This has been by far the toughest year to determine the all stars of Ontario.  In a lot of previous seasons the recipients were relatively easy to determine aside from a few tough decisions.  2014 featured a lot of players who had good seasons.  A lot of these players put up very similar numbers, and determining who made the list and who didn't took a lot of time.  As usual, some players who are deserving of recognition did not make the lists.  That being said, the players chosen are more than deserving of the acknowledgment. 

 

First Team

C Anthony Peticca, Tecumseh .409, 3 HR, 17 RBI, 10 2B, 10 BB, .487 OBP, .697 SLG

- Peticca was top ten in AVG and SLG

1B Mitch Delaney, Tecumseh .331, 6 HR, 46 RBI, 27 BB, 11 2B, 2 SB, .429 OBP, .559 SLG

- Delaney was second in the province in RBI and also finished in the top ten in HR, BB and 2B

2B Kevin Mailloux, Tecumseh .395, 2 HR, 33 RBI, 15 2B, 17 BB, 7 SB, 39 R

- Mailloux was top ten in 2B, hits and runs.  Mailloux was a first team all star and MVP in 2012 with the Stars. 

3B Jon Amendola, Erindale .387, 7 HR, 47 RBI, 46 H, .613 SLG

- Amendola was top ten in HR and SLG and was first in RBI

SS Zack Dickson, Oakville .458, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 16 BB, 15 2B, 25 SB, 55 H, .532 OBP

- Dickson was in the top ten in doubles, AVG, OBP, SB, and hits

OF Dave Davidson, Niagara .336, 12 HR, 42 RBI, .649 SLG

- Davidson was in the top ten in HR, RBI and SLG.  Davidson was a third team DH last year.  He was also a first team DH and third team RP in 2010.

OF Sean Bignall, Mississauga SW .402, 7 HR, 33 RBI, .702 SLG, 10 SB

- Bignall was top ten in AVG, HR and SLG.  He was a second teamer last year.

OF Curtis Lambkin, Tecumseh .397, 2 HR, 16 RBI, 24 BB, 16 SB, 49 R, 56 H, .494 OBP

- Lambkin was in the top ten in OBP, hits and he was first in runs

DH Chris Novia, Erindale .381, 14 HR, 38 RBI, 48 H, 8 2B, .778 SLG

- Novia was first in HR and SLG. He was also a first team DH in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

RHP Dave Anderson, Thornhill 10-0, 2.38 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 64.1 IP, 41 H, 22 R, 17 ER, 18 BB, 54 K

- Anderson was first in wins and was top ten in WHIP

LHP Mitch Kramer, Tecumseh 8-1, 1.77 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 56 IP, 40 H, 12 R, 11 ER, 10 BB, 59 K

- Kramer was in the top ten in wins, ERA, WHIP, K, K/9 and K/BB.  Kramer was a second teamer last year

RP Rob Blunck, Tecumseh 3-1, 1.82 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 24.2 IP, 13 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 6 BB, 16 K

- Blunck was first in WHIP and was in the top ten in ERA

 

Second Team

C Chris Pittaway, Milton .348, 5 HR, 24 RBI, 10 2B 

- Pittaway was in the top ten in HR.  Pittaway was a third teamer last year and was also the province's most improved player. 

1B Frank Jeney, Windsor .407, 5 HR, 29 RBI, 11 2B, .637 SLG

- Jeney was in the top ten in AVG, SLG, HR and 2B

2B Don Smith, Milton .388, 0 HR, 17 RBI, 28 BB, 22 SB, .494 OBP

- Smith was in the top ten in walks, OBP and SB

3B Ryan Panas, Etobicoke .415, 1 HR, 35 RBI, 18 2B, .570 SLG

- Panas was in the top ten in AVG and was first in doubles.  Panas has been quite the run producer over the last couple of years.  He drove in 40 last year, when he was a first teamer, and 35 more this year as a second teamer.  He was also a first teamer in 2012 when he drove in 53 runs and won rookie of the year.

SS Phil Steer, Niagara .392, 1 HR, 24 RBI, 29 BB, 11 2B, 32 SB, .506 OBP

- Steer was in the top ten in walks, doubles, OBP and was first in SB

OF Kyle Moloney, Thornhill .319, 5 HR, 37 RBI, 27 BB, 19 SB

- Moloney was in the top ten in HR, RBI, BB and SB. Moloney was a first teamer with Peterborough last year.  Although his numbers were pretty similar in 2013, there were a lot of players who had great seasons this year.  He was also a second teamer in 2012 and is very consistent. 

OF Steve Correia, Pickering .479, 2 HR, 24 RBI

- Correia was first in AVG. Correia has been a consistent force for years for Martingrove.  He was a second teamer in 2012, and will likely be a household name on this list now that he plays for Pickering.

OF Ricky Ferri, Niagara .408, 1 HR, 38 RBI, 35 R, 16 SB

- Ferri was in the top ten in AVG, RBI, and runs. Ferri was a first teamer in 2011, the same year he won rookie of the year.

DH Matt Lahn, Milton .261, 6 HR, 37 RBI

- Lahn was top ten in HR and RBI

RHP Zack Breault, Tecumseh 5-3, 3.17 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 71 IP, 48 H, 30 R, 25 ER, 19 BB, 95 K

- Breault was in the top ten in WHIP, IP, K/BB, K/9 and was first in K. Breault was a second teamer last year.  If he can eliminate the one bad start that he has seemed to have each year, he will start to put a stranglehold on the pitcher of the year award.

LHP Steve Teno, Windsor 6-3, 3 SV, 1.77 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 66 IP, 54 H, 16 R, 13 ER, 16 BB, 67 K

- Teno was in the top ten in Wins, SV, ERA, IP, K, and K/BB. Teno posted very similar numbers to his 2013 campaign when he was a first teamer, and has been the model of consistency over the years.  He was also a second teamer in 2012, a third teamer in 2011, and he was pitcher of the year and first teamer in 2010.

RP Jeff Gibbs, East York 3-0, 1.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 18 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 13 BB, 24 K

- Gibbs was very good for East York

 

Third Team

C Tyler Cattapan, Thornhill .317, 4 HR, 22 RBI, 18 BB

 - Cattapan was second in homeruns by all catchers.  Cattapan was a second teamer in 2011.

1B Jerome Smith, Mississauga SW .377, 4 HR, 39 RBI 

- Smith was top ten in RBI.  He was a second teamer last year.

2B Mark Capone, Etobicoke .403, 0 HR, 24 RBI, 21 BB, 8 SB

- Capone was in the top ten in AVG.  Capone took a step back from his first team performance in 2013 when he drove in 37 runs and hit 22 doubles.  He was a third teamer in 2009 and 2011 as well.

3B Casey Power, Tecumseh .288, 8 HR, 37 RBI

- Power was in the top ten in HR and RBI

SS Kevin Greer, Milton .369, 5 HR, 34 RBI, 11 2B, .569 SLG

- Greer was in the top ten in HR and 2B. Greer is the premium power threat at his position in the province.  He was a second teamer last year.  Hopefully he can recover from his horrific injury he suffered against Tecumseh and continue to make a big contribution for the Red Sox.

OF Adam Campbell, Leaside .341, 5 HR, 40 RBI

- Campbell had an excellent season for Leaside and figures to be a big part of this team in the future

OF Eric Cunningham, Tecumseh .317, 2 HR, 33 RBI, 15 2B, 19 SB, 41 R

- Cunningham was second in doubles and was in the top ten in stolen bases and runs

OF Cam Goddard, Windsor .385, 4 HR, 30 RBI

- Goddard put together a solid season for the Stars

OF Lenny Wood, Thornhill .376, 0 HR, 19 RBI, 21 SB

- Wood was in the top ten in SB

DH Dan Telford, Newmarket .386, 4 HR, 22 RBI

- Telford had a really good year for the Hawks

RHP Kyle Breitner, Etobicoke 6-0, 1.84 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 49 IP, 33 H, 13 R, 10 ER, 23 BB, 46 K

- Breitner was in the top ten in ERA

LHP Cody Seremack, Tecumseh 4-1, 1.65 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 43.2 IP, 37 H, 12 R, 8 ER, 21 BB, 31 K

- Seremack was second in ERA

RP Matt Watson, Niagara 0-0, 2 SV, 2.12 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 17 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 13 BB, 19 K

- Watson had a solid rookie campaign for the Metros

 

 

Most Valuable Player

Sean Bignall, Mississauga Southwest Twins

Bignall is a former NCAA division 1 homerun champ, and has translated that success into Senior dominance.  Bignall was terrific last year but did not play a full season.  A lot was expected of the diminutive slugger, and he almost did not live up to expectations even though he was named a second team all-star.

This year, Bignall had a huge impact on the success of his team.  The Twins did not get through this season with a breeze.  Winning came after an early season struggle.  The Twins were also forced to work some magic in some key moments in big games.  One way or another it always seemed like Bignall was at the centre of those moments.  Bignall also performed admirably on the biggest stage in Senior baseball, when he dominated at the Senior nationals.  He hit .435 and was tied for the lead in stolen bases, doubles and homeruns in New Brunswick.  He also was the leader in RBI.  This dominance helped his team to a bronze medal finish for the second year in a row.

His accomplishments throughout the summer in league and tournament play were just as impressive.  Overall, Bignall hit .402 this season and clubbed 7 homeruns and had 32 RBI.  As mentioned, when the stage was the brightest, Bignall shined the most.  Congratulations to Sean Bignall on a fine season.

 

Runner-ups: Mitch Delaney, Tecumseh; Chris Novia, Erindale

 

Cy Young Award

Mitch Kramer, Tecumseh Thunder

For the first time ever a pitcher from a team other than the Windsor Stars wins this award.  Kramer was spectacular for the Tecumseh Thunder in 2014 and was well-deserving of the award.  

Kramer made 9 starts and went 8-1 with a 1.77 ERA and 0.89 WHIP.  His 8 wins were second in the province next to Dave Anderson of Thornhill.  His 1.77 ERA ranked him 4th in the province.  His 0.89 WHIP had him 4th in the province as well.  In 56 innings he struck out 59 batters and walked just 10.  The strikeouts had him ranked 9th in the province and his K/BB and K/9 IP also ranked in the top ten.

Out of his 8 wins he beat some very difficult teams.  He had two wins against the impressive Tecumseh juniors and beat Leaside and Mississauga SW at the Canadian National semi-finals.  He exacted revenge from a 3-0 loss to Mississauga SW at the Elims.  He also beat New Brunswick at the Nationals.  Congratulations to Mitch Kramer on a superb season.

 

Runner-ups: Dave Anderson, Thornhill; Steve Teno, Windsor

 

Rookie of the Year

Phil Steer, Niagara Metros

A lot of big things were expected from the Metros' shortstop, and he did not fall short.  Steer filled up almost every statistical category.  This season he finished with a .392 AVG, .506 OBP and .536 SLG.  He also showed some extra base power, hitting 1 HR, 2 3B, and 11 2B.  He walked 29 times, stole 32 bases and scored 45 runs.  Steer was in the top ten in OBP, 3B, 2B, BB, and runs.  He finished first in steals.  If the Metros can keep him around, they have a franchise type player manning the middle of their infield for a very long time.  Congratulations to Phil Steer on a great Senior baseball debut.

 

Runner-ups: Matt Lahn, Milton; Curtis Lambkin, Tecumseh

 

Most Improved Player

Rob Blunck, Tecumseh Thunder

2013: 2-3, 6.07 ERA, 2.21 WHIP, 26.2 IP, 33 H, 18 R, 18 ER, 26 BB, 6 K

2014: 3-1, 1.82 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 24.2 IP, 13 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 6 BB, 16 K

 

I'm sure Rob Blunck would be the first to tell you that 2013 was less than stellar for him.  Blunck got lit up to the tune of 33 hits and 26 walks in 26.2 innings pitched with just 6 strikeouts.  That led to an ERA of 6.07.

2014 was a complete role reversal for the Thunder righty.  He provided some reliable innings for Tecumseh, and went 3-1 with a 1.82 ERA and 0.77 WHIP.  He cut his hit and walk totals down to 13 and 6 respectively, and struck out 16 in 24.2 innings.  His WHIP total was first in the province.  Congratulations to Rob Blunck on a terrific rebound season.

 

Runner-ups: Mark Petrou, Newmarket; Julian Richards, Oakville

 

Manager of the Year

Jamie Kell, Tecumseh Thunder

Kell deserves a tonne of credit for both his off-season moves and his in-season decisions.  The Thunder fell just short of a Nationals berth in 2013.  Instead of being complacent and content, Kell went out and made some very big additions.  He acquired  Barry Keith, Cody Seremack and Dale Kryway from WAA.  The trio put up huge seasons for Tecumseh.  He also went and added former MVP Kevin Mailloux and IBL slugger Mitch Delaney.

Just putting together a team that is stacked on paper is not good enough to guarantee victory.  Getting a group of guys to play well together and for one another and the team is a very difficult task that many managers have not mastered.  Getting them to do it after coming from a few different teams is that much harder.  Kell managed to do just that, all the while making the right strategic decisions to win  a tournament, the league playoffs, the Eliminations and silver at the Nationals.  Congratulations to Jamie Kell and the Tecumseh Thunder on a great season.

