In playoff action (quarter finals) for the Rick McDonald Memorial Fastball League , there was a single game played on Monday night in Azilda .After a 15 minute rain delay , the second game in this best of three affair got underway . The Garson Hounds with their backs against the wall came up withy a key 4-2 victory and tied up their series at 1-1 against the Whitefish Lake First Nation Steelers . In a pitching duel and strong defensive game , both teams remained scoreless for the first four frames . The Houndfs broke out with 2 runs in the fifth and another 2 in the seventh then held on for a two run victory . Veteran Gary "gnu" Lamothe m(1-0) went the distance for Garson giving up 2 runs (both earned) on 7 hits while striking out 5 batters and issuing but one single base on balls .The most amazing thing is that Gary pitched all seven innings with a fractured bone on the thumb of his pitching hand .Al Guenette  (0-1) started for the  Steelers and suffered the loss giving way to Dan Noootchtai in the seventh inning .Both pitchers combined to give up four runs (all earned) on 7 hits while fanning  9 batters and  issuing two base on balls .Dan Quesnel hit 2 for 3 for the Hounds while Rick Nootchtai hit 2 for 3 in a losing cause for the Steelers .

                                                           Quarter finals will now resume on Wednesday night in Whitefish .At 7 PM the Hounds take on the Steelers in the 3rd and deciding game of their "A" quarter final series ..In the nightcap under the lights at 9PM the Parry Island Hawks will be looking to end their series with the Pickerel River Cardinals .The Hawks lead the series 1-0 . Should both series end on Wednesday night , the semi finals would get underway Thursday night in Garson at the Lorne Brasdy Memorial Park

 

                                                                                                     NORTHERN ONTARIO FASTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

 

                                                               There will not be any ladies division once more in 2010 .Two teams dripped out and we do not have enough teams to make the ladies division feasible . We have lost one men's teams and we will still accept a couple of men's entries even if we have passed our deadline .If some teams are interested please contact me by email at er_lergendre@sympatico.ca ASAP .The remaining teams are advised that the final schedule will be made out Wednesday evening and emailed out that evening with the tournament rules as well as a roster sheet (maximum 15 players) which you must fill out and hand out on Friday prior to your fist game .There will be a special ceremony on Friday night to open the tournament and to honor our lost friend Brad "The Shamer " Rienguette ...We call upon all former fastball players (ladies and men ) from the 50's60's70's and 80's to come out Friday night so that we can recognize you and honor you .

 

 

See you on the fastball diamonds !

 

Roger Legendre    league statistician ,public relations liaison/advisor and chairperson for the 5th Annual Northern Ontario Fastball Championships