North Bay Worlds /Parry Island Fastball Tournament/Rick McDonald Fastball 8

September2011

North Bay Worlds /Parry Island Fastball Tournament/Rick McDonald Fastball 8

September 5, 2011

Sudbury, ON

25TH ANNUAL NORTH BAY SENIOR WORLDS FASTBALL TOURNAMENT

HAMILTON STINGERS AND MISSISSAUGA SOXS CAPTURE THE WORLD TITTLES IN NORTH BAY

Everything got started on Thursday night September the 1st with some local teams facing each other .The tournament itself officially got underway Friday night , September the 2nd with games being played on four fronts at 6 PM . At 7 PM there was a break where several teams and former players gathered at the main #1 field Troy . At this point different from previous years , instead of recognizing the honorary chair , we honored one of our lost comrades Jack Smith who passed away in January . We also honored some previous chairpersons . Before the tournament continued , Marg Green the widow of Jack Green and his daughter Jennifer were asked to throw out the fist ceremonial pitch to officially open the 25th anniversary of this most prestigious and excellent tournament .

From, this point on the preliminary games continued into late Saturday afternoon for all 30 participating teams from all over the province . Once that was completed all 30 teams were seeded into two conferences . There was the top “AA “ group from teams seeded 15 to 1st and then the “A” group with teams seeded 30th to 16th . In division “AA” long time participants , the Sudbury Relics got the # 1 seed for the second consecutive year while local North Bay team , Aultman’s Heating captured the top seeded #16 in group “A” . It was then on with the elimination round where teams now has to win in order to advance to Sunday morning’s quarter final games . In Group “A” it was the Hamilton Pirates , Eyewhere Optic from North Bay , Boston Pizza from North Bay , Val Gagne Hawks , The Fraser from North Bay , Hamilton Steelers (defending 2010 champions of “A”) and Don Cherry’s from North Bay going through to the quarters . In group “AA” , Cold Water Springs (defending “AA” champions) Mississauga Soxs , Hoppers of North Bay , Toronto The Wally , Toronto Bingos , Oshawa Guzzlers and Oshawa Ravens go through . The Sudbury Relics and Aultman’s from North Bay had both received byes to the quarters because of their top seeded position .

PLAYOFF SUNDAY

It was on to the playoffs on Sunday but Mother Nature had a little say in that department . It rained quite a lot over night and into the morning and therefore a 2 hour delay was announced before any games could get underway . Come 10:30 AM the quarter finals were underway on four fronts . In “A” action Eyewhere , Val Gagne , Hamilton Stingers and Aultman’s go to the semis with their victories . In group “AA” Mississauga Soxs , Toronto the Willy , Oshawa the Guzzlers and the Sudbury Relics advance after their quarter final victories .

The games now get close and intense as we have reached the final four in each group . In single “A” action the Val Gagne Hawks dump the Eyewhere Optical 9-2 and advance to the championship final . In the other semi . defending champions the Stingers of Hamilton defeat local favorite Aultman’s of North Bay 6-2 . In group “AA” , Mississauga edges Toronto the Willy 1-0 in a thrilling extra inning tilt and kit gets even better for the Sudbury Relics who had just earlier won their quarter final 2-1 in three extra innings and now score three runs in the opening frame and hold for a 3-0 victory over the Guzzlers of Oshawa in advancing to the “AA” championship final .

CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

In the “A” championship , its North against the South with the Val Gagne Hawks near Timmins taking on the defending champions from Hamilton , the Stingers . It’s a close defensive contest throughout as both teams have strong pitching and fine defensive work from both the infielders as well as the outfielders . As would be fitting both teams went to an extra inning with the scored tied 1-1 . In the bottom of the first extra inning after the runner from second has reached third on a sacrifice bunt , the Val Gagne’s catcher missed a low pitch from his pitcher which went to backstop and the runner from third raced home for the winning run . The Hawks boys did open the game with a solo shot to center field by Alain Giguere . The Stingers capture their second strait single “A” title and will try to tripeat in 2012 . Catcher Lawrence Bourgeois of the Hawks did tell me afterwards that this loss and the way it happened was hard to swallow. Members of the champions are : Alex Girard , Alex Madjis , Wayne Dox tator , Brian Wells , Ron Brown , Brian Fenwick , Dave Albert , Randy Dalgleish , Bill Croft , Jimmy Kartsommanis , Rob Straetmans , Bryan Fitzsimmons , Wayne Pierce and Fred Argent . Pitcher Randy Dalgleush of the Stingers was awarded the game MVP .

It was then on with most anticipated group “AA” championship final where two ISC famed pitchers Tracy Woolridge of the Soxs was to face Tom “Bullets” Berube of the Relics . We were not disappointed as both chuckers hurled some excellent drops , rise balls , change ups and the always rapid fastballs . The Soxs scored early runs and for the first time in the tournament , the Relics bats went silent .The first four runs in the early innings by the Missisauga boys held on as they defeated the Relics to capture this year’s tournament’s top crown . The members of the Soxs are :Ken Hendry , Frank Farrell , Dave Lye-Lee , Jim Mumby , Glen Dorrington , Mario Busitil , Jason Fraser , Ray House , Craig House , Fintan Farrell , Colin Smith , Billy Canson , Lyle Reynolds , Tracy Woolridge and Martin Mauviel . Tracy Woolridge who pitched a 4 hitter and gave up but one earned run was named the game MVP .

FINAL STATS

PARRY ISLAND FASTBALL TOURNAMENT

The 4th annual Parry Island Hawks tournament is fast approaching . Everything gets underway this coming Friday September the 9th , First prize for he men’s open division is $2000 . The deadline for entry is tomorrow Tuesday September the 5th you may reach at home by dialing 1-705-969-7268 , you can also reach me on my new cell number at 1-705-923-1545 or email me at er_legendre@sympatico.ca . You are guaranteed three games .There is a beer garden , food vendor , 50/50 and raffle prizes all weekend long .On Saturday night at approx. . 9 PM there is a dance . MVP prizes for a player from each team foe each game will be awarded . If you want in get cracking to reach me ASAP by one of the three methods I’ve indicated .

RICK McDONALD MEMORIAL FASTBALL LEAGUE

Game four of the best of five league championship finals goes Wednesday night 9 PM in Whitefish Lake when longtime rivals the Pickerel River Cardinals will be facing elimination when they take on the defending league champions the Sudbury North Stars . Should a fifth and deciding game be needed in this championship final , it will be played on Thursday night September the 8th in Garson at the Lorne Brady Memorial Park once again with a starting time of 9 PM . Teams are reminded to turn in their voting ballots if they have not done it yet . The tentative date for the year end get together celebration is Friday September the 16th in Azilda at the Dog House . The All Star game (6th annual) goes Saturday September the 17th starting at approx. 5 PM in Azilda at the Rick McDonald Memorial Park when the league all stars take on the North Shore Select All Stars .

I hope you had a great Labor Day Weekend Holiday before school gets underway ! Keep fit ! See you on the fastball diamonds!

Roger Legendre

League scheduler , statistician and [public relations liaison/advisor as well as Parry Island Tournament chairperson