GeeGees win bronze

The University of Ottawa GeeGees were bronze medalists this past weekend at the Ontario University Softball provincials in Paris, ON.

The top eight teams in the province (four from the East and four from the West) were invited to the event.

The GeeGees, second seed from the East, started off with a 14-8 win over the third seed Laurier Golden Hawks from the West.

Next up they defeated the Western Mustangs, the previously undefeated top seed from the West, 2-1 in eight innings. 

In the "undefeated game", the GeeGees lost 6-3 to the Toronto Varsity Blues who were top seed from the East.

Ottawa then lost 6-5 in a rematch with Western as a seventh inning comeback just fell short, finishing in third place.

Toronto defeated Western in the Final 7-6, walking it off in the bottom of the seventh to earn the Provincial title. 

GeeGees win two straight on Saturday at provincials

University of Ottawa GeeGees women's softball team won two games at the Provincial event this weekend in Paris, ON.

They opened up the event with a 14-8 victory over Laurier Golden Hawks. They followed that with a 2-1 win in eight innings over the top ranked Western Mustangs. The Mustangs won twenty straight regular season games.

The GeeGees will play in the undefeated game at 10 a.m. on Sunday morning.

"How you gonna write this one up?"

I have heard the line many times: "How are you going to write this one up on the blog?".

Usually it pertains to some funny or weird or wacky incident that takes place during a fastball game, and I have to figure out how to explain what happened. I always try to make sure no one is embarrassed because that's not what this site is about.

I try to keep things light-hearted on the blog while still informing everyone. I also don't write first personal accounts (now that the Caveman is an adult) but this post is going to be written that way.

What happened last night in the GOFL finals, in what should have been a showcase for our game in the area, was an embarrassment to our sport, our league, and to some of those involved, plain and simple. I am not going to use names here but I am going to do my best to explain what happened. I will clarify that when I talk about "brothers" below it is not referring to the three Barbers who are the core of the Orleans team. 

To be clear, some guys behaved honorably and did their best to diffuse the situation. Some participated but essentially acted in self defense or defending their teammates. Others did not behave appropriately at all. Probably everyone involved knows (or should know) where they are on that spectrum and as mentioned I'm not naming anyone.

Orleans was up 5-0 in the fourth inning. No real incidents worth any commentary happened previous to this point. An Orleans baserunner on first made it to third on a single. When he got to third, the player moved quickly back and forth on and off the base at the end of play. This elicited some chirping from the Kars bench, which to be honest I think is to be expected. However, I am not sure what those comments were and if they "crossed the line" or not; only those involved would know. There is of course no rule against this kind of baserunning move.

The baserunner was stranded on third at the end of the inning. As he crossed the diamond to get to the Orleans bench on the first base side, the baserunner was intentionally bumped by a Kars infielder. This shouldn't have happened. It wasn't violent or anything, but it was unnecessary. It is probably an ejectable offense but the Kars player was not kicked out. There was a reaction from the Orleans player, as one would expect, but nothing of major significance immediately transpired. 

Then in the top of the fifth, words were exchanged between some Orleans players on defense and the Kars bench, most notably an outfielder who is the brother of the player who was bumped. This outfielder ran in from the grass and began gesturing and shouting at the Kars bench. Things significantly escalated when that Orleans player threw his glove at a player or players on Kars.

Following that, the benches emptied and scuffles broke out with pushes and shoves and possibly actual punches exchanged.  Some players fell to the ground. There was at least one player who kicked another player. I heard at least one unacceptable discriminatory remark. Neither team was blameless. A couple of spectators went on the field; one grabbed a bat from the ground and to me looked like he was going to use it though he didn't. Some players on both sides attempted to be peacemakers. Others fought. It was about 60 seconds of complete mayhem, a shameful display. I don't think I've ever used profanity on this site previously, but I will now - it was an utter shit show.

Personally, I welcome any fastball player in our league with open arms no matter their background. I hope everyone else would as well. But I cannot condone acts of violence that ruin the game from anyone no matter who they are.

Where do we go from here? I don't know. But I do know that I spend a lot of my time volunteering to organize this game that I love and this incident makes me want to reconsider my commitment. 

Some folks refer to me or think I'm the "commissioner" of the league, but I'm not. I manage a team in the league and sometimes even play. I'm not an impartial commissioner. I do like helping organize and coordinate the GOFL and I am very involved in the league operations. (Ask the teams about my obsessive texts asking for updates for games I'm not at.) But I am not "in charge" of things. 

Decisions in the GOFL are made by consensus, and we generally get along very well. There was a video taken of the last part of the fracas. I am not going to post it on here, but it will be used to help determine next steps. I am not sure if we will be able to get consensus on the aftermath from last night and I have no idea where we go from here.  

I will update this site if / when any decisions are made by the league members, in consultation with the umpires.

Note: This post was edited on October 19 to change some words in the sixth paragraph, but no changes were made to the facts of what happened.

Game 3 of GOFL finals suspended

Game three of the Greater Ottawa Fastball League final series was suspended after four innings with Orleans Rebels leading the Kars Aces 5-0.

When a physical altercation occurred in the top of the fifth, the umpires suspended the game.

More to follow. 

Game 3 of GOFL finals on Wednesday - tonight!

The third and final game of the Greater Ottawa Fastball League playoffs will be held on Wednesday (tonight) October 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Manotick Arena diamond.

The Orleans Rebels and Kars Aces are knotted at one win apiece in the best-of-three series.

Kars won the first game 11-4, while the Rebels responded with a 6-4 win in eight innings in game two.

Micksburg KVH wins Glen title

Micksburg Kool Vent Heat won the Glen Cairn Men's Fastball League playoff Finals with a 7-2 victory over West End Landscapes to sweep the best of three series.

John Enright earned the won while Matt McKay took the loss.

That wraps up the eight team "Glen" League for the season. The league had six men's teams, a U17 team and a U20 team and plays Monday, Tuesday and some Wednesdays at AY Jackson Secondary School on Kanata. 

Back row: Jamey Mick, Nolan Rook, Riley Hennessy, Paul Griffith, Joel Corbin, Tyler Branchaud 

Front row: Joe Mick, John Enright, Andrew McIntyre, Matt McIntyre, Ryan McIntyre 

Missing: Noah Fleurie, Zach Branchaud 

University of Ottawa to play at Provincials

The University of Ottawa GeeGees women's softball team will be participating this weekend October 20-22 at the eight team Provincial tournament in Paris, ON hosted by University of Waterloo.

The Garnet and Grey finished second in the East division. Their first game in the event is the third West seed Laurier Golden Hawks at 9 a.m. Saturday morning. 

Info here: https://www.facebook.com/OntarioUniversitySoftball

Game 2 tonight in the Glen final

Game two of the Glen Cairn Men's Fastball League final series is tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the AY Jackson SS diamond in Kanata, between Micksburg Kool Vent Heat and West End Landscapes.

Kool Vent leads the best of three series 1-0.

Orleans evens GOFL final

The Orleans Rebels evened the best of three Greater Ottawa Fastball League final series at a game apiece defeating the Kars Aces 6-4 in eight innings on a chilly Thursday night in Manotick. 

Andy Barber earned the win and hit a solo homer for the Rebels. Cory Alkerton took the loss and also hit a solo shot for the Aces, as did his catcher Brad Pender.

The Aces scored two in the bottom of the first on Alkerton's home run and a misplayed fly ball that scored Nick Ellis, who had walked.

Andy Barber's solo shot in the third made it 2-1 for Kars. 

The Rebels took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth. Felipe Morales walked and moved to second on a Derek Barber sacrifice bunt and moved to third on a wild pitch. Andy Barber then walked. Jeff Barber hit a ball hard to short, and Kars elected to try to get the out at home but Morales was safe. When Andy went to third on a wild pitch the throw attempting to get him out sailed into left field and he scored.

Kars tied the game at three in the bottom of the sixth when Dylan Toms singled and was brought home on a Danny Powers triple off the fence in right.

Orleans added a run in the seventh. Felipe Morales walked, moved to second on a Derek Barber sac bunt. Kars elected to intentionally walk Andy Barber. A wild pitch advanced the runners and Jeff Barber's infield single made it 4-3.

A one out monster solo homer to right field by Pender tied the game in the seventh at four each and moved things to an eighth inning.

The Rebels managed two runs in the top of the eighth. Tyler Borris went in to pinch run on second base. With two out, Juan Morales singled to right field, scoring Borris. The throw in from the outfield was cut off at first and it looked like Morales would be out at second but the throw went high and into centre field, allowing Morales to score on a close play at home.

Kars went three up three down in the bottom of the extra inning.

Deciding game three will be scheduled soon.

Play by play

Kars line up: Brad Pender c; Kristian Knapp ss; Cory Alkerton p / dp; Nick Ellis lf; Dylan Toms 2b; Danny Powers 1b; Brady Hamilton cf; Matt Alkerton rf; Chad Milne 3b; Brad Porter flex

Orleans line up: Derek Barber c; Andy Barber p; Jeff Barber cf; Moises Del Corral 1b; Jefferson Roman rf; Andre Mainville dp; Matt Healey 3b; Juan Morales lf; Felipe Morales 2b; Kevin Shonfield ss / flex

Umpires: Gary Findley (plate); Dave Herbst (bases)

Orleans top of 1st
D Barber single. A Barber strikeout. J Barber strikeout. Del Corral ground out ss to 1b.

0 runs 1 hit 0 errors 1 LOB

Orleans 0 Kars 0

Kars bottom of 1st
Pender strikeout. Knapp ground out to 1b, unassisted. C Alkerton homerun, RBI. Ellis walk. Toms fly ball to lf, error, Toms to second, Ellis scores. Powers strikeout.
2 runs 1 hit 1 error 1 LOB

Kars 2 Orleans 0

Orleans top of 2nd
Roman walk. Mainville pop out to 2b. Healey fielder's choice, Roman out ss to 2b. J Morales walk, Healey to second. F Morales strikeout.
0 runs 0 hits 0 errors 2 LOB

Kars 2 Orleans 0

Kars bottom of 2nd
Hamilton strikeout. M Alkerton strikeout. Milne pop out to 2b.

0 runs 0 hits 0 errors 0 LOB

Kars 2 Orleans 0

Orleans top of 3rd

D Barber line out to ss. A Barber homerun, RBI. J Barber walk. Del Corral strikeout. Roman strikeout.

1 run 1 hit 0 errors 1 LOB

Kars 2 Orleans 1

Kars bottom of 3rd
Pender line out to ss. Knapp strikeout. C Alkerton strikeout.

0 runs 0 hits 0 errors 0 LOB

Kars 2 Orleans 1

Orleans top of 4th
Mainville ground out 2b to 1b. Healey strikeout. J Morales fly out to rf. 
0 runs 0 hits 0 errors 0 LOB

Kars 2 Orleans 1

Kars bottom of 4th
Ellis walk. Toms ground out ss to 1b, Ellis to second. Powers walk, wild pitch Ellis to third. Wild pitch, Powers to second. Hamilton strikeout. M Alkerton strikeout.

0 runs 0 hits 0 errors 2 LOB

Kars 2 Orleans 1

Orleans top of 5th
F Morales walk. D Barber sac bunt, p to 2b; F Morales to second. Wild pitch, F Morales to third. A Barber walk. J Barber fielder's choice to ss, RBI, F Morales scores. Wild pitch, throw to third, error to c, A Barber scores, J Barber to third. Del Corral strikeout. Roman ground out p to 1b.

2 runs 0 hits 1 error 1 LOB
Orleans 3 Kars 2

Kars bottom of 5th
Milne strikeout. Pender walk. Wild pitch, Pender to second. Knapp strikeout. Wild pitch, Pender to third. C Alkerton ground out 2b to 1b. 
0 runs 0 hits 0 errors 1 LOB
Orleans 3 Kars 2

Orleans top of 6th

Mainville strikeout. Healey pop out to ss. J Morales strikeout.
0 runs 0 hits 0 errors 0 LOB

Orleans 3 Kars 2

Kars bottom of 6th
Ellis pop out to 1b. Toms single. Powers triple, RBI; Toms scores. Hamilton strikeout. Morrison pinch hit for M Alkerton; pop out to 2b.
1 run 2 hits 0 errors 1 LOB
Orleans 3 Kars 3

Orleans top of 7th
M Alkerton re-enters on defense to rf. F Morales walk. D Barber sac bunt 1b to 2b, F Morales to second. A Barber intentional walk. Wild pitch, F Morales to third, A Barber to second. J Barber single, RBI, F Morales scores, A Barber to third. Wild pitch, J Barber to second. Del Corral strikeout. Roman strikeout.
1 run 1 hit 0 errors 2 LOB
Orleans 4 Kars 3

Kars bottom of 7th
Milne ground out ss to 1b. Pender homerun, RBI. Knapp fly out to lf. C Alkerton singles. Wild pitch, C Alkerton to second. Ellis ground out 3b to 1b.

1 run 2 hits 0 errors 1 LOB

Orleans 4 Kars 4

Orleans top of 8th
Tyler Borris pinch run at second for Roman. Mainville fly out to lf. Healey ground out ss to 1b. J Morales single, RBI; Borris scores; error by 1b after cutoff, J Morales scores. F Morales grounder to ss, error, F Morales to second. D Barber strikeout.

2 runs 1 hit 2 errors 1 LOB
Orleans 6 Kars 4

Kars bottom of 8th
Roman re-enters on defense to rf. Ellis to second base. Toms pop out to ss. Powers ground out ss to 1b. Hamilton strikeout.

0 runs 0 hits 0 errors 0 LOB

Orleans 6 Kars 4 - FINAL

Orleans 6R 4H 1E 

Kars 4R 5H 3E

Kool Vent wins first game of Glen finals

Micksburg Kool Vent Heat won the first game of the best of three Glen Cairn Men's Fastball League Final on Thursday night by a score of 6-5 over West End Landscapes.

John Enright got the won while Matt McKay took the loss. 

Ryan McIntyre hit a three run homer for Kool Vent in the sixth inning.

Game 2 is scheduled for Monday at 7:30 p.m. at the AY Jackson SS diamond.

Glen Finals - updated

The scheduled Game 1 for Tuesday night (Oct 10) has been postponed due to field conditions. See below for amended schedule.

*********************

The dates for the first two games of the Glen Cairn Men's Fastball League best of three Final series have been set.

Glen games are at AY Jackson Secondary School in Kanata. 

Game 1: October 12 - Micksburg KVH 7 WEL 5

Game 2: Micksburg Kool Vent Heat at West End Landscapes, Monday October 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Game 3: West End Landscapes at Micksburg Kool Vent Heat, Wednesday October 18 at 7:30 p.m., if necessary, 

GOFL playoff summary to date

The Greater Ottawa Fastball League best of three finals are now set with Kars facing Orleans. As dates and times are finalized for the best of three final series they will be published on the blog as well as GOFL.ca.

Final Series: 4th place Kars Aces vs 2nd place Orleans Rebels
Game 1: Wednesday October 4: Kars 11 Orleans 4
Game 2: Thursday October 12: Orleans 6 Kars 4 (8 innings)
Game 3: Wednesday October 18 at 7:30 p.m. in Manotick

Completed series:

Series A: 2nd place Orleans Rebels vs 7th place West Carleton Electric

Game 1: Thursday August 31: Orleans 2 WC 0

Game 2: September 7 & 13: Orleans 11 WC 7

Orleans wins 2-0

Series B: 3rd place Quyon Flyers vs 6th place Osgoode Chiefs

Game 1: Wednesday September 6: Quyon 8 Osgoode 0

Game 2: Monday September 18: Quyon 7 Osgoode 0
Quyon wins 2-0

Series C: 4th place Kars Aces vs 5th place Manotick Brewers

Game 1: Wednesday August 30: Kars 3 Manotick 2

Game 2: Wednesday September 6 & 13: Kars 11 Manotick 8

Kars wins 2-0

Series D: 1st place Micksburg Twins vs 4th place Kars Aces

Game 1: Wednesday September 20: Kars 4 Micksburg 2 (10 innings)
Game 2: Tuesday September 26: Kars 2 Micksburg 1
Kars wins 2-0

Series E: 2nd place Orleans Rebels vs 3rd place Quyon Flyers
Game 1: Wednesday September 20: Orleans 3 Quyon 0

Game 2: Monday September 25: Orleans 3 Quyon 0
Orleans wins 2-0

Article on West Online - Harbour’s Hopper ‘very excited’ for fastball World Cup

West Carleton Online, which has provided great coverage of local fastball all year, has an article about Conner Hopper's selection to Team Canada U18. It is $50 a year for a subscription, and I highly recommend it, especially if you live in West Carleton.

Harbour’s Hopper ‘very excited’ for fastball World Cup - West Carleton Online

Venezuelan Brewers win Orthodox league

Orthodox softball, once a popular sport in our area has really declined. It is similar to fastpitch softball, but pitchers are not allowed to throw windmill. There is one league remaining in our area, the seven-team Ottawa Jewish Men's Softball League - article here. This year's champions are the Venezuelan Brewers.

The Brewers, who really are from that South American country, won the second game of the best of three finals, against the Zephyrs by a score of 13-6 in 7 innings at Hampton Park last week.

Top: Jose Sandoval, Edgar Contreras, Manny Luna, Mitchel Cedeño, Edgar Contreras, Jose Zea, Lizandro Ramirez, Alvaro Arenas

Bottom: Rafael Quijada, Gustavo Delgado, Delmar Osuna

Kars wins game one of GOFL final (now with details)

The Kars Aces won the first game of the Greater Ottawa Fastball League best of three final with an 11-4 win over the Orleans Rebels at Carriere Park on Wednesday night.

Cory Alkerton earned the pitching win and also hit a two-run homer. Andy Barber took the loss.

Dylan Toms hit a three-run shot for Kars.

*********
Kars got started early in the top of the first on a beautiful fall night. Brad Pender tripled, followed by a Kristian Knapp walk. Pender scored on a wild pitch and Knapp advanced to third after a fly out to left field. Nick Ellis then walked and stole second. Dylan Toms hit a grounder to second base and the Rebels tried to get the speedy Knapp at home but were unsuccessful. With the Rebels not scoring in the bottom of the frame, the Aces led 2-0 after one.

The Aces put up another three runs in the second. After Chad Milne reached on an error, Pender singled, moving Milne to third. A Knapp sacrifice fly to left scored Milne. Cory Alkerton then hit a two-run shot to put Kars up 5-0.

Orleans got on the board in the third. Derek Barber reached based on a dropped third strike. Andy Barber singled and when it was misplayed, Derek scored. A single by Moises Del Corral scored Andy to make it 5-2.

In the fourth Kars made it 6-2 when Toms drove in Alkerton who had singled and moved to second on a wild pitch.

A bases loaded, two out, dropped third strike in the sixth allowed Knapp to score to make it 7-2.

The Aces put up four more in the seventh. Pender doubled with one out and Knapp reached on a hit by pitch. Pender scored on an Ellis single, followed by a Toms three-run homer.

Orleans got two back in the bottom of the seventh. Spencer Rodd walked and scored on a Juan Morales triple. Morales scored on a passed ball.

Glen finals now set

The teams in the Glen Cairn Men's Fastball League best of three final series are now determined after Monday night's games as Micksburg Kool Vent Heat will face West End Landscapes. 

Kool Vent beat Upper Canada Elevators 9-7 to win their series two straight. John Enright had the pitching win while Trevor Lahey took the loss.

In Game 3 of the other semi-final, WEL beat Laurysen 4-3 in eight innings. Matt McKay was the winning pitcher and Carley Shane threw for Laurysen. 

The Finals should get started next week.

Wednesday night playoff fastball

There are three men's fastball playoff games to be played tonight (Wednesday Oct 4), taking advantage of the mild early October weather.

In the Greater Ottawa Fastball League, Game 1 of the best of three Finals start, with the Orleans Rebels hosting the Kars Aces at Carriere Park in Orleans.

On Monday, Micksburg Kool Vent Heat beat Upper Canada Elevators 13-3 with John Enright earning the win and Trevor Lahey taking the loss. Game 2 of that best of three Glen Cairn Men's Fastball League semi-final series is tonight at 6:30 p.m.

In other Glen semi-final, Laurysen evened things up on Monday night with West End Landscapes, so the deciding Game 3 of that series will be played tonight at 8:30 p.m.

Game 1 of the GOFL Finals now set

The date and time for Game 1 of the Greater Ottawa Fastball League best of three Final Series between the Kars Aces and the Orleans Rebels has been set for Wednesday October 4 at 7:30 p.m. at Carrière Park in Orléans.

Game 2 and 3 (if necessary) are to be determined.