 

Runner-ups: Bob Kulchyk, Mississauga SW; Matt Nailer, Leaside

 

 

 

Brampton

- the Royals have gone 2 and out at the Elims just once in the last 7 years

- Brampton has only been above .500 in league play once as the Battlecats/Royals, and that was in 2012 when they had the best record in the league at 18-10

 

Burlington

- before joining with the Brants, the Glanbrook Grizzlies had lost 8 of their last 9 Elims games

- the Brants are 5-16 in their last 21 Elims games

- the Brants were 18-8 in COBA play in 2008 and have not been above .500 since

- Glanbrook and Burlington both made the Tillsonburg semis in 2011.  Glanbrook won the tournament in 2013.  Burlington made it to the semi finals this year.

 

East York

- in 2013, the Bulldogs made the final 4 of the Elims,  It was the first time they had done so since 2006 when they made the finals and went to the Nationals.  They also made the finals in 2004 when they lost to Etobicoke.

 

Erindale

- Perry Elia made 20 errors in 26 games and had a fielding percentage of .765

- Geoff Cullen had just 1 homerun.  Pretty sure that is the fewest he has ever hit.  He struck out just 2 times in 90 at bats.

- Chris Novia had a stretch of 5 HR in 5 games, and a separate stretch of 5 HR in 6 games

- Carson Shirley allowed 11 runs (10 earned) in 2.1 innings.  He also walked 10 batters and threw 7 wild pitches

- the Cardinals have not made it to the final 5 since 2009

- Erindale made the Hap semis in 2010 and made the Vaughan semis this year

- other than the Twins, the last COBA team to make it to the Elims finals was Erindale in 2005

 

Etobicoke

- The Rangers had a 16 game COBA winning streak snapped in the final game of the year

- Brett Sanders had 12 extra base hits in just 34 at bats

- Rob Borden had just 5 RBI in 110 plate appearances

- Jamie Lekas had just 11 hits but scored 18 runs

- Andrew Perryman gave up 56 hits and 5 HR in just 38.2 innings, but registered 5 wins

- Andrew Hyde and Kyle Breitner pitched a combined 111.1 IP and the pair did not allow a homerun

- Three different Rangers' pitchers had 2 or more saves (Bryan Vardzel, Kyle Angelow, Guido Monis)

- the Rangers have not made the final 5 since 2009, and have not made it to the finals since winning it in 2004.

- the Rangers are 43-12 in league play over the last 2 years and have lost in the league playoff finals 3 years in a row

- they have not won the league playoffs since 2009

- they made the Oshawa semis in 2009.  In Lakeside they made the finals in 2010 and the semis in 2011 and 2013.  They won Vaughan in 2013.

- from 1998-2004 (a span that covered 7 years), the Rangers made the Elims finals 5 times and won 3 times (1999, 2002, 2004)

 

Ilderton

- Rob Wakefield had just 30 hits but had 34 RBI

- Jared Coyne did not have an extra base hit in 93 plate appearances

- The Red Army are 3-8 at the Elims since making it to the finals in 2010

- they made it to the Tillsonburg finals in 2011

 

Lakeside

- the Lizards made the final 5 twice in a three year span between 2009-2011 but have now lost 5 straight games at the Elims

- they won their Lakeside tournament in 2010 and made the semi finals in 2011

 

Leaside

- ace Jorge Frugoni had just 2 of the team's 30 wins

- Leaside has made it to the final 5 or 6 in 3 of the past 6 years.  They made it to the final 3 twice in that span.  Their 19 Elims wins in that timeframe rank 4th behind Windsor, Mississauga SW and Tecumseh

- Josh Howsam's win against Pickering at the Elims marked his first Elims win since 2008

- the Leafs made the semis of the Hap and Oshawa tournaments in 2009, as well as the semis in the Lakeside tournament this year.  They made the finals in Vaughan last year.

- no GTBL team has made the finals at the Elims since Leaside in 2009.  2009 also made it five of six years a GTBL team had reached the finals (Leaside, Oshawa twice, East York twice)

- between 2007-1012 they won the GTBL league playoffs 4 times in 5 years

 

Martingrove

- the White Sox have 10 straight losses at the Elims

- they made it to the Strathroy finals in 2011

 

Milton

- Red Sox hit 28 homeruns.  They had three players with 5 or more homeruns (Kevin Greer, Chris Pittaway, Matt Lahn).  And they had 7 players hit 2 or more homeruns.

- Steve Clewer had 23 at bats and did not have a hit and did not score a run

- In 21.1 innings pitched, Ryan Wagler gave up 30 hits, walked 23, hit 4 and struck out just 6.  He somehow managed to allow just 17 runs (14 earned)

- There were three pitchers on the team (Ian Zettle, Tyler Wilson, Justin Volpato) who threw at least 64.2 innings.  The trio combined for 14 of the team's 17 wins.

- Milton has not won more than 1 game at the Elims since 2010

- the Red Sox have not been above .500 in COBA action since 2011

- they made it to the Tillsonburg semis in 2013 and 2014

 

Mississauga SW 

- in three tournament games, Billy Hurley was 3-0 with 3 complete game shutouts.  The wins came against Leaside, Tecumseh and Niagara.

- since joining the Senior loop in 2010, the Twins are 25-9 at the Elims.  They have made the final 5 in four straight years and have made the finals in 3 of those years.

- despite their tremendous success in tournaments, the Twins have never won a regular season or playoff title in the COBA league

- they won the Hap Walters in 2012 and 2013.  They made the Lakeside finals in 2013.

 

Newmarket

- Ryan Fedrigo was 0 for 3 in steal attempts

- Glenn Winegarden had 20 official at bats and was hit by pitch 5 times

- the Hawks made the final 5 or 6 in 3 of 4 years between 2010-2013.  They were one game from doing it again this year.

- they made the Hap semis in 2013

 

Niagara

- The speedy team had 113 stolen bases 

- Phil Steer stole 32 bases and was caught just once (his last attempt of the year)

- Dave Davidson hit 7 HR in the last month of the year, finishing with 12

- Will Nicholson and Jono Marcheterre combined to throw out 13 of 41 would-be base stealers

- the Metros made it to the final 3 in 2012 but have never played in the finals.  They have won at least 3 games at the Elims in three straight years

- McKenna, Strong and Ayles are a combined 9-0 at the Elims in the last 4 years

- the Metros have won 18 games in league play in 3 straight years and won the COBA playoffs in 2012 and 2013

- the Metros made the Hap finals in 2009 and made the semi finals in 2012.  They won the Strathroy tournament in 2011 and won the Vaughan tournament this year.

 

Oakville

- Thomas Biskup made 93 plate appearances, but he had just 4 RBI and did not have an extra base hit

- Zack Dickson reached base safely in 31 of his 32 games played

- Marc Walton finished the season going 4 for his last 41 with 17 strikeouts and 2 walks

- No pitcher on the staff won more than one game

- The pitching staff had more walks (167) than strikeouts (156)

- Alex Mann walked 11 batters and hit 3 in 8.1 innings and did not strike anyone out

- this was the first time Oakville went 2 and out in the last 7 years

- they made the Hap finals in 2011

 

Pickering

- Patrick Vecchiarelli lead the team in wins, innings pitched, strikeouts, ERA, WHIP and saves.  He also had 5 games of 7 IP or more with 2 ER and less

- Markham/Pickering made it to the final 5 in 2011.  Before reeling off 4 straight wins this year at the Elims, they had a 7 game Elims losing streak after losing in round one to Bolton.

- the Red Sox/Pioneers made the semis of the Hap in 2009 and 2010.  They also made the semi finals of Strathroy in 2011 and Vaughan both last year and this year.  They made the Oshawa finals in 2009, and the Tillsonburg finals this year.

- Markham won the elims in 2003

- in the last 23 years only 5 different teams who still exist have won the Elims (Markham, Etobicoke, Mississauga SW, Tecumseh, Windsor).  Others to win were North York, Chatham and Oshawa.

 

Strathroy

- the Royals have made the final 5 or 6 three times in the last 5 years

- the Royals are 43-8 in league play over the last 3 years

- they made it to the Vaughan finals this year

 

Tecumseh

- 12 different Thunder players hit a homerun

- A different player lead the team in runs (Curtis Lambkin), HR (Casey Power), RBI (Mitch Delaney), AVG (Anthony Peticca), doubles (Eric Cunningham and Kevin Mailloux) and OBP (Matt Varacalli)

- Zack Breault pitched a 6 inning complete game perfect game vs. Windsor Selects.  It was the only game this year in which he didn't allow a run.  He failed to register a strikeout per inning pitched in just one game this year.

- Only one regular pitcher (Eric Carducci) allowed more hits than innings pitched

- Opponents hit just .209 against Thunder pitching

- Tecumseh has made it to the final 3 in 3 of the last 5 years and have a record of 20-9 at the Elims in the last 5 years

- this year was the first time Tecumseh won the Elims since 2001.  Prior to that they won it 3 of 4 years from 1992-1995

- they also made it to the finals in 2007 when they lost to Oshawa

- they won the Lakeside tournament this year and also won their league playoffs

 

Thornhill

- Phil Owen did not allow a HR in 45.2 innings pitched

- The Reds have won more than 2 games at the Elims just once in the past 9 years

- Dave Anderson is 5-0 at the Elims.  He is very quietly 18-2 over the last 2 seasons

- Brad Crone is 0-3 at the Elims as a member of the Reds

- they made the Hap semis in 2011 and 2013.  They won Tillsonburg in 2011 and 2014 and also made the semi finals there in 2013.

- they have won the GTBL playoffs in back to back years

 

Windsor

- In 79 plate appearances, Anthony Dufour did not draw a walk

- Windsor's 58 year old coach Keith Sanford had 2 at bats (both strikeouts) and pitched 6 innings against the provincial champions, allowing just 4 earned runs

- Jason Lauzon hit more batters (8) than he walked (3) in 36.1 innings of work

- when Windsor lost to Strathroy at the Elims, it snapped a streak of 28 straight wins at the Elims for them dating back to 2009, when they lost to Lakeside.  They outscored teams 166-42 in those 28 games.  They gave up 2 runs or less in 23 of those 28 games.

- from 2005-2012 they won the Elims in 7 of 8 years.  The only other team to win was Oshawa in 2007.

- Windsor had also made it to the finals 4 of 5 years between 1994-1998.  The returned to the finals in 2001 where they lost to Tecumseh.

- the Stars have compiled a 96-19 league record over the last 4 years

- the Stars won the Hap in 2009, 2010, 2011 and made the semis in 2012.  They also won Lakeside in 2011

 

WAA

- No pitcher on the A's recorded a save this year

- Only two pitchers on the team registered a win (Chris Renaud and Jeff Parker had 2 each)

- WAA batters walked just 94 times compared to 249 strikeouts

- Jordan Ketterer was the only player on the team to draw more walks than strikeouts (9/6 BB/K)

- No batter on the team hit .300

- WAA has not gone 2 and out since 2010

- they made the Hap finals in 2012 and the Tillsonburg finals in 2013.

 

 

 

Catcher

Evan Baglieri, Niagara

Tyler Cattapan, Thornhill

Bryan Rock, Leaside

Cam Graham, Strathroy

Chris Pittaway, Milton

 

First Base

Chris Novia, Erindale

Brett Sanders, Etobicoke

Mitch Delaney, Tecumseh

Jerome Smith, Mississauga SW

John Suomi, Etobicoke

 

Second Base

Kevin Mailloux, Tecumseh

Mark Capone, Etobicoke

Brendan Emmett, Mississauga SW

Frank Coccia, Erindale

Mike Gough, Ilderton

 

Third Base

Ryan Panas, Etobicoke

Troy Black, Mississauga SW

Tyler Hughes, Leaside

Jon Amendola, Erindale

Casey Power, Tecumseh

 

Shortstop

Jamie Smith, Mississauga SW

Davey Wallace, Leaside

Kevin Greer, Milton

Zack Dickson, Oakville

Phil Steer, Niagara

 

Outfield

Sean Bignall, Mississauga SW

Dave Davidson, Niagara

Adam Campbell, Leaside

Kyle Moloney, Thornhill

Steve Correia, Pickering

Tim Sogan, Burlington

Cam Goddard, Windsor

Travis Skelton, Leaside

Ricky Ferri, Niagara

Curtis Lambkin, Tecumseh

 

RHP

Zack Breault, Tecumseh

Billy Hurley, Mississauga SW

Kyle Breitner, Etobicoke

Paul McKenna, Niagara

Andrew Hyde, Etobicoke

Matt Brennan, Strathroy

Brandon Lindquist, Tecumseh

Mark Sikorski, East York

Dave Anderson, Thornhill

Jorge Frugoni, Leaside

 

LHP

Steve Teno, Windsor

Jordan Townshend, Ilderton

Mitch Kramer, Tecumseh

Robert Ramsdale, Strathroy

Dane Little, Windsor

Mike Czerwieniec, Windsor

Gary Rose, Etobicoke

James Byrnes, Mississauga SW

Cody Seremack, Tecumseh

Daniel Veres, Niagara

 

Managers

Bob Kulchyk, Mississauga SW

Ron Smith, Windsor

Sean O'Brien, Newmarket

Jamie Kell, Tecumseh

Steve Breitner, Etobicoke

Nolan Revin, Thornhill

Sal Stabile, East York

Kerry Hedden, Niagara

Derek Bloomfield, Strathroy

Matt Nailer, Leaside

 

 

As many people involved in Senior baseball already know, Mississauga SW Twins' GM Bob Kulchyk passed away in November.  I had the privilege of getting to know Bob over the past couple of years, and we kept in contact via email.  He was always honest and candid with me.  Feeling like 2014 could possibly be his last Elims, he wanted to do everything he could to be with his team.  Bob did not disappoint.  His guiding hand helped the Twins to another successful run at the Elims and another berth at the Nationals.  His love for the game of baseball, and his team were undeniable.  Bob fought and battled brain cancer like a true champion.  In the end, it was his time.  My condolences go out to the Kulchyk family and the Mississauga SW Twins' organization.

