Nominate a softball coach for an award

from Softball Ontario

Nominate your Softball Coach for a Coaches Association of Ontario Coaching Excellence Award

Toronto, ON- Softball Ontario is pleased to share information about the Coaches Association of Ontario Coaching Excellence Awards Program. Please see the information below and be sure to nominate your Softball coach!

Coaches Association of Ontario- Coaching Excellence Award Program

For five years, the Ontario Coaching Excellence Award Program has been celebrating the dedication and commitment of exemplary individuals who inspire, innovate and share knowledge of sport with others.

The Awards recognize the importance of leadership, performance and the value of human insight which are all integral to great coaching. This years awards will be presented at a special ceremony during Ontario Coaches Week in Toronto on Saturday April 14, 2012. Click here for the award descriptions and to download a nomination form.

The Coaches Association of Ontario invites you to nominate deserving individuals with outstanding season achievements; those who have advanced their sport; those who inspire youth every day at practices, and those who are blazing a new trail. Nominations will be accepted until February 10, 2012 in the following categories:

Grass Roots Coach- two award recipients will be selected in this category; a dedicated male coach and a dedicated female coach who primarily coach youth or children. Coaches recognized in this category are inspirational role models in the community garnering the confidence and glowing praise from parents and local program leaders. The coaching focus would be on introducing children and youth to a sport, on instruction and developing fundamental movement skills while creating a positive environment for healthy development and instilling a life-long love to be physically active and stay involved in sport. A coach in this category would measure their daily success in the number of smiles achieved.

Good to Great Coach- Two award recipients will be selected in this category; an outstanding male coach and an outstanding female coach who have coached athletes that have achieved a high standard of performance in competitive sport. The coaching focus is on performance excellence and competing to win. The coach would be recognized as the primary coach who identifies talented individuals; who creates a training environment that further develops athletic skills and abilities to a higher level of success in competition over a period of time. An example of a coach in this category would likely have athletes they coached be selected on a national team to represent Canada.

Trailblazer Coach-Up to one outstanding individual in the Province will be selected in this category. The Trailblazer coach is an innovative out-of- the-box thinker, a creative change agent who inspires others to follow, has made a difference in their sport or for the athletes they coach. Whether coaching a community rep team or top performing provincial athletes, the coach who pushes the envelope, invents new approaches to old challenges and breaks through barriers should be nominated for this award. Taking the road less travelled is often bumpy and this coach embraced the goal, persevered and made things better for their sport for years to come.

Everyone Matters Coach- The "Everyone Matters" Award recipient has influenced the culture of their team, their organization or community by embracing diversity and differences. Over a sustained period of time they have demonstrated the value of an inclusive approach through acceptance and accessibility. Examples in this category include success in reaching out to and actively welcoming different genders, different age groups, newcomers to a sport program or a coach who successfully integrates athletes with a disability into the program. One award will be given to a coach who leads with vision, resolve and courage to challenge the status quo.

Andy Higgins Lifetime Achievement Coach-One award recipient in Ontario may be selected in this category; an outstanding coach who has made a significant contribution to coaching in Ontario over a very long sustained period of time; 20+ years. Andy Higgins, an Olympic decathlon coach, an educator and all around good human being, has devoted his lifetime to instilling positive values, citizen development and making a difference in people's lives through sport. A coach who dreams big, looks for the possibilities, and focuses on a lasting legacy would be an ideal award recipient in this category.

Softball Ontario is the governing body for the sport of softball in Ontario. Our goal is to promote and develop the sport of softball for its athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers by providing programs and services at all levels of competitions.

Surely somebody in Ottawa is worthy of a nomination!

5th Annual Gil Read Memorial Tournament

5th Annual Gil Read Memorial Tournament - Ottawa

The 5th 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 27th, 28th and 29th 2012.

The first 12 teams will be accepted with entry fee set at $450.00. This is an Open class tournament without restriction.

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 year’s winners were: Team Quebec -$1,800 - Napanee North Key Express-$700, - Kars Aces & Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric - $250 each

Fantastic beer garden with the best burgers around, all in support of the Gil Read Memorial Foundation. www.gilreadmemorial.com

Contact Info
Al Read
aread225@gmail.com
ph 613-435-3199

Locals lose first game at AAU in Florida

info from Trevor Power

At the AAU Tourmanent in Orlando, Florida Fastpitch lost their first game in a 11-10 shootout against the Brewers from Venezuela.

The Florida Fastpitch team features several local players from the Greater Ottawa Fastball League. The got down 6-1 after two innings but clawed back to make it close. Corey Alkerton took the loss and had relief from Paul Ceppi.

Their second game is against another Venezuelan team at 9am Friday.

