Rick McDonald All Stars
September 18, 2011
Sudbury, ON
THE RICK McDONALD ALL STARS PULL OUT A SQUEAKER
Fastball season in the Greater Sudbury area came to an end for 2011 Saturday night in Azilda at the Rick McDonald Memorial Park . It was the 6th annual All Star Classic hosted by Sudbury tonight . The players from both teams arrived in late afternoon at the ball field .First of all it was the bragging rights in four individual competitions . We first started with the most accurate outfielder which was won by the North Shore in the person of Heikkel Espanosa with 89,8% accuracy breaking the 2008 record of 87,6% . Next we had the fastest runner around the base path and this time Corey Farmer from the Rick McDonald all stars was clocked at 9,0 flat breaking the old record from the inaugural 1st game of 2005 at 9,6 . In the precise pitching department , it came back to the North Shore guys in the person of Trevor Secord with an efficiency of 84,6 % – the record still stands at 86,6% .Finally in the home run derby it got back to the home team in the person of Pat Brennan being the only player to hit a home run .
Following a brief rest period we had the opening ceremonies with help of the color guard from the Lockerby Legion # 564 . Coming to the mound then was are oldest fan at the young age of 85 Lucien Gingras better known as Papa Lu who came out to throw the ceremonial first pitch prior to the start of the game .Mr gyub Gingras has been a loyal fan for some more than 45 years in the Valley and in Greater Sudbury dating back to the days of the old O’Connor Park .
GAME ON
The visitors ,the North Shore boys open with single runs in the first and second followed by an outburst of 4 runs in the sixth to take at that point a commanding 6-1 lead . The local boys from the Rick McDonald side are not going to make it easy as they score 5 of their own inn the bottom of the fifth and now we have a game tied at six all . The North Shore hits back with one run to the Rick McDonald’s 2 and the McDonald’s are now on top 8-7 for the first time inn the contest . The local squad scores three big runs in three bottom of the 6th frame and now lead 11-7 . The North Shore is not going away easy .With two out in the top of the seventh inning , the North Shore scores three runs mainly due to a clutch single by their pitcher Trevor Secord . Its now a one run ball game once more and the tension and excitement is rising . Rylan Stolar is issued a base on balls and we now have runners at first and second when the late rally is snuffed out when Terry Jacques comes out with his fifth strait hit of the ball game but the grounder through the infield hits the runner moving to third base for the final out of the ball game and the Rick McDonald All Stars pull out an exciting 11-10 victory for their fourth win in six years . Coming in relief John Ainslie is awarded the winning pitcher .The top hitter for the McDonald’s was Curtis Hambley at 2 for 3 while Terry Jacques hits a perfect 5 for 5 at the dish in a losing cause for the North Shore . Trevor Secord is awarded most sportsmanlike player for the North Shore while Jesse St Cyr gets the nod for the local squad . Hekkel Espinosa from the North Shore and Percy Tobobundung for the McDonald’s are awarded to player and finally Mike Cain from the McDonald’s receives the plaque for the game’s outstanding player . Players from the winning RicK McDonald Memorial All Stars were the following : Ben Bast ,Corey Farmer , Pitou Paquette , Todd Parsons , John Ainslie , Gary Lamothe , Junior Ilnitski , Percy Tobobundung , Jesse St Cyr , Curtis Hambly and Mike Cain . They were coached by Bob Dolan assisted by Frank Tabac .
It was\s a great season , it was a fantastic all star game !
We will all see you in the Spring of 2012 . In 2012 the 7th annual all star classic returns to the North Shore and for a second time in Elliot Lake
See you on the fastball diamonds next year !
Roger Legendre
League statistician and public relations liaison/advisor as well as this year’s chairperson of the all star classic . It was a labor of love for this great game of ours !