A wonderful article can be found on Bob Elliott's Canadian Baseball Network website: http://www.canadianbaseballnetwork.com/articles/r-p-coach-bob-kulchyk/

 

 

With the Senior baseball season just a couple of months away, it's time to start talking about some key additions (and subtractions) from this offseason.

 

ADDITIONS

- Brent Cleland, Etobicoke. The young righty is one of a number of graduates who has made his way through a fine Etobicoke junior program.  He is currently starting at the University of Buffalo and should slot in nicely behind Kyle Breitner and Andrew Hyde. 

- East York.  The Bulldogs have taken advantage of the mass exodus of players at Thornhill.  They've added Paul Wilson, Brian MacDonald, Tyler Cattapan, Lenny Wood and Dave Anderson.  They've also added the big bats of Kyle Fillier and Hugh Sullivan, formerly of the Peterborough Riverdogs.  Kyle Moloney will also likely land there to join his former Peterborough and Thornhill teammates.

- Brad Grieveson, Leaside. This is the type of addition that could put the Leafs over the top.  They have been kicking around come Monday for a while now, and Grieveson is the "ace"-type arm this team needed.  He spent last season with Ivy of the North Dufferin league and posted a 6-1 record with 76 K in 60 IP.

- Connor Panas, Etobicoke. The Rangers outlook for 2015 again appears to be promising as they will be adding several new players including Connor Panas the brother of 3B Ryan Panas plus several players from their Championship winning junior Ranger team. Connor is currently at Canisius where he was an All American last year and led his conference in average and RBI's. (excerpt taken from Etobicoke Rangers website).

- RJ Page, Brampton. Page returns to Brampton after a year away from the team. The hard-throwing righty has very dominant stuff, and gives the Royals a pitcher that can match up with anybody on any given day.

- Oakville. Gord Robertson and Mark Tourangeu are returning to Oakville.  Robertson was the Oakville ace for a long time before stepping away last year and he will return to assume that role once again.  Tourangeau was one of the most dominant pitchers in all of Senior baseball just a few seasons ago.  The pair help fill a big hole that they left at the top of the Oakville rotation.  In addition to the duo, the A's have also added LHP Mike Vanderlaan to help bolster their pitching even more.  He makes his way over from the IBL where he spent time with Kitchener.

- Tecumseh. The rich get richer, as the Tecumseh Thunder are expected to add Rob Cooper, and Paul Lamantia to the fold this summer.  Cooper is a former MLB farmhand with the Phillies. The southpaw Cooper is a pitcher who can also help out with the bat.  Lamantia had himself a fine career in the IBL with the London Majors.  In 159 career games, the outfielder hit .332 with 9 HR and 51 SB.

- Paul Young, Strathroy. Young spent the last two seasons with the London Majors of the IBL, after finishing his collegiate career at Grand Valley State.  He had a .336 AVG and drove in 18 runs last year for the Majors.  Young will be a great addition near the top of the Royals' lineup.

 

SUBTRACTIONS

- Burlington. the Brants lose Justin Czorny and Rob Spiak to retirement. Czorny won the province's most improved player award not too long ago. Spiak had been a very underrated hitter in his time with Glanbrook/Burlington.

- Erindale. the Cardinals will lose veterans Daniel Nauth and Gavin Rajiva to injuries for this season. Nauth was an innings-eater out of the pen for Erindale, and Rajiva has been so good for the Cardinals over the years- both behind the dish and on the hill.

- Paul McKenna, Niagara. McKenna leaves the Metros after a three year stretch that saw him go 21-7 with a 2.50 ERA. This is a massive loss for the team. They have a couple of young arms coming in, but it will be mighty hard for them to fill the void left by the old ace.

- Bryan Rock, Leaside. "Rocky" has decided to walk away from the game after a spectacular career.  As a player he could do it all: hit for average, hit for power, field, run and throw.  He could also play any position on the field. As a former teammate, I can attest to the fact that he was a great person and catalyst off the field just as much as he was on the field.  His loss will be a big hole to fill for Leaside.

- Andrew Sorochan, Niagara. The veteran Sorochan moves on after a brilliant 11 year career with the Metros organization. The Newmarket native came to the Niagara club via the Brock Badgers Baseball program in 2004 and made an immediate impact on the team. For his career, he hit a solid .297 while hitting 29 home runs and driving in 245 runs. He also hit 78 doubles while scoring 188 runs and adding some very valuable veteran leadership to a young Metros squad over the past few seasons. (excerpt from cobamajor.ca)

- Thornhill. The Reds have been quite successful since Nolan Revin took over at the helm.  That will likely change this summer, as the team has lost Brad Crone to Newmarket.  In addition to that, the team will be losing ace Dave Anderson, Kyle Moloney, Brian MacDonald, Tyler Cattapan, Argenis Paz, Paul Wilson and Lenny Wood.

 

LEAGUES

- Can-Am. The league lost Sarnia but will add Amherstburg and the Troy Jet Box Juniors.

- GTBL. The Bolton Brewers will play a full schedule in the league this summer.

- SWBL. The Sarnia Braves will no longer be a part of the Can-Am league.  They will now be a part of the SWBL, which seems to have improved with the additions of the London Badgers 18U (a force at the midget level), Oakridge and the St. Thomas Juniors.

 

 

 

First Team

C Chris Pittaway, Milton

1B Brett Sanders, Etobicoke

2B Kevin Mailloux, Tecumseh

3B Ryan Panas, Etobicoke

SS Davey Wallace, Leaside

OF Cam Goddard, Windsor

OF John Suomi, Etobicoke

OF Sean Bignall, Mississauga

DH Chris Novia, Erindale

RHP Zack Breault, Tecumseh

LHP Mitch Kramer, Tecumseh

RP Jerome Werniuk, East York

 

Second Team

 

C Mike Ferrato, Windsor

1B Mitch Delaney, Tecumseh

2B Mark Capone, Etobicoke

3B Evan Baglieri, Niagara

SS Jamie Smith, Mississauga

OF Paul Lamantia, Tecumseh

OF Kyle Fillier, East York

OF Adam Campbell, Leaside

DH Dave Davidson, Niagara

RHP Kyle Breitner, Etobicoke

LHP Steve Teno, Windsor

RP Matt Watson, Niagara

 

Third Team

 

C Anthony Peticca, Tecumseh

1B Geoff Cullen, Erindale

2B Henry Yap, Leaside

3B Jon Amendola, Erindale

SS Phil Steer, Niagara

OF Kris Klassen, Windsor

OF Tim Sogan, Burlington

OF Steve Correia, Pickering

DH AJ Iafrate, Etobicoke

RHP Paul McKenna, Mississauga

LHP Jordan Townshend, Ilderton

RP Brad McLaughlin, Brampton

 

MVP- John Suomi, Etobicoke

POY- Zack Breault, Tecumseh

ROY- Brandon Gignac, Tecumseh

MIP- Gary Rose, Etobicoke

MOY- Steve Breitner, Etobicoke

 

 

1.      GTBL

 

EasEast York

2.       Leaside

3.       Newmarket

4.       Pickering

5.       Bolton

6.       Thornhill

7.       Martingrove

 

COBA

CO

       Etobicoke

2.       Mississauga

3.       Niagara

4.       Oakville

5.       Erindale

6.       Burlington

7.       Brampton

8.       Milton

 

SWBL

 

1.       Strathroy

2.       St. Thomas

3.       Ilderton

4.       Exeter

5.       Sarnia

6.       London

7.       Oakridge

8.       Lakeside

 

Can-Am

 

1.       Tecumseh

2.       Windsor

3.       Tecumseh Juniors

4.       Windsor Selects

5.       Troy

6.       Amherstburg

7.       WAA

      Macomb

There are a lot of players currently playing Senior baseball, that spend their school seasons playing with Canadian universities/colleges. The following is a list of some of those players, and their 2014 stats:

 

Chris Anderi, Niagara (Brock) - .255/0/8, 17 SB

Justin Ayles, Niagara (Brock) - 5-0, 0.56 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 32 IP, 27 K

Kravice Batts, Thornhill (Toronto) - .281/0/6, 6 SB

Brandon Beattie, Niagara (Brock) - 1-1, 4.85 ERA, 1.77 WHIP, 13 IP, 12 K

Kyle Breitner, Etobicoke (St. Clair) - 6-1, 1.69 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 54 IP, 40 K

Joel Cooper, Windsor (St. Clair) - .346/0/17, 13 SB

Robbie Cooper, Tecumseh (St. Clair) - .342/6/31

Eric Cunningham, Tecumseh (St. Clair) - .393/1/25, 17 SB

Brendan Ellingham, Niagara (Brock) - 1.80 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 5 IP, 7 K

Ricky Ferri, Niagara (Brock) - .290/0/11, 16 SB

Derrick Fortier, Tecumseh (St. Clair) - .327/2/28, 4 SB

Cam Graham, Strathroy (Western) - .283/0/4, 3 SB

Ryan Kerstens, Tecumseh (St. Clair) - .307/2/23, 17 SB

Chris Mireault, Strathroy (Western) - .246/1/11

Chris Novachi, Leaside (McMaster) - 0-5, 7.78 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 37 IP, 24 K

Taylor Pappin, Windsor (St. Clair) - 6-1, 1.32 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 47.2 IP, 53 K

Jordan Petruska, Mississauga (Laurier) - 4-0, 2.45 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 33 IP, 29 K

Peter Ricciardi, Pickering (Guelph) - .317/0/10, 5 SB

Phil Steer, Niagara (Brock) - .348/0/12, 15 SB

Bryan Vardzel, Etobicoke (Ryerson) - 2-3, 4.79 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 41.1 IP, 37 K

Matt Watson, Niagara (Brock) - 1.50 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 6 IP, 8 K

Andrew Ziedins, East York (Laurier) - 4-0, 3.21 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 28 IP, 16 K

Jacob Zilli, Erindale (Queen's) - .217/1/6

 

 

POOL A

In all seriousness: who made these pools? Literally four of the top teams in the province are in this, and Burlington and Pickering are far from pushovers. 

 

ETOBICOKE - The Rangers moved up to second in the rankings, after being bounced out of the top-10 earlier this season. Offensively, they are not the same team without Brett Sanders; even though they have one of the province's toughest outs in Mark Capone. Pitching-wise, I will question their depth until I'm blue in the face. Kyle Breitner is legit, but nobody else stands out. With only six teams making it through, I don't see how they can come out of this pool unscathed.

BURLINGTON - The Brants are a weird team. They have had some talented teams over the years, but are performing better this season, after losing some key guys. Tim Sogan is still one of the finest two-way players around, and Trevor Woodjetts is sneaky good on the mound. This pool may just prove to be too tough for them.

PICKERING - The Red Sox have been steady over the years. They are one of those teams that finds ways to do well in tournaments. However, with Steve Horsley hurt, they don't have enough in the pitching department to compete in this pool.

EAST YORK - Despite an 0-3 showing in London, they have one of the top 2 or 3 teams in the province. Losing Kyle Moloney will hurt a lot, as he is arguably their best hitter. Even without him, they literally have 7 or 8 pitchers who are pretty good. 4 or 5 of them are dominant.

MISSISSAUGA - The Twins struggled in London as well, but nothing has changed. They're still that same tough out, and that same pitching-laden team. They seem like they haven't hit their stride yet, but I expect them to hit it this weekend. They are the back to back defending champions.

STRATHROY - This tournament will really put a lot of debate to rest for these guys. Their league record doesn't mean much, because they are so much better than the teams they play. And they haven't done well in tournaments, despite the fact that I think they are elite. This weekend will be a great barometer. 

 

POOL B

Once again: who made these pools? This doesn't seem very balanced. Niagara is good. Newmarket is OK. And the rest really have some shaping up to do.

 

ERINDALE - If they ever could have acquired some pitching over the years, they have had an offence that could compete with anyone. Chris Novia has taken over Geoff Cullen very nicely, as the premier slugger in the game. Despite their pitching being questionable, they still aren`t overmatched by anyone. 

MILTON - The Red Sox have rebounded after a poor start. Their record is still unimpressive, but they`re in a lot more ball games now, and remaining pretty competitive. They`ve lost a lot over the years, but they`re feisty and they play hard. They have as good a chance as anyone in this pool.

NEWMARKET - The Hawks have been notorious for being a very good tournament team. They have always pitched decently, played solid defence, and hit just enough to win. They have one of the toughest hitters in their league in Dan Telford, but their pitching is just not what it used to be. They have been playing well in their league recently, and they can beat any team in this pool.

LAKESIDE - I don`t know much about this team, other than they have lost a lot of good ballplayers, and they have been losing almost every game. This was a team that was in the mix late in the elims a few times recently, but now they struggle to remain competitive.

NIAGARA - They have nothing to gain, and everything to lose in this pool. They are the best team in it, and Newmarket may be the only team that`s even close. If they run the table, it`s not an impressive feat. But if they lose even one game, and don`t make it through, the weekend will be a colossal disappointment. 