50th Annual Au Sable Forks Fast-Pitch Softball Tournament

From all accounts, this one is a beauty, and I would think that they will be doing things up pretty big for the 50th.

50th Annual Au Sable Forks Fast-Pitch Softball Tournament

July 13th-15th, 2012
Au Sable Forks, NY
10 Team Limit
4 game guarantee
Entry Fee $300
Prize List: 1st $1600 2nd $800 3rd & 4th $300

For more information visit our website or e-mail Team coordinator Tom O'Neill.

Congrats to Jamey Mick

from Softball Ontario press release

Please Welcome our new Regional Coordinators!

Softball Ontario's Participation Program is proud to announce our eleven (11) new Regional Coordinators!

What is a Regional Coordinator?

A Softball Ontario Regional Coordinator is to act as a liaison between Softball Ontario, the Participation Committee, and the House League Softball Associations within his or her region as well as promote Softball Ontario Programs and Services to the House League Softball Associations within the region.

In a province as large as Ontario, it can be difficult to make sure everyone receives the most up-to-date news and opportunities from Softball Ontario. The new Regional Coordinators will help to ensure that Softball Associations in each of the eleven (11) regions are kept in the loop on Softball Ontario's programs and services.

Region 10: Renfrew, Lanark, Leeds-Grenville, Prescott & Russell, Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry, Carleton
Jamey Mick – Pembroke, ON
Jamey is very active within Micksburg Minor Ball, and is a Regional Pitching Instructor for Softball Ontario’s CANpitch Program. He has been a softball coach for the past fifteen (15) years, and has played fast pitch all his life most recently playing with the Micksburg Twins.

Congrats, Jamey, looking forward to helping you spread the word about softball in our area.

Ellsworth captain of Team Canada

An article about Jeff Ellsworth of PEI, this year's captain of Team Canada at the AAU.

"Mr. Softball" from Verona

This article appeared in the Kingston Whig about Roger Bauder from Verona. He clearly had a big influence on softball players in that area, including Steve Price. Thanks to Blair Setford for the tip on the article.

Banners honour softball leader
By Doug Graham/The Whig-Standard

Banners from Ontario Amateur Softball Association championship years on display at the Verona Lions Club on Monday paid tribute to the man regarded as Mr. Softball in the village.

He was Roger Bauder, the manager and architect behind more than two decades of very successful Verona Merchants softball clubs.

Bauder, 72, died last Thursday. The funeral service was Monday morning at the James Reid Funeral Home. Following the service, family and friends gathered at the Verona Lions Club to celebrate Bauder’s life.

“He loved the sport, he loved promoting softball. He was very, very dedicated and respected by all,” said Jim Cashman, who played on Bauder’s Merchants for 22 years.

The Merchants, an intermediate men’s team, won seven provincial titles from 1972 to 1987. Bauder did coach some teams, but primarily worked as the team manager.

“He made sure everything was up and running. He made us a much better team,” said Cashman, a pitcher and a good bat on those teams.

The Merchants after a couple of provincial wins at the Intermediate C level, stepped up to the Intermediate A bracket and won five titles in seven years.

Cashman said the pennants were all on display Monday, leading to many memories centred around Bauder.

“Lots of laughs and good memories. It was not just our team Roger was helping. He helped kids ball, too,” Cashman said.

Past OASA president Mike Goodridge said Bauder received the highest award the provincial association hands out — the Mr. Softball Award — several years ago.

“At the time, Roger was the first person east of Oshawa to win that. It was a real honour and well deserved,” Goodridge said.

“He was such a wonderful person. He affected so many lives, not only on the ball field but in every walk of life. He touched peoples’ lives in a positive way.”

As an example of that, Goodridge said Verona’s Steve Price was helped along at the elite level of the sport by Bauder. Price, a pitcher, ended up playing for Canada and winning a gold medal at the 1990 Pan-American Games.

“Steve brought his gold medal and put it in the casket. That showed the effect Roger had on his life,” Goodridge said.

An umpire, Goodridge said working championship games on a Thanksgiving weekend, with fans huddled in blankets, wasn’t such a chore — thanks to the way Bauder ran the Verona organization.

“He instilled in the fans and the players’ wives the right way to support the team,” Goodridge said.

“They didn’t say bad things about the other team. They were there to cheer in a positive manner.”

Goodridge said whenever he met with softball people recently, they often asked about Bauder.

“He was not only well known in Kingston and Verona, but all over the province,” Goodridge said.

“He was regarded as a fine softball man, but also as a finer person.”

Jim Bradford Classic 2012

Cobourg 2012 Jim Bradford Classic
22nd year of the Classic
Cobourg Legion Fields
June 8-10 - 2012
Entry $450
Guaranteed 3 games
12 - 16 teams
Contact : Steve Bedard
sjbgolf(at)hotmail.com or sjbgolf(at)sympatico.ca
905-885-0821

Been to this one a few times - Steve and his gang put on a good tourney.

Elkland Tournaments for 2012

2012 Elkland (PA) Tournament Dates as per Al's Fastball

2012 6th Annual Molly Sherman Memorial Tournament
May 25th – 27th (Monday, May 28th – Rain Date)
Entry Fee: $300 per team
16 Team Limit
3 game guarantee
ESA Pitchers Restriction List will be used
Prize Money: 1st Place - $1,200, 2nd Place - $600, 3rd Place - $300
•Champion of tournament will receive free entry fee into the 2012 Durk Sherman Classic Tournament

2012 19th Annual Elkland First Weekend Tournament
August 24th – August 26th
Entry Fee: $250
16 Team Limit
Double elimination event
ESA Pitchers Restriction List will be used
Prize Money: 1st place - $1,000, 2nd Place - $500, 3rd Place – 300

2012 60th Annual Durk Sherman Labor Day Classic Tournament
August 31st – Sept. 3rd
Entry Fee: $250
24 Team Limit
3 game guarantee
Any class of pitching allowed
Prize Money: 1st Place - $2,500, 2nd Place - $1,200, 3rd Place - $600, 4th Place - $400, 5th Place - $100, 6th Place - $100

Any interested teams in any of these events can contact Tournament director Bill Sherman at: esabill30@yahoo.comor by calling (814) 258 7096 Home, (814) 258 5229 ESA

www.elklandsoftball.com

West Carleton to host kid's pitching program

by Courtney Symons, West Carleton Review EMC

A local softball association is looking to host a workshop to teach kids to pitch.

CANPitch, Softball Canada’s national pitching program, provides a standardized curriculum for youngsters who want to learn to pitch, and they approached the West Carleton Minor Softball Association asking to start a six-week session this spring.

“Softball is a very pitching-centric type of sport,” said Adam Brown, an executive of the local association. “And it’s a lot easier to do when you have some specific training.”

A trained representative from Softball Canada would visit West Carleton to teach youth between the ages of six and 12 the basics of pitching – proper grip, and how to deliver the ball toward the target.

While many of the details are still to be determined, Brown said that between 12 to 20 kids would be required to host the program which will be offered to youth in West Carleton first, but will be opened up to the broader Ottawa area if more participants are required.

Weekly sessions would see kids practice their pitching for an hour while another participant catches, then they would switch roles for the next hour.

Brown said the association is looking to rent out a local school gym where breakable items won’t be found, unlike at a community association hall.

Brown, who has been coaching softball and playing the sport for years, said that anyone interested in the sport should consider the program.

“It’s a good way to improve your skills, even if you’re not the pitcher on your team,” he said. “It’s a skill than can carry you through to adulthood. I wish I would’ve had something like this when I was a kid.”

The local softball association hosts their regular season from May to June, with options ranging from T-ball for four-year-olds to teams for high-school students.

Their recreational league is a more affordable alternative to other sports, Brown said, with games across West Carleton.

“You don’t have to travel across hell’s half acre to get to games,” he said.

Last year’s coaching clinic hosted by the association was such a success that they will re-introduce the workshop this spring for parents and volunteers looking to learn how to coach softball.

To sign up for the CANPitch program or to learn more about their softball teams, visit the association’s website at www.wcminorsoftball.ca or contact Brown at adam.w.brown[at]sympatico.ca.

Woodstock Tournament

Crush Victoria Weekend May 2-4 Tournament in Woodstock

The Crush Men's Fastball team will again be hosting the Annual Woodstock Victoria Weekend Fastball Tournament for 2012

This tournament runs:
May 19th, 20th, 21st (Possibly to have games on Friday, May 18th)

Our goal is to have 16 teams this year.
Entry Fee : $400.00
Cheques to be made out to: "Crush Mens Fastball Club"

Prize Money: TBD based on a pending # of teams
Format : TBD based on a pending # of teams
We would like to again have Pool Play with "A", "B", "C" Finals
3 or 4 game guarantee depending # of teams participating

Eligibility:
This tournament will be open to all positional players who have and have not played at the Senior level in the past. However, we will not allow any Senior pitchers who have current PRAWN status (as a pitcher) to pitch in the tournament.

There will be a licensed beer garden, with food.

There is a Midway with rides for the kids of all ages.

Victoria Day Parade on the Monday Morning.

We are again going to try and negotiate a discount with local hotels etc. for any teams travelling from any amount of distance

For more information please contact

Darryl Wharram
Phone: 519-521-0156
d.wharram(at)on.aibn.com

Three new mini-Blitzos arrive - all on the same day

Congratulations are in order for three members of the Ottawa Blitz fastball club - they all welcomed healthy new children to their families, and amazingly, all the babies were born on January 6th and all within an ounce of the exact same size. What are the odds?

