There were two games played Thursday night in Garson at the Lorne Brady Memorial Park . We could feel an early sign that August and soon Autumn will be coming along as the cool winds lasted throughout the evening .

                                                              In the opener the first place Sudbury North Stars easily handled the Pickerel River Cardinals to the tune of 14 to 2 . The final outcome was never in doubt as the North Stars opened the two first frames with a 6 to 1 lead and then added 8 more the rest of the ways . Bruce MacDonald (2-0) started  to collect his second win of the present campaign and then gave way to John Ainslie (11-3) ..Both combined to give up 2 runs (both earned) on 6 base hits while fanning 4 batters and not issuing a single base on balls .Ed Brennan (0-5) suffered the loss and gave way to Alex Ashawasagai (1-0) in the fourth inning .Both Cardinal pitchers combined to give up 14 runs ( all earned) on 17 hits while striking out  3 batters and issuing one base on balls . Veteran Moe Coutu led the onslaught for the North Stars hitting 3 for 4 (home run ,two runs scored ,4 RBI's) with teammates Bruce MacDonald and Steve Sabourin (presently one two in the league batting race ) going a perfect 2 for 2 .Ed Panamick Jr hit 2 for 2 in a losing cause for the Cardinals .

                                                               In the nightcap , the Garson Hounds and the Parry Island Hawks played to a 4-4 draw . The Hawks came from behind dramatically with two solo home runs in the bottom of the fifth frame .For the Hounds , Gary Lamothe (7-5) went all the way giving up 4 runs (2 earned) on 6 base hits while striking out one batter and not issuing a single base on balls .Percy Tobobondung (1-3) started for the Hawks but gave way to Matt Tobobondung (5-4) following an injury .Both Hawk pitchers combined to give up 4 runs (2 earned) on 6 base hits while fanning 10 opposition hitters and issuing 5 base on balls. Eric Ace hit 2 for 3 for the Hounds while Rich Jason hit 2 for 3 (home run ) for the Hawks .Matt Tobobondung also hit his 4th league tying home run for the Parry Island boys .

                                                                 League play will not resume now until next   Wednesday August the 11th in Whitefish when the Steelers play a doubleheader facing the North Stars at 7 PM followed by a battle with the Hawks under the lights at 9 PM . This will bring the regular season to a close . The playoffs , quarter finals best of three affairs could get underway Thursday night August the 12th in Garson but that decision won't come until early next week . At the latest we will see the opening round on Monday August the 16th in Azalea .

                                                                  Wednesday night's two games should be crucial to individual hitting battles to be  decided.

                                                                  We are now only 14 days away from the start of the 5th Annual Northern Ontario Ladies and Men's Fastball Championship -The Shamou Shoot Out . It all starts on Friday August the 20th in Azilda at 6:30 Pm with a very special ceremony honoring our lost friend Brad Rienguette and also honoring the past great legends of fastball for this area .Teams have until the 15th of August , the deadline to register their team .

 

Roger Legendre

Rick McDonald Memorial Fastball League  head statistician , public relations liaison/advisor , co convener for the 5Th Annual Northern Ontario Fastball Championships

  

Summer Games of Ontario get underway here tomorrow with the opening ceremonies at Laurentian University

Softball/fastpitch boys under 16 in Azilda and girls under 16 in Lively as of Wednesday August the 11th