WAA - Something tells me this team would be pretty good in every league but the Can-Am. Despite losing some of their top talent to the likes of Tecumseh and the Stars, they still keep producing some decent players. I wouldn`t be surprised to see them go winless, but I also wouldn`t be surprised to see them make it to Sunday.

 

POOL C

This pool sort of ranks in between the other two pools, in terms of competitiveness.

BRAMPTON - They have done real well over the years to transform from a team that was one of the jokes of senior baseball, to a very tough out for anyone. They are scrappy, and they compete in every game. They`re a couple of pitchers away from being a very good team, as opposed to just good. I don`t think they ever care who they`re playing. They just go out there and play. And that can bode well for them in this tournament.

OAKVILLE - Quite the difference a year can make. They were awful last year, and they`re a lot better this season. While they`ve been just ordinary record-wise, they have a good amount of talent. If they can get a couple of their pitchers right, they can do a lot of damage.

ILDERTON - They made the nationals in 2010, but they just haven`t been the same team since. They`ve gone from being the hunted in the SWBL, to hunting Strathroy. With Jordan Townshend not able to pitch, they`re not going to be able to compete against the elite teams. They`re far from being a lousy team, but they`re in an in between state right now, and have been for a little while.

WINDSOR - They`re not the same Stars team in most people`s eyes, but they`re still scary to me. They may not have guys like Carter and Picco anymore, but Skylar Janisse, Dane Little, Jason Lauzon, Matt Rustulka, etc. still give them a chance against any team on any day. Oh, and they also have the best pitcher in Ontario on their team: Steve Teno.

THORNHILL - The Reds have added some pitching depth just in the nick of time. They`ve lost too much talent to be considered a contender for this weekend, but they should still compete nonetheless. Sean Sutton is having a season for the ages.

ST. THOMAS - The lone junior team in the field won`t be overmatched. They`ve perennially been one of the top junior teams in Ontario, and they compete well against senior teams every chance they get. It wouldn`t be a stretch to say that they could be the best team in this pool.

 

 

 

Of all the seasons I've predicted this tournament, this year definitely seems the toughest to predict. This tournament has been about the haves and have-nots, but it really seems like a handful of different teams have a realistic shot to win this time. In the past, teams may have felt great about their chances, but a win was just not realistic. While the same teams could still be there in the end, it wouldn't be a little bit surprising to see some different names hanging around at the finish line. As always- best of luck and health to all the teams.

 

Game One: Martingrove White Sox vs. Etobicoke Rangers

Martingrove - it's easy to sit here and talk about all the losses and bad games, but you have to give these guys some sort of credit for staying the course. In the player poll, one person even voted for Scot Angus as the best manager, citing the fact that he's been able to get guys to continue to show up, play to the best of their abilities, and play himself as well. All that is good, but it won't change the fact that they shouldn't win a game in the tournament. A round-two bye guarantees them a third-round appearance, but they likely won't make it past that. They lost both games last elims, by a combined score of 23-0. They've also lost ten straight elims games, and they seem poised to add two more to that total.

 

Offensively, when their whole team is there, they actually aren’t that bad. Most teams have attendance issues during the season, but most of them have the depth to still field adequate lineups. This team doesn’t. Matthew Blair Brown is their best hitter, but he’s only made it out for 11 at-bats. Former WAA player Will Bargel has some pop, but he has played in only one game all summer.

 

C JP Cultrera

1B Chris Gott/ Scot Angus

2B Naser Malik

3B Steven Miller

SS Tyler LeBlanc

LF Anand Puran

CF Duncan Perry

RF Jeff Miller

DH Matthew Blair Brown

 

As you can imagine, they don’t have much to offer in the pitching department. Former Thornhill lefty Adam Frydman is their best pitcher, and Mike Bannon is actually having as good a season as anyone in the GTBL.

 

P- Adam Frydman, Mike Bannon, Greg Gott, Chris Gott, Jimmy Truong

Etobicoke - the Rangers have had some favourable draws over the years, and this one can be added to the list. In 2009, they had Thornhill B and Milton in their first two games. In 2011, they had Thornhill B and Ilderton in their first two. In 2012, they had Martingrove, Thornhill B and a bye in the first three. In 2013, they had Lakeside in the opening round. Last year, they went two-and-out against Burlington and Niagara. They were supposed to be contenders a lot of those years, and have just one Monday appearance and a Sunday night appearance in that time to show for it. This draw is Martingrove and a bye into the third round. Another favourable beginning to say the least. At this point, it's either they're contenders or they're not. They're going to have to win one of these things sooner or later- something they haven't accomplished in over a decade.

Even without Brett Sanders, they still have some big bats. Mark Capone, Ryan Panas and John Suomi form a potent trio, and Julian Johnson came out of nowhere to hit a few home runs this year. When you add a speedster like Daniel Murphy and veterans like AJ Iafrate and Rob Borden- they're definitely a team that can wreak some havoc.

 

C. Kyle Bowers/ Stuart Fraser
1B. Anthony Iafrate
2B. Mark Capone
3B. Ryan Panas
SS. Kevin Cleland/ Jamie Lekas
LF. Daniel Murphy
CF. Robert Borden
RF. John Suomi
DH. Julian Johnson

Kyle Breitner is one of the best pitchers in all of senior baseball. Andrew Hyde has come on at the right time, and they need him to be on top of his game. Adam McBride has been a pleasant surprise and proven to be a solid option on the hill. Yes, they have 9-10 guys that can start; so in that sense, they have some depth. But from a comparison standpoint against the other top teams, the quality doesn't match up. For that reason, I think they have enough to win some games, but will eventually run out of good enough options.

P- Kyle Breitner, Andrew Hyde, Adam McBride, Gary Rose, Bryan Vardzel, Matt Cambria, Andrew Perryman, Kyle Angelow, Kevin Breitner

 

Prediction: Martingrove 3 (LP- Adam Frydman) vs. Etobicoke 6 (WP- Kyle Angelow)

 

 

Game 2: Milton Red Sox vs. East York Bulldogs

Milton - the Red Sox have been plagued by unfortunate injuries to key players. Star player Kevin Greer went down at the end of last season, and James Bruce had a freak eye injury earlier this season. They've had a big boost with the recent return of the pair, although how much Greer is able to contribute is still unknown. They have continued to have the same type of resolve they've always had, and continued to compete in their games even without them. That being said, this Milton team isn't as good as teams they've had in the past. When you add in the fact that they start this tournament against a powerhouse, the odds are stacked against them. They haven't won more than one elims game since 2010, and this draw doesn't bode well for them to win a couple this season.

Matt Lahn has been slugging home runs with the best of them this season. He hammered out four home runs as a rookie and this season he has exploded for six. Outside of him and Don Smith, the team hasn't had consistent contributions from many players.

C Blake Kauer
1B Matt Lahn    
2B Don Smith
3B Riaz Baksh
SS Orion Katayama/ Kevin Greer
LF Steve Lauzon
CF James Bruce
RF Kevin Cooper
DH Jordan Windisch

The pitching department is where the Red Sox have lost the most over the years. They've lost guys like Tyler Wilson, Mike Grabauskas, Adam Ahearn, etc. The bigger issue might be that guys like Ian Zettle and Liam Tennant are not the same pitchers they once were. And they don't seem to have the same type of reliable bullpen arms they are accustomed to having.

P- Jeremy MacDonald, Ian Zettle, Justin Volpato, Dan Todoschuk, Liam Tennant, Josh Dos Santos, Steve Jablonski

 

East York - this is supposed to be the year for the Bulldogs. They haven't been to the nationals since 2006, and they really believe this is their season. They got a bunch of key players from the Thornhill Reds in the offseason, and they were fortunate enough to have Jeff Gibbs come back. They are one of the most talented teams from top to bottom. They already have a tournament win this season, but this is the one they want and they think they can win. The Bulldogs made the final four in 2013, and this team is way better than that one.

Offensively, the Bulldogs don't have many holes, if any. They are solid 1-9. It's too bad Kyle Moloney got hurt, because his bat really made them a lot more potent. Any time you take one of the best bats in the province out of the lineup, it obviously hurts. Luckily for the Bulldogs, they have a lot of depth. Brian MacDonald kinda flies under the radar when talking about elite hitters. Make no mistake though; he is one of the best.

C Devlin Connelly/ Tyler Cattapan
1B Jake Gallo
2B Jack Malone
3B Kyle Fillier/ Erik Brown
SS Logan Walters/ Paul Wilson
LF Brian MacDonald
CF Lenny Wood
RF Robin Fox-Pappas
DH Drew Roberts

Their pitching staff is arguably the best in Ontario. Not only do they have strength in numbers, they also have a handful of guys who can be considered aces. Jeff Gibbs is arguably the best in Ontario. He's not all they have though, as evidenced by their pitching depth chart.

P- Jeff Gibbs, Dave Anderson, Mark Sikorski, Jake Gallo, Jerome Werniuk, Quinn Cumming, Jack Malone, Andrew Ziedins, Bryan Pyper, Myles Swartz, Anthony Buonaiuto

 

Prediction: Milton 1 (LP- Jeremy MacDonald) vs. East York 5 (WP- Dave Anderson)

 

 

Game Three: Kingston Ponies vs. Brampton Royals

 

Kingston - the Ponies were a pretty decent AAA team a few years ago, but had kinda fallen off the map for a while. The last time they were in the AAA elims was in 2009, when they went two-and-out. They return to the AAA eliminations in 2015, and they definitely won't be over matched this time around. 

 

Offensively, they are a streaky team, who can get hot and put up some pretty good numbers. Former Twin Jeff Skellhorne-Gross and former Pickering/Martingrove OF Mike Drzazga are their two best hitters. Derek Mack and James Hornby have been kicking around senior for a while, and doing damage.

 

C- Jeff Skellhorne-Gross/ John Kalivas

1B- Ross Graham

2B- Devin Burns

3B- Jeff Lake/ Mike Drzazga

SS- Derek Mack

LF- Spencer Green

CF- Matt Mills

RF- Mike Drzazga/ Chris Garrison

DH- James Hornby

 

Like most teams, pitching depth will be a problem for Kingston. And like most teams, they have a couple of pretty good ones. Brandyn Agnew and John Ivimy are better than average. When you add in a guy like Derek Howe, who has dominated in three different leagues over the years, your top three arms look pretty solid.

 

P- Derek Howe, John Ivimy, Brandyn Agnew, Mike Hluschuk, Brody Burns

 

Brampton - the Royals probably don't get the respect they deserve. It's tough to say something like that, considering I've had them ranked in the top ten virtually all season, but I really do feel that way. They play hard, and they fight in every game; they can beat any team on any given day. All that being said, it just seems like they're missing something. They've gone two-and-out just once in the last seven years.

 

Offensively, there aren't many teams out there that can hit with these guys. Victor Speciale has been one of the steadiest hitters in the province for quite some time. He's the real deal, and always has been. Joe Ferreira has been spectacular for the Royals as well this season, and will likely come into the tournament leading Ontario in home runs. Andrew Thomson has been great in the leadoff spot as well. They've had some other key contributors, and opposing pitchers can't just key in on one or two guys.

 

C Marco DiRoma

1B Victor Speciale

2B Matt Forer

3B Waleed Elabed

SS Eric Hammerl

LF Jonathan Minchella

CF Andrew Thomson

RF Steve Hough

DH Joe Ferreira 

 

Pitching has been, and continues to be the problem for the Royals. They have made improvements in this area, but it still doesn't compare to the teams that have a better chance to win than them. While they can get hot and hit their way past teams, life would be a heck of a lot easier for them with some depth on the mound. Ferreira has been their best pitcher. Mike Burke has always been an above average lefty. I think RJ Page is their best pitcher, but he’s used primarily in a relief role.

 

P- Joe Ferreira, Mike Burke, RJ Page, Steve Hough, Brad McLaughlin, Joey Nonis, Brandon Habibi, Ryan Thompson

 

Prediction: Kingston 3 (LP- Mike Hluschuk) vs. Brampton 6 (WP- Mike Burke)

 

 

Game Four: Burlington Brants vs. Windsor Stars

 

Burlington - the Brants/Glanbrook Grizzlies seem to always be unfortunate enough to draw Windsor a lot in the first round. Playing the Stars in round one (or anytime for that matter), hasn't necessarily been a recipe for success. The Grizzlies had Windsor in 2011 and lost 3-2. Burlington had Windsor in 2012 and lost 9-1. And now the Brants draw them again. The Brants are 5-16 in their last 21 elims games, and this game doesn't bode well for that record.

 

The Brants are not as good a team on paper as they have been in the past, but someone forgot to tell this group that. They seem to be competing at a higher level this year, even though they have less talent. Good on the coaching staff for being able to get the most out of this group.

 

C Brock Marshall

1B Mike Grilli

2B Darryl Pierce

3B Joe Kirby

SS Luke Posavad

LF Corrie Morrison

CF Tim Sogan

RF Cole Lewis

DH Kyle Arbuthnott

 

This team has had a lot of other very solid pitchers over the years, but the scary names they still have are a lot older, and just not as good. Trevor Woodjetts is a way above average pitcher, and he can throw up zeroes on anybody. Mike Grilli's injury hurts, and Andrew Page's questionable status hurts even more.

 

P - Trevor Woodjetts, Cam McKnight, Cam Ryerson, Atsushi Urata, Chris Cooney, Tim Sogan, Andre Rienzo, Andrew Page

 

Windsor - for the longest time, the Stars were the measuring stick for all teams trying to achieve greatness. The simple truth was that most teams would never be able to accomplish what Windsor was doing. The Stars have lost some important parts from their dynasty teams, but they're still one of the most dangerous teams around. They proved that by winning the Hap Walters tournament for the first time since 2011. How dominant were the Stars? They won the elims 7 of 8 years from 2005-2012. In 2013, they didn't participate, because they were hosting the nationals. So really, last year was their only off year. Their 28 game elims win streak was snapped last season, and they're looking to start a new run of greatness.

 

Offence has never been their formula for success. They don't have many guys who are going to strike fear in other teams, but they know how to grind out at-bats, and hit when it counts. Cam Goddard is by far their best hitter, and Frank Jeney is a close second.

 

C Mike Ferrato

1B Frank Jeney/Bryan Dufour

2B Anthony Dufour

3B Andrew Masojc 

SS Joel Cooper

LF Luke Lefler/ Steven Adam

CF Kris Klassen

RF Cam Goddard

DH Bryan Dufour

 

The Stars no longer have Brad Boussey, Steve Carter or John Picco, but Skylar Janisse has been a huge addition. It will be interesting to see if they get any contributions from Adam Myers, Andrew Marra and Mike Czerwieniec. If they get something from all of them, then they are one of the favourites once again.

 

P - Steve Teno, Skylar Janisse, Dane Little, Jason Lauzon, Matt Rustulka, Adam Myers, Andrew Marra, Mike Czerwieniec, Chris Renaud, Bobby St. Pierre, Jared Ferencik

 

Prediction: Burlington 0 (LP- Trevor Woodjetts) vs. Windsor 3 (WP- Skylar Janisse)

 

 

Game Five: Niagara Metros vs. Ilderton Red Army

 

Niagara - the Metros will always be criticized for their eliminations performances for as long as they don't win one. Maybe that's a little bit harsh, because they have been a very consistent team over the years. Or maybe it's fair, because they've had talented teams almost every year, with not much success to show for it outside of COBA. They were one run away from a nationals berth in 2012, and they are poised for a similar chance this season. They have all the tools to go all the way- once again- but whether they will is a whole different story.

 

The Metros have an underrated lineup. Top to bottom, they have speed, power, and guys that make consistent contact. Phil Steer is one of the best senior ballplayers in Ontario. Evan Baglieri is still one of the best home run hitters around, and Dave Davidson is also on par with him in that category.

 

C Jono Marcheterre/ Evan Baglieri

1B Jonathan Paul/ Evan Baglieri

2B Jordan Grant

3B Taylor Anderson 

SS Phil Steer

LF Anthony Vacca

CF Ricky Ferri

RF Dave Davidson 

DH Evan Baglieri

 

The impact of the addition of Rob Nixon cannot be overstated. It's like an MLB team trading for an ace at the deadline. He's easily a top-5 pitcher in the province. Davidson could be even better but injuries limit him a great deal. Justin Ayles finds ways to get it done, and typically performs his best when the stakes are the highest.

 

P- Rob Nixon, Justin Ayles, Jordan Bray, Geoff Strong, Alex Tufts, Brandon Beattie, Dave Davidson, Dan Proctor, Brendan Ellingham, Matt Watson, Dustin Turner

 

Ilderton - the Red Army went to the nationals in 2010 and have been 3-8 at the elims since then. They’ve had some attendance issues during the year, and have been forced to use pitchers in the field a lot. When they’re at full strength, they have a pretty solid team. With Jordan Townshend limited because of injury, they don't have enough pitching to make a deep run, though.

 

Offensively, the additions of Hayden Woodley and Andrew Hastings were two of the more underrated signings of this offseason. Craig Orton has continued his run of being solid year-after-year. They need all nine guys to be hitting in order to have a shot.

 

C Craig Vannus

1B Brandon Baneschewski

2B Shawn Robinson

3B Rob Wakefield 

SS Joel Smith

LF Andrew Hastings

CF Craig Orton

RF Hayden Woodley

DH Jordan Townshend

 

John Ambrose has been a horse for these guys over the past couple of years. He's been durable and reliable. Outside of him, they'll be hard-pressed to find reliable arms. With Townshend and Jeff Newnes healthy, they actually would have had a very formidable trio. The three of them were instrumental in that 2010 run. But without the injured hurlers, they don’t stand much of a chance.

 

P- John Ambrose, Marc Addison, Jamie Mann, Steven Rivas, Brook Coatsworth, Mark Drewe

 

Prediction: Ilderton 1 (LP- John Ambrose) vs. Niagara 3 (WP- Jordan Bray)

 

 

Game Six: Thornhill Reds vs. Newmarket Hawks

 

Thornhill – kudos to coach Revin, because I thought there was no way this team would be the least bit competitive, let alone formidable. The roster has shaped up rather nicely up top, but the lack of overall punch in the lineup and depth on the mound will hurt. They are not a threat to win it all, but they’re definitely capable of reeling off a couple of wins. They’re 0-5 this season against Newmarket. Quietly, they have had a long run of futility in the elims. They’ve had more than two wins just once in the last nine years.

 

Their offence has lost superstar talent over the years, and the guys they have just aren’t enough to put a scare into anyone. Sean Sutton and Kravice Batts are trying their best though.

 

C Kris Fielding

1B Jeremiah Groulx

2B Mitch Sutton

3B Chris Bloom

SS Kravice Batts

LF Daniel Lehmkuhl

CF Sean Sutton

RF Calvin Mui

DH Jaspreet Shergill

 

Chadwick Cameron is a very tough pitcher to hit. He’s struggled recently, but the Reds expect a chance to win every time he’s on the mound. They did well to add some pitching at the signing deadline, but they’re really going to have pressure on them to hold teams to a couple of runs. Julian Anapolsky won’t be available for the weekend, and that will be a big loss.

 

P- Chadwick Cameron, Jason Rubenstein, Daniel Lehmkuhl, Jaspreet Shergill, Jeremiah Groulx, Lee Choiniere, Kulraj Shergill, Noah Frankel, Mitch Sutton

 

Newmarket – I’ve said plenty of times in the past, that the Hawks are a very good tournament team. For whatever reason, they seem to gel, and play well in big moments. They’ve been solid in the GTBL this season, and they made it to the quarterfinals at the Hap Walters. They made the final five in three of four years between 2010-2013; and they were one win away from doing it last year. That being said, this version of the Hawks isn’t as good as past versions- and that’s just the plain ol’ truth.

 

Not having Paul Versteeg-Lytwyn for this season- and possibly not having Dal Telford for the elims- will hurt big time! The latter is one of the best hitters in the province. Kevin Holloway is a tough out at the top of the lineup, and really makes this team go. While they can still field a solid lineup, the losses of two middle-of-the-order type guys could prove to be too much to overcome.

 

C Mike Petrou/ Josh Caruso

1B Sean O’Brien

2B Chris De Zorzi

3B Dan Nicoletta/ Liam O’Brien

SS Troy McLaughlin/ Sean Wallace

LF Brad Crone

CF Kevin Holloway

RF Dan Telford/ Shawn Jones

DH Alex Bruce/ Mark West

 

They used to have 5-6 above average guys they could roll out there, and they could bank on solid performances by all of them. Things are a bit different with this squad. They still have enough capable arms, but they are missing the big, dominant arms required to win this thing. That being said, they find ways to win, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re kicking around come Sunday night.

 

P- Victor Simon, Brad Crone, Matt Laise, Brent Heaslip, PA Di Lulio, Jordan Vecchiarelli, Ryan Fedrigo, Mark West, Alex Bruce, Christian Davies

 

Prediction: Thornhill 2 (LP- Chadwick Cameron) vs. Newmarket 3 (WP- Victor Simon)

 

 

Game Seven: Leaside Leafs vs. Strathroy Royals

 

Leaside – the Leafs have made it to the final five in three of the past six years. Two of those years (2009 and 2014), they made it to Monday. They have picked up 19 elims wins since 2009, and that ranks right behind Windsor, Mississauga and Tecumseh. The conclusion is: they are in elite company, and have been one of the best programs in Ontario the last few years. They came an inning away from a nationals berth twice last year. This year’s team will hit plenty, but can they pitch enough to get it done?

 

The hitting on this team is absolutely stacked. It’s too bad that Tyler Hughes has been lost for the season due to injury, but they still have plenty of bats. The addition of Tyler Plumpton could prove to be the best deadline addition of the season. They can run, they can get on base, and the have pop. They can hang double digits at a moment’s notice.

 

C Jeremy Hopkins

1B Jeff Gruchy/ Adam Morton

2B Henry Yap

3B Tyler Plumpton

SS Davey Wallace

LF Kyle Kristenbrun/ Clarke Markle

CF Travis Skelton

RF Adam Campbell

DH Trevor Edwards/ Mike Loizides

 

Pitching is going to be an issue for the Leafs. Brad Grieveson was arguably the best offseason pitching addition in the province. He has been every bit the ace the team has needed him to be. Jorge Frugoni is having a down season, but all it takes is one vintage Frugoni day on the weekend, to beat any team. Andrew Morales has been very successful in league play, and he is hoping to carry that over to the big stage.

 

P- Brad Grieveson, Jorge Frugoni, Andrew Morales, Chris Goodale, Josh Howsam, Chris Novachis, Sean Kavanaugh, Brian Pressnail, Mark Blanchard, Garrett Gilroy

 

Strathroy – the Royals have been world-beaters in the SWBL, but they haven’t been able to string together some good games in tournaments. All that will be forgotten with a big eliminations weekend. They definitely have the team capable to go deep, but the question is: which team will show up?

 

Their tournament offensive performances have been disappointing. But if they have a good offensive game early in the elims, they can ride that moment all the way into late Sunday or Monday. Ron Oneson and Mitch Roy are two of the best hitters on the team, and Cam Graham is no slouch either.

 

C Cam Graham

1B Ron Oneson

2B Kevin Martin

3B AJ Reed/ Justin Cook

SS Taylor Castrillo

LF Chris Mireault

CF Mitch Roy

RF Craig Jacques

DH Wes Romak/ Matt Cook

 

Pitching is the strength of this team. They have a handful of front-end arms, and a couple of other above-average hurlers. They’re going to have to be able to get a couple games deep, in order to show off their depth. Matching up against Leaside will be tough, but if they can manage to get past them, they have a bunch of very good arms to match up with anyone.

 

P- Matt Cook, Tyler Annett, Robert Ramsdale, Matt Grasby, Matt Brennan, Ryan Zimmer, Josh Tetreau, Tom Couchie

 

Prediction: Leaside 2 (WP- Brad Grieveson) vs. Strathroy 1 (LP- Matt Cook)

 

 

Game Eight: Erindale Cardinals vs. Windsor A's

 

Erindale – the Cardinals are used to hitting a bunch, and not pitching much. This season, they’ve been struggling at both. A lot of their key players are getting older, and they may not have much left in the tank. They’re the last COBA team outside of Mississauga to make it to the elims finals, but that was in 2005.

 

Even though the offence has struggled, they can turn it on at the flip of a switch. Geoff Cullen is one of the best senior baseball players of all time. Chris Novia is the best power hitter in Ontario. And veterans like Jon Amendola and Frank Coccia are very good hitters.

 

C Chris Willins

1B Geoff Cullen

2B Frank Coccia

3B Jon Amendola/ Greg Dodwell

SS Damian Eccleton/ Pip Murray-Smith

LF Jay Woodford

CF John DeWolfe

RF Aaron Palmer/ Jake Eves

DH Chris Novia

 

If they make it deep, the pitching staff is not going to be the reason why. They have a collection of guys who can go out there and give them a shot, but in most games, they are going to be at a disadvantage on the hill.

 

P- Ian Bala, John DeWolfe, Brendan Fox, Andrew Mullin, Mike Morely, Dan Estey, Gavin Rajiva, Geoff Cullen, Mark Taplin

 

WAA – the A’s are in way over their heads in the Can-Am league, especially with the best players they have produced on the Stars and Tecumseh’s rosters. They’re still going to give most teams a tough challenge. Playing in the friendly confines of their own park definitely helps them, as they have not gone two-and-out since 2010.

 

Nobody really has any numbers to write home about on the offensive side of things, other than Justin Levesque. The OF/C has put together a solid season.

 

C David Weber/ Adam Hyslop

1B Matt Granger/ Kieran Buzek

2B Jason Schneider

3B BJ Harris

SS Brendan Warnock

LF Justin Levesque

CF Adam DiPasquale

RF Kelly Wasylyk

DH Jordan Ketterer

 

With guys like Cody Seremack, Barry Keith and Chris Renaud now pitching for their rivals, WAA has lost a ton of talent. Jeff Parker and Cody Gillis are still around though, and the pair are very capable pitchers.

 

P- Jeff Parker, Cody Gillis, Max Saad, Jason Schneider

 

Prediction: Erindale 4 (LP- Mike Morely) vs. WAA 5 (WP- Cody Gillis)

 

 

Game Nine: Mississauga SW Twins vs. Bolton Brewers

 

Mississauga – the Twins have the second most elims wins since they joined the AAA ranks, and they’ve made the final five in four straight years. They are one of the top two or three programs in the province, and they are poised to go to the nationals for the fourth time in six years. This season has been bit of a struggle for them, but this roster is just as good as any other one they’ve ever had. This is their first season without the late Bob Kulchyk.

 

Sean Bignall is quite arguably the best hitter in all of senior baseball. He’s coming off an MVP campaign, and he always has a flare for the dramatic. Jerome and Jamie Smith are also quite dangerous with the bat, and Jamie’s middle infield partner Brendan Emmett has been very good as well. They can put up runs in a hurry.

 

C John Broll

1B Jerome Smith

2B Brendan Emmett

3B Troy Black

SS Jamie Smith

LF Sean Bignall

CF Chris Piccini

RF Ian Campbell

DH Ed Largy/ Anthony Fantauzzi

 

In addition to having a very good offence, they’ve always had very sold pitching staffs as well. This season is no different. They lost Adam Paish, but they were able to replace him with Paul McKenna and Billy Martin. Billy Hurley is one of the top pitchers in the province, and Jordan Petruska always seems to win the big games. Deep in the tournament, they will have a distinct advantage over most teams they play.

 

P- Billy Hurley, Jordan Petruska, Paul McKenna, Eric Ventura, Billy Martin, Adam Banski, James Byrnes, Kyle Porter, Michael Cardinale

 

Bolton – the Brewers face arguably the toughest task of any team in round one. They are big-time underdogs in this opening round game, but the Twins would be best served to not take them lightly. In 2013, Bolton netted an opening round win against Tecumseh. Last year, they slugged their way past Pickering in round one, and made it to round four. They won’t be winning this tournament any time soon, but they’ve definitely proven that they're capable of pulling off an upset or two.

 

Brett Chater has been a well-known name in the GTBL ever since the Brewers started playing there part time. Shawn Chalmers is an ex-IBL guy who can swing the bat a bit, but he hasn’t been out for much of the year. He can prove to be an ex-factor for this team if he shows up.

 

C Adam Wallace

1B John Hutchinson

2B Mike Wallace

3B Shawn Chalmers

SS Brett Chater

LF Brett Bond

CF Matt Blacklaws

RF Andrew White

DH Eric Cirone

 

Pitching is always an issue for middle of the road teams, and Bolton is no different. They have a couple of guys who can pitch a bit, including junior Zack Riddell, Mike Blackwood and relief guy Trent Barwick. They signed former Newmarket pitcher Ryan Aida before the deadline, but he hasn’t seen any action this year. All in all, they don't have the pitching to play into late Sunday.

 

P- Zack Riddell, Mike Blackwood, Andrew White, Nick Boyd, Trent Barwick

 

Prediction: Mississauga 9 (WP- Kyle Porter) vs. Bolton 3 (LP- Zack Riddell)

 

 

Game Ten: Pickering Red Sox vs. Oakville A's

 

Pickering – neither of these teams has an advantage over the other, and the game could go either way. After being a successful elims teams for a while, they faded for a few years, losing seven games in a row at one point (after a round one loss to Bolton last year). They were able to rebound after the loss, and backdoor their way into the final five- where they lost by a run to Leaside. There are only five different teams that still exist, that have won the elims in the last 23 years. The Pickering/Markham franchise is one of them (the others are Mississauga, Windsor, Tecumseh, Etobicoke).

 

They’re a pretty good team offensively. While they don’t really scare you anymore with their bats, they can find ways to put up runs. Jesse Dynes is one of the best power hitters in senior baseball over the last decade or so, and he’s still going strong. Steve Correia continues to be an underrated hitter, mostly because he spent so much time with Martingrove. Former IBL guy Sean Malony can also be dangerous.

 

C Mike Rodriguez

1B Jesse Dynes

2B Jeff Fox

3B Sean Malony

SS Andre Steer/ Rob Carman

LF Reg Sarne

CF Steve Correia

RF Peter Ricciardi

DH Rob Carman/ Ryan Harry

 

Pitching is going to be a problem for the Red Sox, especially with Steve Horsley’s iffy health. Patrick Vecchiarelli has been a solid pitcher for a few years, but he’s been getting knocked around a bit this season. He’s still very dangerous though. Mark Cheeseman is a senior legend at this point. He's one of the smartest pitchers around, and he’s still going strong after all these years.

 

P- Patrick Vecchiarelli, Mark Cheeseman, Brad Binns, Steve Horsley, Peter Nash, Christian Chavez, Steve Correia, Corey Jeffery

 

Oakville – the A’s have been a very weird team this season. They were impressive in Vaughan, making it to the semifinals. They were unlucky in London, blowing two leads late in ballgames. Then they were bad at the Hap Walters. They’ve also been up-and-down in league play. Ultimately, they’re an improved team who can be really good at times, and can also be really bad at times. If the bad team shows up, they can go two-and-out. If the good one shows up, they can make a deep run. What’s it going to be, Oakville?

 

Their offence took a big hit, losing Julian Richards for the season with a broken hand. He was their biggest power threat next to Jeff Jarockis. Brad Hill has been a big addition for the team, and along with Zack Dickson, the pair really gives them two players who make good, consistent contact. They’ve got guys who can hit all throughout their lineup, but as mentioned, it’s going to come down to which team shows up.

 

C Conrad Bach

1B Jeff Jarockis

2B Chase Dobbie/ Brad Hill

3B Andrew Kotulak/ Mike Modestino

SS Zack Dickson

LF Marc Walton

CF Thomas Biskup

RF Alex Kupchak/ Courtney Morales

DH Brad Hill/ Mike Modestino

 

Mark Tourangeau used to be one of the top arms in senior baseball, but injuries have really derailed him. If he can contribute this weekend, it will make them a lot more formidable. Gord Robertson is solid, but he’s not your prototypical ace. Mike Vanderlaan has been a nice addition to the staff.

 

P- Gord Robertson, Mike Vanderlaan, Marc Walton, Mark Tourangeau, Matt Reagan, Alex Hawley, Matt Chisamore, Curtis Braun, Andrew Kotulak

 

Prediction: Pickering 4 (WP- Patrick Vecchiarelli) vs. Oakville 2 (LP- Gord Robertson)

 

 

Game Eleven: Sarnia Braves vs. Tecumseh Thunder

 

Sarnia – this version of the Braves is a lot better than the Sarnia versions of the past, and it’s not only because of their improved record. The Braves were a really young team (and still are), but the core of their team has really grown and gotten better together. It’s too bad they draw the defending champs in round one, because they would have had a lot easier time against most other teams. That being said, an upset wouldn’t be all that shocking. They made it to the final six in 2013.

 

The province spoke, by naming Justin Randall one of the most difficult outs in the SWBL, and in the province. The former independent leaguer is very solid. What could hurt this team is the fact that three of their best pitchers also play the field and are solid hitters. If they don’t hit for themselves, that’s a solid bat that’s out of the lineup.

 

C Keegan Brandon

1B Mike Damchuk

2B Dom Bucci/ Nick Baljeu

3B Justin Randall

SS Wade Babula

LF Tristan Buntrock/ Josh Taylor

CF James Grant

RF Alex McLean

DH Charlie Stubbs/ Jeff Randall

 

Mike Damchuk is developing the reputation of being one of the better pitchers in senior baseball. Nick Baljeu is no slouch either. The team added Nick Bucci at the deadline, and it will be interesting to see if he makes an appearance or not. He hasn’t made one for the team yet, and he’s been out of pro ball since 2013. Depth will start to become an issue if they make it to the later rounds.

 

P- Mike Damchuk, Nick Baljeu, Wade Babula, Anthony Shepherd, Dom Bucci, Nick Bucci

 

Tecumseh – not much needs to be said about this team, other than the fact that they are the defending champions, and they don’t appear to be suffering from a hangover in 2015. The Thunder have made the final three in three of the last five years.

 

This lineup is right up there, as one of the scariest senior lineups in the last few years. They literally have 12-13 very, very good hitters, and some of them are dominant. From Kevin Mailloux, to Mitch Delaney, to Paul Lamantia, to Brandon Gignac, to Eric Cunningham, to… well, you get the point.

 

C Eric Cunningham/ Anthony Peticca/ Matt Varacalli

1B Mitch Delaney

2B Kevin Mailloux/ Ryan Kerstens

3B Casey Power

SS Brandon Gignac

LF Paul Lamantia

CF Curtis Lambkin

RF Eric Cunningham

DH Dale Kryway/ Robbie Cooper

 

It’s really unfortunate that Zack Breault and Mitch Kramer won’t be with the team, because if they were, it would have been fun to see how much they destroy everyone by. Tyler Gauthier and Joel Pierce are some pretty good replacements though. Cody Seremack continues to impress, and Brandon Lindquist is also solid. All in all, they still have a few guys who can pitch, as evidenced by their ridiculous record.

 

 

P- Tyler Gauthier, Joel Pierce, Cody Seremack, Brandon Lindquist, Tylr Lawrence, Alex Murphy, Taylor Pappin, Barry Keith, Robbie Cooper, Eric Carducci, Jesse Carriere

 

Prediction: Sarnia 1 (LP- Mike Damchuk) vs. Tecumseh 4 (WP- Tyler Gauthier)

 

 

Round Two

 

BYE: Martingrove and Etobicoke

 

12. Milton 3 (LP- Justin Volpato) vs. Kingston 4 (WP- Brandyn Agnew)

13. Burlington 5 (Cam McKnight) vs. Ilderton 2 (Jamie Mann)

14. Thornhill 2 (LP- Jason Rubenstein) vs. Strathroy 4 (WP- Robert Ramsdale)

15. Erindale 6 (WP- Ian Bala) vs. Bolton 3 (LP- Andrew White)

16. Oakville 2 (LP- Mike Vanderlaan) vs. Sarnia 5 (WP- Nick Baljeu)

17. East York 4 (WP- Mark Sikorski) vs. Brampton 2 (LP- Joe Ferreira)

18. Windsor 0 (LP- Steve Teno) vs. Niagara 1 (WP- Rob Nixon)

19. Newmarket 3 (LP- Brad Crone) vs. Leaside 4 (WP- Andrew Morales)

20. WAA 3 (LP- Jeff Parker) vs. Mississauga 8 (WP- James Byrnes)

21. Pickering 2 (LP- Mark Cheeseman) vs. Tecumseh 6 (WP- Cody Seremack)

 

Round Three

 

BYE: Pickering

22. Martingrove 5 (LP- Mike Bannon) vs. Kingston 6 (WP- Brody Burns)

23. Burlington 1 (LP- Cam Ryerson) vs. Strathroy 5 (WP- Tyler Annett)

24. Erindale 5 (WP- Andrew Mullin) vs. Sarnia 3 (LP- Wade Babula)

25. Brampton 3 (LP- Steve Hough) vs. Windsor 7 (WP- Dane Little)

26. Newmarket 4 (WP- Matt Laise) vs. WAA 1 (LP- Max Saad)

27. Etobicoke 0 (LP- Kyle Breitner) vs. East York 3 (WP- Jeff Gibbs)

28. Niagara 3 (LP- Justin Ayles) vs. Leaside 4 (WP- Chris Goodale)

 

29. Mississauga 2 (LP- Billy Hurley) vs. Tecumseh 3 (WP- Joel Pierce)

 

Round Four

 

BYES: Mississauga and Tecumseh

30. Kingston 1 (LP- Derek Howe) vs. Strathroy 2 (WP- Matt Grasby)

31. Erindale 1 (LP- Brendan Fox) vs. Windsor 5 (WP- Jason Lauzon)

32. Newmarket 4 (WP- Brent Heaslip) vs. Pickering 3 (LP- Brad Binns)

33. Etobicoke 5 (Andrew Hyde) vs. Niagara 3 (Alex Tufts)

 

34. East York 6 (WP- Jake Gallo) vs. Leaside 4 (LP- Jorge Frugoni)

 

Round Five

 

35. Strathroy 2 (Matt Brennan) vs. Windsor 4 (Matt Rustulka)

36. Newmarket 3 (Jordan Vecchiarelli) vs. Etobicoke 5 (Adam McBride)

37. Mississauga 9 (Jordan Petruska) vs. Leaside 2 (Josh Howsam)

 

38. East York 4 (Jerome Werniuk) vs. Tecumseh 6 (Brandon Lindquist)

 

Round Six

 

FINAL 5: Windsor Stars, Etobicoke Rangers, Mississauga Twins, Tecumseh Thunder, East York Bulldogs

 

BYE: draw between Windsor and East York

 

Windsor Stars: Chris Renaud, Adam Myers, Skylar Janisse

Etobicoke Rangers: Gary Rose, Bryan Vardzel, Matt Cambria, Andrew Perryman

Mississauga Twins: Paul McKenna, Eric Ventura, Billy Martin

Tecumseh Thunder: Alex Murphy, Taylor Pappin, Tyler Gauthier, Barry Keith

East York Bulldogs: Andrew Ziedins, Jack Malone, Quinn Cumming, Dave Anderson

 

Winner: Mississauga Twins over Tecumseh Thunder

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Tecumseh Thunder repeated as Ontario champions, beating the Mississauga SW Twins 4-0 in the finals. The final matchup was the third straight season these powerhouse teams have met in the finals. Mississauga won it in 2013, and the Thunder have won the last two years.

 

The Thunder beat Sarnia 6-0 (WP- Tyler Gauthier), then easily handled Pickering 4-0 in round two (WP- Tylr Lawrence). In round three, they met the same Mississauga SW team, and blew a last-inning lead, losing 7-6 (LP- Jesse Carriere). With their backs against the wall the rest of the way, Tecumseh beat Strathroy 4-1 (WP- Brandon Lindquist), before beating Etobicoke 6-3 (WP- Joel Pierce) in the final five. On Monday morning, they won a wild game against rivals Windsor. Trailing 3-0 late, the Thunder scored a run in the sixth, and then three more in their last at-bats, to stun the Stars 4-3. The win set the stage for the final victory against the Twins.

