Edgerton (Barrhaven)
Lindsay Medynski (Barrhaven)
Kevin Chevrier (Easton)
Dave Tubman (Easton)
John Craig (Stittsville)
Marcel Mondoux (Blitz)
Neil Cooke (I4C Victory)
Eric Rosenquist (I4C Victory)
Kenny Fleck (Quyon)

Umpires: Ted Metcalfe has informed the league that he will be the Umpire in Chief for the season. Adam will follow up with George about the results of the meeting as the umpires were unable to send a representative.
League Meeting:
- The seven teams (and their home diamonds) confirming their participation for 2011 are as follows:
o WC Electric: Fitzroy Harbour - going to try for Monday, some Fridays
o Barrhaven Broadway Blues: Manotick on Wednesday
o Ottawa Blitz: Manotick on Wednesday
o Stittsville 56ers: Stittsville on Wednesday
o Kars Aces: to be determined, likely some games on Monday in North Gower, Tuesday in Stittsville after kids ball is over
o I4C Victory: Carp on Thursday
o Quyon: Quyon on Thursday and Friday
- Adam has volunteered again to create the schedule. Teams were asked to forward any special scheduling requests to Adam. Quyon asked to start their games later.
- Doubleheaders will be scheduled whenever practical. Manotick will continue to host a doubleheader every Wednesday. Other locations (Carp, Fitzroy Harbour, Quyon, North Gower) should also be able to host some double dips.
- Regular season will likely start the second week of May, with the original schedule running for 11 weeks with rainout make ups and playoffs to follow.
- Teams will play a balanced schedule of 18 games, with three games against each team.
- New this year: Each team will submit a line up card at the plate meeting to the umpire & their opponent.
- There will not be a Showcase this year, however there may be some opportunities for multiple games in a single location, perhaps in Fitzroy Harbour now that both diamonds have lights.
- Game cancellation: as per before if a team needs to cancel a game (for any reason other than weather), 24 hours notice should be given to the opposing team’s representative. If a visiting team fails to show up with enough players or cancels too late to notify the umpires, then the visiting team will pay for the officials’ fees. If diamond fees are going to be charged to the home team, the offending team will have to pay for the make up diamond rental fee.
- Rain shortened games: a change was proposed and accepted - for games to count in the standings for regular season four (or three and half) innings are completed. Games not "official" will need to be replayed at a later date. For playoffs, same as before, the game will resume at a later date from the point at which the game was delayed.
-Game stories can be sent as soon as possible so the blog can be updated. Report should at a minimum include the score, the winning and losing pitcher and any home runs hit. Statistics should be updated by team representatives as soon as possible on GOFL.ca.
- Each team to ensure their club contacts are updated on GOFL.ca
- For the regular season, each team is responsible for their own expenses, including by not limited to diamond fees, umpire costs, balls, etc. (see exceptions below re: playoffs).
- Regular season tie-breaking: 1) points (2 for a win, 1 for a tie) 2) wins 3) head-to-head 4) run differential in head to head 5) coin flip
- Playoff format changed as per new proposal:
o 1st place team to be awarded bye to final weekend showdown. Team may decline the bye, and it would go to the next team down the standings and could be waived down to the next team, etc.
o Play off series: best of five, 2nd vs. 7th, 3rd vs. 6th, 4th vs. 5th. To be completed during August.
o Final Weekend Showdown: four team double knockout tournament, with top seed playing lowest seed in one of the first round games. Two games on Friday September 9, remainder of the tournament on Saturday September 10, Sunday September 11 will be the rain date. Quyon will host the inaugral FWS.
- Playoff extra innings: if a playoff game is tied, the ‘international rule’ shall being in the 8th inning.
- The cost sharing formula for playoffs will continue. For the playoffs series, if there are an odd number of games (3 or 5), teams shall split umpiring and diamond costs for the final game. For the FWS, all teams shall share equally in the umpiring costs; the host team will pay for the diamonds and retain all profits from such things as Pepsi sales; each team will supply one new ball for each FWS game.
- Playoff winner fund: $500 to the FWS winner and $200 to the FWS finalist. The I4C Trophy will be awarded to the playoff champion. Chevy currently has the trophy safely stored at his house.
- Edgy / Tony Riches will order the softballs for the league. Each team to contact Edgy with the number of softballs (in dozens) each team requires. Same model/colour to be used at last year. Edgy will also be ordering “Gorilla Gold” as requested for each club to eliminate the need for pitchers to use any other substance, as well as line up card books.
- “8 man rule”: in order to continue to ensure minimal defaults, teams will be permitted to start games with 8 players. There will be no “auto-out”. If the ninth player shows up late (or a lucky fan is found), then the team can insert this player in the ninth position in the line-up. However, if a team has only 9 players and one is ejected, the team will then forfeit the game. If a team has 9 players, and there is an injury and the player cannot continue, the team may still play with 8, but then the auto-out will apply.
- “Mercy rule”: will continue as 7 after 5, 5.5, or 6
- “2 out catcher rule”: optional.
- “Discipline”: Same as previous years: first ejection player at a minimum receives a “yellow card” - next ejection automatically results in one game suspension, minimum. Each ejection will result in an umpire’s report and a team’s report. Suspension could be given for any ejection depending on severity. In the past few years this has not been a problem with the GOFL and hopefully that will continue.
- “Bat rule”: The GOFL will continue with the ISF / ISC bat rule. Any bat with the ISF stamp or ASA 2004 stamp would be legal.
- “Pitching rule”: continue with last year's pitching rule, but should be ensuring front foot stays on the pitching rubber during windup.
- Other Softball Canada rules apply.
- There are no restrictions on team rosters (any player, junior, senior, etc. can play). Once a player participates in the league for one team, he cannot play for another team that season.
- The GOFL will advise the ISC that it wishes to participate in the Ontario Challenge Cup in September. The team finishing first in the regular standings will have the first right to the OCC berth and so on down the standings.
- Eric will again look into insurance coverage that can be paid for on a team-by-team basis.
NOTE: There was discussion about a possible eighth team that had expressed interest in maybe playing in the GOFL. The seven member teams were all interested in accepting the possible new team as a full member or even in playing a partial schedule against this team, depending on their interest. Adam will follow up and the schedule / playoffs will be amended if necessary.

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Tuesday, February 01, 2011

GOFL winter meeting

Some interesting news coming out of Monday night's GOFL league meeting. Information to be posted soon - just need to recover first from tonight's sixth birthday dinner celebration at PJ's in Arnprior for the Caveman. ("Daddy does the lady know it's my birthday?" "Yes, Caveman, we'll tell the waitress.")

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AuSable Tournament 2011

Everyone I ever talked to says this a beauty of a tournament.....

The 49th Annual Au Sable Forks NY Fastpitch Softball Tournament has 2 openings. This is an open Tournament 10 Team Pool Play July 8-10 $300 entry with 1st place $1600. Our website is http://ausablefastpitch.tripod.com/
As per the website, teams already committed, including three GOFL teams, are:

Mountain Brook Lodge Blitz - Wilmington, NY/Ottawa Ont.
Carp I4C Victory - Carp, Ontario
Knoxville - Pennslyvania/Ontario
Team Quebec Juniors - Quebec City, Canada
Donnacona Blue Sox - Donnacona, Quebec
Razzano's Trucking - Johnstown, NY
CPI Classics - Oswego, NY
Barrhaven Broadway Blues - Ottawa, Ontario
Cobourg Force - Cobourg, Ontario

For more information contact Tournament Team Coordinator Tom O'Neill @ tpogiantsfan@yahoo.com

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