Shawville Men's Fastpitch League off to a great start

The Shawville (Quebec) Men's Fastpitch League is off to a great start with three weeks already completed.

There are four teams in the league with support from local sponsors: Gannon/Blackburn Electric Inc. Bucks, Bristolview Enterprises Athletics, Trudeau Collision Brewers, and Tubman Autobody Twins.

Several players from the Greater Ottawa Fastball League are participating in the SMFL this year with representation from the Quyon Flyers, Micksburg Twins, Ottawa Valley As and West Carleton Electric, along with many local ball players.

Pitchers in the league this year include Gregg Garrity and John Enright (Bucks), Matt Greer and Todd Hearty (Athletics), Joran Graham and Jeff Tanguay (Brewers), Adam Rueckwald and Trevor Lahey (Twins).

The league plays on Thursday nights at the Shawville RA, with a weekend event on September 11 and 12 and a final playoff weekend on Saturday September 26.

Learn more on Facebook, including game summaries at https://www.facebook.com/Shawvillefastpitch/.

 

Softball Canada age brackets staying the same for 2021

Softball Canada made the following announcement today regarding age cohorts for softball.

Link: https://softball.ca/news/special-general-meeting-postponed.htm

Text: Special General Meeting Postponed
In conjunction with its Provincial and Territorial Associations, Softball Canada will be deferring the age category change motions that were to be voted on September 1st to the spring of 2021. Last week, a Special General Meeting was called to consider these motions following a request from Softball Canada’s membership, but after further internal discussions, it was felt more time was needed to properly consider these important changes.

The Special General Meeting and associated workshop were being held to consider age group changes which, if passed, would have subsequently led to adjustments to the ball size and pitching distances for the revised age groups. The postponement of the meeting means that the current age categories, ball sizes and distances will remain in effect for the 2021 season.

Softball Canada and its Provincial and Territorial Associations are fully committed to continuing to work collaboratively to affect a positive long-term solution for our sport. A working group has been put in place to consider all aspects of the potential age category changes and to provide recommendations that will be shared with the Provincial and Territorial Associations for their review and input. Following that process, any proposed changes will be made through motions that would be voted on at the spring 2021 Special General Meeting. If the proposed changes are passed, they would be enacted for the 2022 season.

 

Orleans Men's Fastball League starts this weekend

The Orleans Men's Fastball League starts up this Sunday with a four team "bubble" format. Games will be played on Sundays (and one Wednesday) at Carriere Softball Field located across the street from Garneau High School. The season wraps up with a Final on October 4.

Several GOFL and Blackburn players will be participating in this "COVID" league put together by Andy Barber. More info on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/297025021632705/.

John Atkinson, fastball sponsor, dead at 69

Long time Shawville bar owner and men's fastball coach and sponsor John Atkinson died in June at the age of 69. John also sponsored women's fastball and hockey teams over the years.

This artice in The Equity has a great story on his legacy in the Pontiac area: http://www.theequity.ca/john-atkinson-a-man-of-the-people/?fbclid=IwAR3DPYm4Bj6MVMvqF2gMU6J5e1cI8fCp4-fZo5tNHxEIIOIT_V9GVyvNIkk

Below is a photo of John with the Shawville Snappers junior team from back in 2006, and a link to the story of their championship final game.

 

 

Orleans Fastball League looking to start up

A group is attempting to set up a new league to give players a place to play during the Pandemic.

Orleans Fastball League games will be played at 6 and 8 at Pierre Rocque Park every Sunday from August 16 to to September 27.

Labour day weekend games will be played on the Tuesday and Playoffs will be October 4 and 13th.

11 players per team.

Teams will be drafted. If you want to play with a certain group of players accommodations will be made, just send us a message of who you'd like to play with.

Fees will be figured out but will be based on field cost, insurance, and balls, probably around $100 for 7 games plus 2 playoff games.

The first 44 to confirm are in. Contact Andy Barber through direct message on Facebook.

Softball Canada to consider age changes for 2021 season (corrected)

Softball Canada will be holding a Special Meeting on September 1st with all provincial and territorial organizations to disuss a possible change to age brackets going forward in 2021. Essentially, all teams formed for 2020 would be able to continue intact, with the exception of last year U23 players who would still "age out".

These changes would align Softball Canada with cohorts for the World Baseball Softball Confederation and age groups used in the USA, which is important in the girls' / women's game. Here is a summary of how the changes would affect male fastpitch.

• U6 becomes U7
• U8 becomes U9
• U10 becomes U11
• U12 becomes U13
• U14 becomes U15
• U16 becomes U17
• U19 becomes U20
• U23 stays the same

A previous version of this post noted that pitching distances were subject to possible change - Softball Canada has clarified that the pitching distances would not be on the table for voting at the September 1 meeting.

Shawville league to start Thursday

The Shawville Men's Fastpitch League is planning to restart with four teams. First games of the season are on Thursday, at the Shawville RA.