 

It's too bad Ontario isn't awarded two berths in the nationals this year, because the Mississauga juggernaut is well-deserving of a spot there. They had been to the nationals three of the last four seasons. Something tells me they'll be back again. Congratulations also goes out to the Etobicoke Rangers and Windsor Stars, for coming a game away from the finals. The Niagara Metros should also be commended for anothet deep run, as they fell just short of the semi-finals.

 

Tecumseh's recent success is nothing short of incredible, and I wish them all the best in Chatham, New Brunswick at the nationals.

 

All-Tournament team:

 

C - Jono Marcheterre, Niagara

Marcheterre is one of the best defensive catchers in the province. While offensive catchers have gotten most of the recognition on this site over the years, Marcheterre has been a steady force behind the dish. He caught every game for the Metros this weekend, and helped guide the young pitching staff to some very good performances.

1B - Jerome Smith, Mississauga 

Jerome is one of the toughest outs around. He always manages to get clutch hits, and this weekend has been no different. If the Twins go all the way, you can count on the older Smith brother to be right in the middle of their success.

2B - Brendan Emmett, Mississauga

"B-Man" has been a force all season, hitting at or above .500 for most of the summer. He has saved his best performances for the biggest time of the year. He drove in the game-winning run versus the Thunder, and also hit a grand slam against Niagara on Sunday night.

3B - Ryan Panas, Etobicoke

Panas has continued to drive in runs at a crazy pace. He is always at or near the top of the RBI leader board, and he has continued to drive in runs this weekend. He has a home run this weekend as well.

SS - Brandon Gignac, Tecumseh

Bill Gillen was an important piece to Tecumseh's run last year, and Gignac has been able to make losing him a seamless transition. The young short stop is a future building block for the Thunder, and he has continued to play well for them this weekend - both offensively and defensively. 

OF- Dave Davidson, Niagara

Davidson was a pitcher in the major leaguers, and he is a beast of a hitter in senior. He continues to hit big home runs for the Metros; he had two of them this weekend.

OF - Mitch Roy, Strathroy

A lot of Strathroy's players don't get credit, because nobody outside of their team really knows what they're up to for the summer. From all indications, Roy really makes this offence go, and he has been solid this weekend as well. His big hit was a home run against Etobicoke.

OF - Cam Goddard, Windsor

Can-Am teams avoid pitching to this guy, but someone forgot to tell the COBA teams how to contain this offence. Goddard hit a home run against Oakville, and added two more round-trippers against Milton.

DH - AJ Iafrate, Etobicoke

The veteran is no longer much of a home run threat, but he still gets big hits when the team needs him most. He will never be mistaken for a graceful hitter/athlete, but his competitive nature and timely hitting is unmatched. He's continued to hit all weekend, and has regained his old cleanup spot in the Etobicoke lineup.

RHP - Jason Lauzon, Windsor

When the Stars needed him most, Lauzon responded with a complete game, five-hit shutout in a 1-0 win-or-go home game against East York. With so many big name pitchers on the Stars over the years, I admittedly have been overlooking this guy a lot. When you pitch with the Carters, Piccos and Tenos of the world, it's hard to get credit. Well, here is a start, Jason Lauzon. Great performance.

LHP - Jeremy McDonald, Milton

McDonald took the ball in the Red Sox' second game and dealt against Kingston. He matched Derek Howe pitch-for-pitch, before Milton finally put up two runs in the sixth inning of a 2-0 win. When the dust had settled, McDonald went 7 shutout innings, allowing just one base hit.

 

MVP - Brandon Lindquist, Tecumseh Thunder

Enough cannot be said about Brandon Lindquist, and his performance this weekend- particularly Sunday and Monday. He dealt Strathroy a loss on Sunday, as he outdueled Tyler Annett in a complete game victory. The hard-throwing righty wasn't done there, as he came in to pitch in relief in the finals. With starter Taylor Pappin struggling, and the Thunder desperately clinging to an early 2-0 lead in the third inning, Lindquist was brought in. He promptly struck out both batters he faced in the third, and cruised the rest of the way. Lindquist is an easy choice for tournament MVP.

 

The Tecumseh Thunder lost their opening game 1-0, then went on to reel off five straight wins, en route to capturing the gold medal at the 2015 Senior Men's Baseball Championship.

The Thunder hit .325 as a team, and has a 2.13 team ERA. Paul Lamantia was the big standout, hitting .421 with 3 HR and 12 RBI. Mitch Delaney was also impressive, hitting .563 with 1 HR and 6 RBI. Rob Nixon was the team's best pitcher, appearing in three games, and pitching 8.1 innings, registering a save. He had a loss, despite allowing just 1 unearned run. He gave up just 3 hits and 2 walks, with 11 strikeouts.

This was a fitting ending to a spectacular season by the Thunder. They were not only the best senior baseball team in Ontario, but the entire country. They didn't have a single player on their nationals' roster in his 30's, so it's safe to say they have a good shot of ending up here again next year.

Congratulations to manager Jamie Kell, and the entire Tecumseh Thunder organization.

 

Schedule

 

Game One: Thu. Aug 20 vs. Quebec 

Loss 1-0 (LP- Rob Nixon) 

- Nixon allowed an unearned run in the first, and gave up just 3 hits and 2 walks, with 8 strikeouts. The Thunder offence mustered just 2 hits of their own, off of former Atlanta Braves single-A farmhand Francois Lafreniere.

 

Game Two: Fri. Aug 21 vs. Manitoba

Win 5-1 (WP- Kyle Breitner)

- Breitner didn't allow a run until the sixth inning, and struck out 8 in his 6 innings of work.

 

Game Three: Fri. Aug 21 vs. New Brunswick

Win 4-1 (WP- Billy Martin)

- Martin was the third Tecumseh pitcher in a row to allow just 1 run. It was unearned. Paul Lamantia hit a home run.

 

Game Four: Sat. Aug 22 vs. Saskatchewan 

Win 17-5 (WP- Tyler Gauthier)

- The big three of Paul Lamantia, Kevin Mailloux and Mitch Delaney each homered in the rout.

 

Semi-Finals: Sun. Aug 23 vs. New Brunswick

Win 12-2 (WP- Brandon Lindquist)

- Lamantia homered for the third straight game, as the Thunder beat NB for the second time in the tournament.

 

Gold-Medal Game: Sun. Aug 23 vs. Quebec

Win 4-1 (WP- Joel Pierce)

- The Thunder exacted revenge on Quebec, beating them 4-1 to win the Senior Men's National Gold Medal for the province of Ontario.

 

Roster

C- Eric Cunningham, Matt Varacalli

1B- Mitch Delaney

2B- Kevin Mailloux

3B- Casey Power, Ryan Kerstens

SS- Brandon Gignac

OF- Sean Bignall, Paul Lamantia, Curtis Lambkin, Dale Kryway, Derek Fortier

P- Rob Nixon, Joel Pierce, Tyler Gauthier, Brandon Lindquist, Kyle Breitner, Billy Martin, Cody Seremack, Alex Murphy, Jesse Carriere

 

 

 

First Team All-Stars

C Eric Cunningham, Tecumseh .366, 0 HR, 24 RBI, 31 R, 2 2B, 5 SB, 19 BB, 11 SO

1B Victor Speciale, Brampton .360, 3 HR, 43 RBI, 30 R, 10 2B, 16 SB, 20 BB, 7 SO

2B Kevin Mailloux, Tecumseh .328, 4 HR, 36 RBI, 39 R, 12 2B, 1 3B, 3 SB, 17 BB, 7 SO

3B Ryan Panas, Etobicoke .353, 4 HR, 44 RBI, 40 R, 15 2B, 1 3B, 23 BB, 13 SO

SS Phil Steer, Niagara .427, 0 HR, 17 RBI, 42 R, 6 2B, 2 3B, 29 SB, 16 BB, 9 SO

OF Paul Lamantia, Tecumseh .430, 5 HR, 51 RBI, 37 R, 7 2B, 1 3B, 12 SB, 12 BB, 15 SO

OF Brian MacDonald, East York .467, 8 HR, 45 RBI, 33 R, 8 2B, 1 3B, 1 SB, 12 BB, 6 SO

OF Sean Sutton, Thornhill .384. 5 HR, 37 RBI, 35 R, 9 2B, 2 3B, 26 SB, 16 BB, 9 SO

DH Joe Ferreira, Brampton .398, 9 HR, 38 RBI, 20 R, 7 2B, 4 BB, 19 SO

RHP Skylar Janisse, Windsor 5-3, 1 SV, 2.22 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 48.2 IP, 29 H, 14 R, 12 ER, 13 BB, 65 K

LHP Steve Teno, Windsor 8-1, 0.63 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, 57.1 IP, 35 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 10 BB, 77 K

RP Alex Murphy, Tecumseh 10 GP, 4 GS, 7-0, 1 SV, 1.72 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 36.2 IP, 28 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 7 BB, 20 K

Cunningham was a third-team all-star in 2014, but he did it as an outfielder. Speciale was a second-team all-star in 2011, when he hit .428/10/50. Mailloux was a first-team all-star in 2014. He was a first-team all-star and MVP in 2012 with the Windsor Stars, when he hit .438/7/42. Panas was a second-team all-star in 2014, hitting .415/1/35, and 18 doubles. He was also a first-team all-star in 2013, hitting .342/3/40; a first-team all-star and rookie-of-the-year in 2012, hitting .394/6/53. Steer was a second-team all-star in 2014, hitting .392/1/24 with 32 stolen bases. He was also the rookie-of-the-year last season as well. MacDonald was a third-team all-star in 2013, when he played for Thornhill. He was a first-team all-star in 2010, hitting .338/5/27 as a third baseman. Teno was a second-team all-star in 2014, when he went 6-3 with a 1.77 ERA. He was a first-team all-star in 2013, going 6-0 with a 1.80 ERA. He was a second-team all-star in 2012, when he was 5-0 with a 0.55 ERA. He was a third-team all-star in 2011, when he was 5-1 with a 1.85 ERA. In 2010, he was a first-team all-star and Pitcher of the Year, with a 8-2 record and 0.68 ERA.

 

Second Team All-Stars

C Marco DiRoma, Brampton .295 AVG, 3 HR, 20 RBI, 26 R, 8 2B, 19 SB, 12 BB, 9 SO

1B Matt Lahn, Milton .313, 7 HR, 33 RBI, 20 R, 7 2B, 13 BB, 13 SO

2B Kyle Fillier, East York .378, 7 HR, 26 RBI, 21 R, 4 2B, 1 SB, 5 BB, 7 SO

3B Evan Baglieri, Niagara .317, 3 HR, 30 RBI, 26 R, 9 2B, 1 3B, 7 SB, 15 BB, 18 SO

SS Brandon Gignac, Tecumseh .375, 1 HR, 25 RBI, 40 R, 4 2B, 4 3B, 25 SB, 16 BB, 24 SO

OF Andrew Thomson, Brampton .394, 1 HR, 24 RBI, 46 R, 5 2B, 8 3B, 19 SB, 10 BB, 24 SO

OF Dave Davidson, Niagara .321, 5 HR, 32 RBI, 27 R, 9 2B, 1 3B, 1 SB, 12 BB, 29 SO

OF Cam Goddard, Windsor .409, 4 HR, 28 RBI, 17 R, 9 2B, 12 BB, 6 SO

DH Julian Johnson, Etobicoke .326, 5 HR, 32 RBI, 22 R, 11 2B, 2 SB, 7 BB, 32 SO

RHP Alex Tufts, Niagara 6-2, 1.94 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 55.2 IP, 51 H, 20 R, 12 ER, 11 BB, 46 K

LHP Jeremy McDonald, Milton 5-2, 2.76 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 65.1 IP, 49 H, 29 R, 20 ER, 37 BB, 58 K

RP Justin Ayles, Niagara 19 GP, 6 GS, 7-2, 3 SV, 2.49 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 65 IP, 57 H, 26 R, 18 ER, 21 BB, 58 K

Lahn was quietly a second-team all-star in 2014 as a first baseman, when he hit 6 HR and 37 RBI. Fillier has been an all-star as an outfielder with the Peterborough Riverdogs. Baglieri was a first-team catcher in 2013, hitting .440/6/36; a first-teamer in 2012, hitting .375/12/61; a first-teamer and MVP in 2011, hitting .411/15/66. Davidson was a first-team all-star in 2014, when he hit 12 HR and 42 RBI. He was a third-team DH in 2013, hitting .305/5/30. He was a first-team DH in 2010, hitting .468/4/28. That year, he was also a third-team all-star as a relief pitcher. Goddard was a third-team all-star in 2014, hitting .385/4/30. Ayles was a first-team all-star in 2012, when he had 4 saves.

 

Third Team All-Stars

C Kris Fielding, Thornhill .292, 2 HR, 27 RBI, 19 R, 3 2B, 1 3B, 4 SB, 17 BB, 14 SO

1B Mitch Delaney, Tecumseh .398, 0 HR, 31 RBI, 37 R, 12 2B, 2 3B, 1 SB, 21 BB, 13 SO

2B Mark Capone, Etobicoke .357, 0 HR, 22 RBI, 37 R, 10 2B, 1 3B, 5 SB, 32 BB, 10 SO

3B Jon Amendola, Erindale .286, 7 HR, 27 RBI, 17 R, 3 2B, 1 SB, 9 BB, 25 SO

SS Troy McLoughlin, Newmarket .422, 0 HR, 20 RBI, 27 R, 9 2B, 2 SB, 19 BB, 7 SO

OF Dan Telford, Newmarket .382, 4 HR, 18 RBI, 20 R, 11 2B, 7 BB, 5 SO

OF Alex Kupchak, Oakville .345, 5 HR, 23 RBI, 25 R, 7 2B, 11 BB, 29 SO

OF Daniel Murphy, Etobicoke .316, 0 HR, 30 RBI, 55 R, 4 2B, 2 3B, 26 SB, 33 BB, 18 SO

DH Chris Novia, Erindale .297, 8 HR, 22 RBI, 19 R, 6 2B, 3 SB, 20 BB, 31 SO

RHP Jeff Gibbs, East York 6-2, 2.68 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 53.2 IP, 33 H, 21 R, 16 ER, 38 BB, 82 K

LHP Mike Burke, Brampton 6-2, 3.05 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 76.2 IP, 62 H, 29 R, 26 ER, 20 BB, 34 K

RP Jaspreet Shergill, Thornhill 13 GP, 0 GS, 1-0, 1 SV, 2.45 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 18.1 IP, 14 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 30 K

 

With another senior baseball season upon us, lets take a look at some key offseason moves. As always-- there were some big ones—that can potentially continue to shift the balance of power in the province.

 

The Brampton Royals have been busy accumulating some young talent this offseason. They added Anthony Hrynkiw, Riley Pollard and Patrick Pinlac to their roster. Hrynkiw is a former Ontario Blue Jays MVP, and Connors State catcher. He should help shore up the Royals behind the plate, and give them another solid bat in their already good lineup. Pollard pitched for the North Iowa Area Community College Trojans, and was one of their standouts on the mound. Pinlac will help make the Royals’ infield a lot better, as he can play 2B/3B/SS, like he’s been doing at Ashford University. Brampton has had a lot of solid ballplayers come and go, but a lot of them seem to be part time players. If this trio is there all season, they can really help the Royals get to another level.

 

The East York Bulldogs seem to get better and better every offseason, and this winter was no different. The Bulldogs re-added Jesse Bartle, the former Bulldog and Toronto Maple Leafs infielder. After a year playing in Australia, Bartle is back fulltime. Brad Bedford comes over to East York after spending the last four summers with Burlington of the IBL, where he was a career .278 hitter. The outfielder is also a former OUA All-Star. And last but not least, The Bulldogs have added Tyler Plumpton to their roster as well. Plumpton is one of the best senior baseball has to offer, and he will help East York in the field, behind the dish, on the mound and at the plate.

 

The Etobicoke Rangers were likely going to be hard-pressed to find some younger talent this offseason after no longer fielding a junior team. But Steve Breitner managed to add some potential impactful players.

 

The following is courtesy of the Etobicoke Rangers' website: Joining the Etobicoke Rangers this season will be Mike Asta RHP (OUA All Star York University top pitcher and Martingrove grad), Tyler Whealy RHP (Queen’s University top pitcher and High Park grad)), Steve Jannetta C (High Park grad), Tanner Young-Shultz C (OUA All Star @ U of T & a Stratford Junior grad) ), Adam Raithby OF (Laurier and High Park grad) and Michael Ferracuti IN/RHP.

 

-          The Leaside Leafs made a couple of additions this offseason. Averey Bet-Payumo joins the Leafs’ infield in 2016. He will help make up for the loss of Plumpton. Bey-Payumo played every day for Medaille College, where he hit .325. John Gosnell will also join the team and give them some much needed help on the mound. Gosnell pitched and started at Lesley University.

 

The Thornhill Reds added Joe Presutti, who can immediately be one of their most productive hitters. In addition to that, they also added some help on the mound by way of a couple of college arms. Both Josh Appel and Hunter Greenough should be able to provide some good innings for the Reds.

 

The Windsor Stars are rumoured to have added Kyle Moloney, which will instantly make them a more formidable offence. That hasn’t been confirmed yet, but if it’s true, that is arguably the biggest offseason move this year.

 

 

I’ll add more information as I get it.

 

The Tecumseh Thunder will look very different in 2016, but they should still be very dominant. The Thunder have lost a lot of core players this offseason. Gone are Kevin Mailloux, Mitch Kramer, Dale Kryway and Tyler Gauthier to name a few. In most cases, losing guys of that calibre would really set a team back, but the Thunder have retooled in the process. The Thunder will add nine graduates from their dominant junior program, including Keifer Quick, Chris Horwood and Jeff Watkins. The trio should make an immediate impact. Their biggest addition will be Ryan LaPansee. LaPansee is a former Arizona Diamondbacks farmhand, who played AAA as recently as 2012.

 

The Windsor Stars' addition of Kyle Moloney has been confirmed. They also added University of Windsor standouts Richard Chan and Adam Hyslop. The pair should help the Windsor offence. 

 

The Etobicoke Rangers have also added Brent Cleland to the roster. The University of Buffalo pitcher is a hard-thrower who will give the Rangers' pitching staff a much-needed lift. Cleland, Andrew Hyde and Kyle Breitner now give the Rangers a very dangerous trio of pitchers.

 

The Ilderton Red Army might make some noise this season. Mike Lumley is stepping in to take over the team from Rudy Godwin, who did a good job over the years at the helm. Lumley has already made some big additions, adding a lot of the St. Thomas junior graduates, including pitcher Matt Smith. Lumley, who coaches the University of Western Ontario baseball team, will also be bringing over some of his roster from the OUA, including Leo Labine and Nolan Anderson. The biggest addition, however, could end up being Mitch Lumley, who played with the London Majors of the IBL. All this, plus the fact that they will be retaining their key players from last year- makes Ilderton a much-needed challenge for Strathroy- who has been breezing through the SWBL.

 

First Team

C Tyler Plumpton, East York

1B Mitch Delaney, Tecumseh

2B Mark Capone, Etobicoke

3B Ryan Panas, Etobicoke

SS Brandon Gignac, Tecumseh

OF Paul Lamantia, Tecumseh

OF Brian MacDonald, East York

OF Ryan LaPensee, Tecumseh

DH Dave Davidson, Niagara

RHP Skylar Janisse, Windsor

LHP Steve Teno, Windsor

RP Justin Ayles, Niagara

 

Second Team

C Eric Cunningham, Tecumseh

1B Victor Speciale, Brampton

2B Henry Yap, Leaside

3B Evan Baglieri, Niagara

SS Phil Steer, Niagara

OF Kyle Moloney, Niagara

OF Keifer Quick, Tecumseh

OF Cam Goddard, Windsor

DH Chris Novia, Erindale

RHP Rob Nixon, Niagara

LHP Jordan Townshend, Ilderton

RP Alex Murphy, Tecumseh

 

Third Team

C Marco DiRoma, Brampton

1B Geoff Cullen, Erindale

2B Josh Federico, Mississauga SW

3B Denis Hucal, Pickering

SS Troy McLoughlin, Newmarket

OF Dan Telford, Newmarket

OF Andrew Hastings, Ilderton

OF Kevin Holloway, Newmarket

DH Joe Ferreira, Brampton

RHP Jordan Petruska, Mississauga SW

LHP Dane Little, Windsor

RP Alex Bruce, Newmarket

 

MVP - Ryan LaPensee, Tecumseh

Pitcher of the Year - Skylar Janisse, Windsor

Rookie of the Year - Keifer Quick, Tecumseh

 

 

This weekend in Vaughan, the Vikings will host their annual tournament. 14 teams from four leagues across Ontario will be looking to capture the tournament crown.

Here are the pools, as well as predictions for each game:

 

Pool A - Etobicoke, Leaside, Erindale, Bolton

Etobicoke (Perryman) 6 vs Erindale (Mullen) 4

Leaside (Kavanaugh) 5 vs Bolton (White) 3

Erindale (Morely) 7 vs Bolton (Perez) 3

Leaside (Frugoni) 3 vs Etobicoke (McBride) 4

Leaside (Goodale) 7 vs Erindale (Fox) 2

Etobicoke (Rose) 5 vs Bolton (Riddell) 4

 

Pool B - East York, Newmarket, Burlington, Oakville

Oakville 6 vs Burlington (Ryerson) 5

Newmarket (Simon) 1 vs East York (Gallo) 4

East York (Ziedens) 5 vs Oakville (Robertson) 3

Burlington (Colling) 3 vs Newmarket (Crone) 4

Newmarket (Fedrigo) 8 vs Oakville (Hawley) 4

East York (Gibbs) 10 vs Burlington (Sogan) 2

 

Pool C - Strathroy, Pickering, Ilderton

Pool D - Thornhill, Brampton, Vaughan

(Teams in these two pools criss-cross)

Ilderton (Townshend) 6 vs Brampton (Burke) 1

Thornhill (Cameron) 2 vs Strathroy (Annett) 3

Vaughan 2 vs Pickering (Cheeseman) 5

Thornhill (Greenough) 1 vs Pickering (Slemko) 4

Vaughan 0 vs Ilderton (Smith) 5

Strathroy (Steadman) 6 vs Brampton (Nonis) 3

Thornhill 4 vs Ilderton 3

Pickering (Binns) 5 vs Strathroy 4

 

 QF:

Pickering (Horsley) 5 vs Newmarket 3

Leaside 6 vs Ilderton 7

Etobicoke (Hyde) 6 vs Thornhill 3

East York (Sikorski) 2 vs Strathroy 4

 

 SF

Pickering 2 vs Etobicoke 4

Ilderton 3 vs Strathroy 8

 

 Finals

Etobicoke 6 vs Strathroy 5

 

 

Ilderton (Smith) 4 vs. Milton (Tennant) 3

Sarnia (Baljeu) 5 vs. Thunder Jr. 2

Mississauga SW (Ventura) 15 vs. Martingrove (Frydman) 5

St. Thomas Jr 1 vs. Tecumseh (Pierce) 5

Michigan Collegiate 8 vs. Erindale (Fox) 6

Vaughan 5 vs. Oakville (Robertson) 9

Michigan Braves 5 vs. Niagara (Perego) 4

 

Milton (Zettle) 4 vs. Thunder Jr. 6

Vaughan 4 vs. Ilderton (Labine) 10

St. Thomas Jr. 10 vs. Oakville (Reagan) 3

Erindale (Morely) 6 vs. Tecumseh (Carducci) 13

Mississauga SW (Petruska) 6 vs. Michigan Braves 2

Michigan Collegiate 3 vs. Niagara (Strong) 5

Milton (Volpato) 1 vs. Sarnia (Babula) 3

Ilderton (Lumley) 8 vs. Mississauga SW (Byrnes) 10

St. Thomas Jr. 11 vs. Vaughan 7

Thunder Jr. 3 vs. Niagara (Ayles) 6

Erindale (Mullin) 14 vs. Martingrove 7

Michigan Braves 4 vs. Tecumseh (Soulliere) 8

Sarnia (Shepherd) 7 vs. Martingrove 2

Oakville (Hawley) 3 vs. Michigan Collegiate 9

 

 

#1 Sarnia

#2 Tecumseh

#3 Mississauga SW (Hurley) 6 vs. #6 St. Thomas 2

#4 Michigan Collegiate 1 vs. #5 Ilderton (Townshend) 6

 

Sarnia (Damchuk) 7 vs. Ilderton (Drewe) 3

Tecumseh (Lindquist) 5 vs. Mississauga SW (McKenna) 3

 

Sarnia (Ambrose) 2 vs. Tecumseh (Horvath) 8

 

 

 

First Team

C Jeff Watkin, Tecumseh 

1B Harrison Greenough, Thornhill

2B Anthony Dufour, Windsor

3B Tyler Plumpton, East York

SS Jamie Smith, Mississauga SW

OF Chris Horwood, Tecumseh

OF Robin Fox-Pappas, East York

OF Sean Sutton, Thornhill

DH Chris Novia, Erindale

RHP Brandon Lindquist, Tecumseh

LHP Steve Teno, Tecumseh

RP Kyle Breitner, Etobicoke

 

Second Team

C Mark Petrou, Newmarket

1B Mitch Delaney, Tecumseh 

2B Brandon Emmett, Mississauga SW

3B Michael Cardinale, Mississauga SW

SS Patrick Pinlac, Brampton

OF Jay Woodford, Erindale

OF Brian MacDonald, East York

OF Paul Lamantia, Tecumseh

DH Marc Walton, Oakville

RHP Jeff Gibbs, East York

LHP Jordan Townshend, Ilderton

RP Brandon Beattie, Niagara

 

Third Team

C Tanner Young-Schultz, Etobicoke

1B Geoff Cullen, Erindale

2B Mark Capone, Etobicoke

3B Ryan Panas, Etobicoke

SS Troy McLoughlin, Newmarket

OF John DeWolfe, Erindale

OF Daniel Murphy, Etobicoke

OF Daniel Telford, Newmarket

DH Joe Ferreira, Brampton 

RHP Damian Clarke, Milton

LHP Gary Rose, Etobicoke

RP Bryan Vardzel, Etobicoke

 

 MVP - Chris Horwood, Tecumseh

Robin Fox-Pappas, East York; Sean Sutton, Thornhill

CY - Brandon Lindquist, Tecumseh

Steve Teno, Windsor; