The Travel League held its annual “State of the League” meeting at the Grande Valley Golf and Country Club in Cambridge, Ontario on Sunday, November 2, 2008.

Most of the 2008 league teams were represented along with some new teams who were invited to come and find out about the league and to make inquiries about joining the league for the 2009 season.

David Bakker of Chatham Ontario, the League President chaired the meeting and welcomed the large group. Bakker thanked the 2008 league teams for their excellent cooperation during the season and congratulated them on their fine performances over the season.

The Kitchener Rivershark Twins won the 2008 ISC World Tournament in Kimberly, Wisconsin after playing about 50 games in league and tournament play. The Rivershark Twins also won silver at the ASA Championships. They won their own Legends tournament in June and they played on Sunday in the prestigious Monkton tournament and came second at the Walsh tournament in Allentown, PA.

The Jarvis Gamblers won the silver medal at the Men’s Senior Canadians in Saskatoon after placing 5^th at the ISC World Tournament. Jarvis won the 2008 ISC Travel League Championship and will represent the League in Quad Cities in 2009.

The St. Thomas Evergreen Centennials placed 3^rd at the Men’s Senior Championships in Saskatoon.

The Owen Sound Junior Selects played their first year in the travel league and did well, preparing them to host the 2008 Junior Canadians in Owen Sound where they won the bronze.

The Palermo Athletics, long time league supporters had an outstanding year, winning the ISC II division of the league championship and qualifying them for a berth at the 2009 ISC II Tournament of Champions in Quad Cities next August. Palermo had a well earned second place at the popular Annual Snappers Tournament in Niagara on the Lake where the lost out to the California Lumberkings who went on to win the 2008 ToC in Appleton, WI.

The Niagara Snappers were back with the League in 2008 and moved up to the ISC level and played in the ISC World Tournament in Kimberly, WI.

The Wyevale Tribe was a welcome addition to the League in 2008 and drew crowds in every location they played in. Wyevale placed second in the League Championship in St. Catharines in August. They were thanked and congratulated for their timely and detailed game reports submitted after each league game.

Bakker and others noted that the ISC Travel League of Eastern Canada is the only league that appears to be growing, indeed thriving, with Ontario producing a record number of young ball players over the years who have gone on to play well in both ISC II ToC and ISC World Tournaments. And in 2008 that trend continued with seven teams participating in the League, meeting not only their League commitments but also playing in local leagues and in many competitive weekend tournaments in Canada and the USA. Bakker noted that all indications are that the League will have seven or more teams again for the 2009 season. The attraction of the Travel League is their stability and history along with the opportunity to play other quality teams on a regular basis.

New teams indicating interest are:

Owen Sound senior team (in addition to their current junior team)

Port Elgin team.

Final commitments will be made at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be held in January at the Grande Valley Golf and Country Club in Cambridge. Tentative date for that meeting is January 4, 2009.

The meeting date will be confirmed at a later date. Interest from other teams is welcome.

Teams interested should contact: