Eastern Ontario Fastball Blog

The game lives on

I think there a lot of things to like about men's fastpitch softball. If you are a regular reader of this blog, you probably think so too.

One of the things I feel is important is the long time connections made over the years through fastball, and how involvement in the game can continue with new generations.

Consider this photo.

This picture was taken at the Bay Bash tournament up in Campbell’s Bay, QC in July 2003. That's Al Kuehl of Shawville at bat, and I'm pretty sure Chad Costello of Micksburg is catching.

Bay Bash was a really fun tournament featuring some great softball. In the red circle in the upper left corner, you can see me in a black jacket watching Al bat. To the left of me, in the West Carleton jersey, is Don Rorwick. We were probably playing the next game after Micksburg vs Shawville or maybe had just finished.

I only knew Al a bit then, as the guy who ran the Shawville team.

If Al and I would have seen each other in the beer tent at Bay Bash afterwards (and I am almost certain we did!) we may have said a passing "hello". But we are friends now, and he likes to talk about softball as much as I do.

Twenty-three years later, Al and I play on the same Shawville Men's Fastpitch League team.

And what's even better is this past weekend Al's son Cade played on the Tri-City Logsplitters team in the Glen tournament, alongside my sons Fitzroy Junior, the Caveman as well as Don's sons (and my boys' cousins) Matthew and Dylan Rorwick, and they all had a great time doing so.

Here is a picture from this past weekend showing the Logsplitters being half made up by our five boys.

Imagine telling Al, Don and I in that beer tent that almost a quarter century later our boys (some of whom didn't even exist then - only Fitzroy Junior and Matthew were born and were babies at the time) would be teammates in a future tournament!

Two photos, separated by 23 years, demonstrating a cross-generational connection of our game. This is something to embrace, celebrate and be proud of. Some say our men's game is dying, and while it will never will be as big as it was "in the day", it is connections like this which help the game live on.

Labels: Caveman, Fitzroy Junior, history

Carp tournament champions history

Here is a list of past winners, as documented on the blog, for the Carp men's fastball tournaments over the years since 2008. Click on the link for the blog story from back in the day.

Carp Shootout

2026: Nova Scotia Mastodons U23
2025: Vars, ON Aces
2024: Micksburg, ON Twins
2023: Micksburg, ON Twins

Gil Read Memorial

2019: Elkland, PA Beverage Company
2018: Elkland, PA Beverage Company
2017: Elkland, PA Moose Lodge
2016: Oswego, NY CPI Classics
2015: Kanata, ON Storm
2014: Micksburg, ON Twins
2013: Sharon, ON Lake Simcoe Lightning
2012: Toronto, ON Gators
2011: Team Quebec Seniors
2010: Quyon, QC COMBAT Flyers
2009: Ottawa, ON Team Easton
2008: Ottawa, ON Team Easton Thunder

(Note: first two editions of the Gil Read Memorial were at Carlington Park in Ottawa before moving to Carp Fairgrounds.)

Labels: history, Tournament

Kingston article

An article from the KTown sports blog about Bob Moses, who is known in the area as fastball umpire and also include references to Bryan Murray of Shawville, who donated fund to help upgrade the Shawville diamond where the Pontiac Flyers play.

Harv Milne & Bob Moses: Two Kingston Athletes being inducted into the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame. Their Rockland, ON Junior ‘A’ Team won the Centennial Cup in 1976 | KTown Sports Blog

Labels: history, hockey, umpires

Jeff Seed inducted in to Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame

Congratulations to Jeff Seed, a tremendous fastball player (and great guy), for being inducted in the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame.

Info on Facebook.

Labels: history

GOFL annual history lesson

Once again, a yearly tradition (except for 2020) - blog readers' annual history lesson on the GOFL. The Greater Ottawa Fastball League and its predecessor, the Kemptville Men's Fastball League have been around since 2000.

Here are the past winners/finalists, as well as the league teams and franchise histories.

Past winners / finalists

2000 Dollco defeated Macton (3-0, best of five)

2001 Macton defeated D.T.I. (3-1, best of five)

2002 Lomor defeated Macton (3-0, best of five)

2003 Team Easton defeated Macton (1 game final, 8 innings)

2004 Team Easton defeated West Carleton (3-1, best of five)

2005 Team Easton defeated Stittsville (3-1, best of five)

2006 Team Easton defeated Stittsville (3-1, best of five)

2007 Team Easton defeated West Carleton (3-0, best of five)

2008 Stittsville defeated Team Easton (3-1, best of five)

2009 Stittsville defeated Quyon (3-2, best of five)

2010 Kars defeated Quyon (2-0, series shortened to best of three)

2011 Kars defeated Quyon (Final Weekend Showdown tournament format)

2012 Kars defeated Quyon (FWS tournament format)

2013 Micksburg defeated Kars (FWS tournament format)

2014 I4C Victory defeated Micksburg (FWS tournament format)

2015 I4C Victory defeated Micksburg (2-0, best of three)

2016 Micksburg defeated Kars (Final Four format)

2017 Micksburg defeated West Carleton (Final Four format)

2018 Quyon defeated Kars (Final Four format)

2019 Micksburg defeated Kars (2-1, best of three)

2020 No league - COVID

2021 Micksburg defeated Orleans (COVID double knockout bracket)

2022 Micksburg defeated Kars (2-1, best of three)

2023 Orleans defeated Kars (2-1, best of three)

2024 Micksburg defeated Quyon (2-0, best of three)

League Composition

2000 - 6 teams
Kemptville Macton Muckdogs
Kemptville D.T.I.
Stittsville 56ers
Kemptville Dollco Printing
Kemptville Thunder Juniors
Kanata Pirates Juniors

2001 - 5 teams
Kemptville Macton Muckdogs
Kemptville D.T.I.
Stittsville 56ers
Kemptville Dollco Printing
Kanata Pirates Juniors

2002 - 4 teams
Kemptville Macton Muckdogs
Kemptville Team Easton (formerly D.T.I.)
Stittsville 56ers
Kemptville Lomor Printers (formerly Dollco Printing)

2003 - 4 teams
Kemptville Macton Muckdogs
Kemptville Team Easton
Stittsville 56ers
Kemptville Lomor Printers

2004 - 5 teams
Kemptville Macton Muckdogs
Kanata Team Easton
Stittsville 56ers
Manotick Lomor Printers
Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric

2005 - 4 teams
Kanata Team Easton
Stittsville 56ers
Manotick Lomor Printers
Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric

2006 - 6 teams
Kanata Team Easton
Stittsville 56ers
Manotick Lomor Printers
Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric
Carp I4C Victory
Ottawa Blitz

2007 - 8 teams
Ottawa Team Easton
Stittsville 56ers
Manotick Lomor Printers
Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric
Carp I4C Victory
Ottawa Blitz
Quyon Combat Flyers
Orleans Gators

2008 - 9 teams
Ottawa Team Easton
Stittsville 56ers
Manotick Lomor Printers
Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric
Carp I4C Victory
Ottawa Blitz
Quyon Combat Flyers
Orleans Gators
Greely DNTW Eagles

2009 - 9 teams
Ottawa Team Easton
Stittsville 56ers
Manotick Lomor Printers
Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric
Carp I4C Victory
Ottawa Blitz
Quyon Combat Flyers
Orleans Gators
Greely DNTW Eagles

2010 - 8 teams
Kars Aces (formerly Team Easton)
Stittsville 56ers
Barrhaven Broadway Blues (formerly Lomor Printers)
Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric
Carp I4C Victory
Ottawa Blitz
Quyon Combat Flyers
North Gower Marlboroughs (formerly Greely Eagles)

2011 - 7 teams
Kars Aces
Stittsville 56ers
Barrhaven Broadway Blues
Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric
Carp I4C Victory
Ottawa Taylor's Blitz
Quyon Combat Flyers

2012 - 7 team
Kars Aces
Stittsville 56ers
Barrhaven Broadway Blues
Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric
Carp I4C Victory
Ottawa Taylor's Blitz
Quyon Combat Flyers

2013 - 8 teams
Kars Aces
Stittsville 56ers
Barrhaven Broadway Blues
Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric
Carp I4C Victory
Manotick Taylor's Blitz (changed name to Manotick)
Quyon Flyers
Micksburg Twins

2014 - 7 teams
Kars Aces
Stittsville 56ers
Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric
I4C Victory (home diamond moved to Manotick)|
Quyon Flyers
Micksburg Twins
Kanata Pirates

2015 - 7 teams
Kars Aces
Stittsville 56ers
Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric
I4C Victory
Quyon Flyers
Micksburg Twins
Ottawa Valley As

2016 - 7 teams
Kars Aces
Stittsville 56ers
Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric
I4C Victory
Quyon Flyers
Micksburg Twins
Ottawa Valley As

2017 - 7 teams
Kars Aces
Stittsville 56ers
Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric
I4C Victory
Quyon Flyers
Micksburg Twins
Ottawa Valley As

2018 - 7 teams + 1 affiliated team
Kars Aces
Stittsville 56ers
Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric
I4C Victory
Quyon Flyers
Micksburg Twins
Ottawa Valley As
Kemptville Black Sox (affiliate team)

2019 - 9 teams
Kars Aces
Stittsville 56ers
Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric
I4C Victory
Quyon Flyers
Micksburg Twins
Ottawa Valley As
Kemptville Black Sox (joined full time)
Orleans Rebels

2020 - no season (COVID)

2021 - 6 teams
Kars Aces
Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric
Manotick Brewers (formerly I4C Victory)
Micksburg Twins
Ottawa Valley As
Orleans Rebels

2022 - 8 teams
GOFL East
Orleans Rebels
Manotick Brewers
Kars Aces
Osgoode Chiefs U23

GOFL West
Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric
Ottawa Valley As
Micksburg Twins
Quyon Flyers (returned to league after one year off)

2023 - 7 teams
Orleans Rebels
Manotick Brewers
Kars Aces
Osgoode Chiefs
Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric
Micksburg Twins
Quyon Flyers

2024 - 7 teams + 1 affiliate
Orleans Rebels
Manotick Brewers
Kars Aces
Osgoode Chiefs
Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric
Micksburg Twins
Quyon Flyers
Ottawa Los Caballos (affiliate)

2025 - 6 teams
Manotick Brewers
Vars Aces (new name)
Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric
Micksburg Twins
Quyon Flyers
Ottawa Los Caballos (joined full time)

Franchise History - Current Teams

Vars Aces
Home Diamond: Manotick
Years in League: 25 (2000-25)
Previous Names: D.T.I., Team Easton, Kars Aces
Previous Home Diamonds: Kemptville, Stittsville, Kanata, North Gower
Championships: 8 (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012)
Finalists: 6 (2001, 2008, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023)

West Carleton Electric
Home Diamond: Fitzroy Harbour
Years in League: 21 (2004-2025)
Championships: none
Finalists: 3 (2004, 2007, 2017)

Manotick Brewers
Home Diamond: Manotick
Years in League: 19 (2006-2025)
Previous name: I4C Victory
Previous Home Diamonds: Carp
Championships: 2 (2014, 2015)
Finalists: none

Micksburg Twins
Home Diamond: Micksburg
Years in League: 12 (2013-2025)
Previous League: Upper Ottawa Valley Men's Fastball League
Championships: 7 (2013, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024)
Finalists: 2 (2014, 2015)

Quyon Flyers
Home Diamond: Shawville
Years in League: 17 (2007-2019, 2022-2025)
Previous Names: Quyon Combat Flyers
Previous League: Ottawa R.A. League
Previous Home Diamond: Quyon, Luskville
Championships: 1 (2018)
Finalists: 5 (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2024)

Ottawa Los Caballos
Home Diamond: Manotick
Years in League: 2 - (2024 - affiliate, 2025 - full time)
Previous League: Blackburn Men's Fastball League
Championships: none
Finalists: none

Franchise History - Defunct Teams

Osgoode Chiefs
Home Diamonds: Manotick, Osgoode
Years in League: 3 (2022-2024)
Previous Names: Osgoode Chiefs U23
Previous League: Glen Cairn Men's Fastball League
Championships: none
Finalists: none

Orleans Rebels
Home Diamond: Blackburn, Manotick, Orleans
Years in League: 5 (2019-24)
Championships: 1 (2023)
Finalists: 1 (2021)

Ottawa Valley As
Home Diamond: Carp
Years in League: 7 (2015-2022)
Championships: none
Finalists: none

Stittsville 56ers
Home Diamond: Stittsville
Years in League: 20 (2000-2019)
Championships: 2 (2008, 2009)
Finalists: 2 (2005, 2006)

Kemptville Black Sox
Home Diamond: Carp, Kemptville
Years in League: 2 (2018 affiliate, 2019 full-time)
Championships: none
Finalists: none

Kanata Pirates
Home Diamond: Carp
Years in League: 1 (2014)
Championships: none
Finalists: none

Manotick Taylor's Blitz
Home Diamond: Manotick
Years in League: 8 (2006-2013)
Previous Names: Ottawa Blitz, Ottawa Taylor's Blitz
Championships: none
Finalists: none

