RICK McDONALD MEMORIAL FASTBALL LEAGUE

TEAMS ARE IN A PLAYOFF MOOD

As the end of the regular season quickly approaches , all teams are gearing themselves up for the second season-the playoffs . Barring any unforeseen delays such as rain , cancellation or other the regular season should end this coming Thursday in Garson at the Lorne Brady Memorial Park with a single contest .There will be a doubleheader on Monday night at the Rick McDonald Memorial Park in Azilda and one more single in Whitefish Lake on Wednesday evening . First place was decided some two weeks ago but all thee remaining positions are up for grabs with most teams trying to avoid 4th spot and face the Sudbury North Stars (first place finishers) in the first round of the semi finals .

Three games were played in the past week .On Wednesday night in Whitefish , the Pickerel Cardinals took a 6-3 lead into the fourth inning but then held on as the young Falcons from Whitefish scored some late runs at the end but came up short 7-6 .The Cardinals remained in second place . Veteran Percy Tobobundung (1-1) in only his second outing of the season went the distance scattering 8 hits , striking out 8 batters and did not issue a single base on balls while Troy Nootchtai (2-6) also went all the way and was tagged with his 6th loss in giving up 12 hits , fanning 6 batters while issuing 1 single base on balls . Ed Brennan led all Cardinal hitters going 2 for 3 with teammate Pat Brennan Jr hitting 2 for 4 (two doubles ) while Brendan Biederman (double) and Justin Nootchtai (double , triple) both went perfect with 3 for 3 performances in a losing cause for the Falcons .

The week ended with a doubleheader played in Garson .In the first game , the red hot Swick Hounds of Garson stretched their undefeated streak to 5 games with a key 5-3 victory over the Cardinals , the team they are chasing for second place . Both pitchers were at their best in this low scoring affair . Gary “GNUâ€Â Lamothe of the Hounds(2-6) , back after almost a month out of action due to a hamstring injury pickled his second strait victory of the season in going the distance as he gave up 8 hits , struck out four and did issue a single base on balls . Rookie , Chris Vanvelkenburg (2-3) of the Cardinals also went the distance being tagged with his 3rd loss of the season where he scattered 9 hits , fanned 8 batters and also did not issue a single base on balls , League leading hitter , Correy “Pooch “ Farmer led all Hounds hitters going 2 for 4(double) and is now hitting a whopping 722 . Teammate Bruce MacDonald went 2 for 3 while Brian Ashawasagai hit 2 for 3 in a losing cause for the Cardinals ..

In the nightcap , the Sudbury North Stars took a 6-2 lead into the 5th inning and then cruised to a 10-4 victory over the Whitefish Lake First Nation Falcons . Brad Matheson (2-0) started for the North Stars in picking up his second win of the season with Lanny Fichette (0-0) –first outing of the season finishing off the last two frames .Both pitchers combined to give up 6 hits , strike out 8 batters and issue four base bon balls . Troy Nootchtai (2-6) started for the Falcons was tagged with the loss giving way to veteran Andy Nootchtai (0-0) in the fourth frame .Both pitchers combined to give up 18 hits b, fan one batter while issuing one base on balls . Moe Coutu of the North Stars led all hitters going a perfect 3 for 3 (home run shy of the cycle) with teammate Jesse St Cyr hitting also 3 for 3(double) and Lanny Fichette getting a grand slam in the 3rd frame while both Sid Nebenionquit and Brendan Biederman bot hitting solo shots in a losing cause for the Falcons .

Remaining scheduled games :

Monday July the 25th in Azilda at the Rick McDonald Memorial Park

7 PM Whitefish Falcons at Garson Hounds

9 PM Pickerel Cardinals at Sudbury North Stars

Wednesday July the 27th in Whitefish Lake

7 PM Whitefish Falcons at Sudbury North Stars

Thursday July the 28th in Garson at the Lorne Brady Memorial Park

7 PM Swick Hounds of Garson at Sudbury North Stars

End of regular season

The playoffs (semi finals best 5 series ) do not start until Wednesday August the 10th at the Whitefish Lake ball diamond . The Sudbury North Stars have finished in 1st position and they will take on the Whitefish Lake Falcons in series “Aâ€Â of the semis while the Cardinals and Hounds will face each other in series “Bâ€Â .All that is to be determined is who finished 2nd or 3rd but that could very well be determined on Monday night in Azilda at 9 PM when they face each other for their final encounter before the playoffs .

Since the 2011 season might end up early and the earliest in several seasons , there is strong possibility that our annual all star game could be in August-the team reps should start thinking of their team selections .The game will be in Sudbury this year and possibly in Azilda when we face the North Shore Select All Stars .

Attached you’ll find the latest league standings

Keep fit ! Do some jogging ! See you on the fastball diamonds

Roger Legendre league head statistician and public relations liaison/advisor