The line-up:
#2 Beckham Bruce (8lbs 2oz) - dad Andrew
#4 Tea Searle (8lbs 3oz) - dad Tony
#11 Elise Blakely (8lbs 3oz) - dad Jamie

As per Andrew Bruce "We were all surprised to learn that each other had cashed in a runner on the same day. We'll be hitting them grounders to get them used to the ball any day now."

In other news, at the Fitzroy Fastball household, I got to respond to two of the top things that the father of a six-year old really doesn't want to hear, both in the same car ride back from the rink.

Caveman questions:

1) Q: "Daddy, I know you told me I came from Mommy's tummy.....but how did I get in there?"
A: "Go ask your Mommy." (Not sure how Mrs Fastball handled that one.)

2) Q: "Daddy, next year I really want to be a goalie in Novice hockey. Can I be a goalie, PLEEEEASE?"
A: "Well, Caveman, I guess we'll see next year. But remember, your sponsor Combat Sports Group does not make a goalie stick" (Seriously, hockey for two lads costs the Fitrzoy Fastball pocketbook enough - I really don't need to buy goaltender equipment.)

Financial assistance to host an Umpiring Clinic

From Softball Ontario

OFSAA offers an Officiating Clinic Subsidy Program

Toronto, ON- Softball Ontario would like to share information about Ontario Federation of Secondary School Athletics Association (OFSAA)'s subsidy program to Ontario Secondary schools who are interested in hosting an Officiating clinic for students. OFSAA’s goal is to encourage students to get involved in sport as an official by reducing/eliminating the cost barrier associated with certification. The softball community is encouraged to approach their local Secondary school to generate interest to host a Softball Ontario Junior Development Umpire Clinic or an Intermediate Umpire clinic. The Officiating Clinic Subsidy Program will engage students who are not necessarily interested in being an athlete but still want to be involved in sports (in our case Softball). Other benefits of the program include building student confidence, provide an opportunity for employment and assist in the development of new Umpires in Ontario.

How to Apply?

1) A teacher or school administrator must complete the following application prior to hosting the officiating clinic. Applications may be faxed to 416-426-7317 or emailed to michael@ofsaa.on.ca. Applications must be for hosting a clinic and not for sending students to a clinic hosted by a sport club or outside organization. Here is the link to OFSAA’s Officiating Clinic Subsidy Application Form:
2) If the application is approved, OFSAA will provide notification by email of the approved amount for the clinic. A reporting form will be provided which must be submitted following the clinic along with applicable copies of invoices. Reporting form must be received within 30 days of the completion of the course.
3) Once all paperwork is received, OFSAA will process a payment for reimbursement to the school. Softball Ontario is pleased to promote OFSAA's Officiating Clinic Subsidy Program for the 2012 softball season. Our goal is to build and develop the sport of the Softball for umpires by providing clinics for all levels of competition. Softball Ontario offers clinics and programs to ensure that Ontarians have the skills and knowledge to participant in our great sport.

The following clinics are eligible for OFSAA’s Officiating Clinic Subsidy Program include:
Softball Ontario Umpire Clinics:
- Junior Development: is designed to provide youth umpire between the ages of 12-16 with basic introduction to officiating.
- Intermediate: was developed for young officials between the ages of 15-18 to be able to officiate at house league games and to prepare them as they advance in their umpiring career.
- Level 1: This clinic is considered to be beneficial to all Umpires. It is important to know the proper Mechanics and Rules prior to stepping on the diamond.

Secondary Schools who are interested in hosting a Softball Ontario should visit the Softball Ontario website to download a Softball Ontario Clinic Bid form. Here is the link.

Do not pass up on the opportunity to improve the quality of young officials by providing valuable training for the officials of tomorrow.

If you have any questions about Softball Ontario Umpiring clinics, please contact Steph Sutton at ssutton@softballontario.ca or by calling 416-426-7150.

AAU Tournament Schedule - Orlando

The AAU Tournament in Orlando, Florida will be held January 26 -29 and features some local talent again this year.

GOFL players from Barrhaven include Trevor Power, Steve Edgerton, Paul Ceppi, Trevor Lahey, and Lindsay Medynski, as well as Kars players Matt Alkerton and Corey Alkerton. All are playing with the "Florida Fastpitch" team entered in this 48-team event which features squads from across Canada, USA, Mexico, Venezuela, Bahamas and Puerto Rico. Game times for the "Florida" team are 1pm Thursday (Jan 26), and 9am and 5pm on Friday (Jan 27).

Best of luck to the GOFLers playing - if anyone else from the area is going feel free to let me know in the comments or with an email.

For the full schedule, see here, courtesy of Al's Fastball.