Barrhaven Broadway Blues
Home Diamonds: Manotick, Kemptville
Years in League: 14 (2000-2013)
Previous Names: Lomor Printers, Dollco Printing
Championships: 2 (2000, 2002)
Finalists: none

North Gower Marlboroughs
Home Diamonds: North Gower, Greely
Years in League: 3 (2008-2010)
Previous Names: Greely DNTW Eagles
Championships: none
Finalists: none

Orleans Gators
Home Diamond: Orleans
Years in League: 3 (2007-2009)
Championships: none
Finalists: none

Macton Muckdogs
Home Diamond: Kemptville
Years in League: 5 (2000-2004)
Championships: 1 (2001)
Finalists: 3 (2000, 2002, 2003)

Kanata Pirates Juniors
Home Diamond: Kemptville
Years in League: 2 (2000-2001)
Championships: none
Finalists: none

Kemptville Thunder Juniors
Home Diamond: Kemptville
Years in League: 1 (2000)
Championships: none
Finalists: none

Labels: GOFL, history

Story from NL

A story from Newfoundland about a championship team from 50 years ago.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/softball-nationals-placentia-1.7580952

Labels: history

Branchaud named to Au Sable Forks Hall of Fame

The Au Sable Forks, NY men's fastpitch softball tournament honours notable past participants every year with a Hall of Fame induction.

This year's induction class includes Mike Branchaud of Metcalfe, former member of King and His Court, former Greater Ottawa Fastball League player, current GOFL coach with the Manotick Brewers and CEO of Softball Canada.

Labels: history

Darren Zack receives honour

Darren Zack, one of the best pitchers men's fastpitch softball has ever seen, is being awarded the Order of Sport, Canada's highest sporting honour with induction into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.

More here: CLASS OF 2025 - Order of Sport

Labels: history

Annual GOFL history lesson

Once again, a yearly tradition (except for 2020) - blog readers' annual history lesson on the GOFL. The Greater Ottawa Fastball League and its predecessor, the Kemptville Men's Fastball League have been around since 2000.

While Micksburg and Quyon have both been in the Final several times, they have never faced each other for the title as they will this year.

Here are the past winners/finalists, as well as the league teams and franchise histories.

Past winners / finalists

2000 Dolco defeated Macton (3-0, best of five)

2001 Macton defeated D.T.I. (3-1, best of five)

2002 Lomor defeated Macton (3-0, best of five)

2003 Team Easton defeated Macton (1 game final, 8 innings)

2004 Team Easton defeated West Carleton (3-1, best of five)

2005 Team Easton defeated Stittsville (3-1, best of five)

2006 Team Easton defeated Stittsville (3-1, best of five)

2007 Team Easton defeated West Carleton (3-0, best of five)

2008 Stittsville defeated Team Easton (3-1, best of five)

2009 Stittsville defeated Quyon (3-2, best of five)

2010 Kars defeated Quyon (2-0, series shortened to best of three)

2011 Kars defeated Quyon (Final Weekend Showdown tournament format)

2012 Kars defeated Quyon (FWS tournament format)

2013 Micksburg defeated Kars (FWS tournament format)

2014 I4C Victory defeated Micksburg (FWS tournament format)

2015 I4C Victory defeated Micksburg (2-0, best of three)

2016 Micksburg defeated Kars (Final Four format)

2017 Micksburg defeated West Carleton (Final Four format)

2018 Quyon defeated Kars (Final Four format)

2019 Micksburg defeated Kars (2-1, best of three)

2020 No league - COVID

2021 Micksburg defeated Orleans (COVID double knockout bracket)

2022 Micksburg defeated Kars (2-1, best of three)

2023 Orleans defeated Kars (2-1, best of three)

League Composition

2000 - 6 teams
Kemptville Macton Muckdogs
Kemptville D.T.I.
Stittsville 56ers
Kemptville Dolco Printing
Kemptville Thunder Juniors
Kanata Pirates Juniors

2001 - 5 teams
Kemptville Macton Muckdogs
Kemptville D.T.I.
Stittsville 56ers
Kemptville Dolco Printing
Kanata Pirates Juniors

2002 - 4 teams
Kemptville Macton Muckdogs
Kemptville Team Easton (formerly D.T.I.)
Stittsville 56ers
Kemptville Lomor Printers (formerly Dolco Printing)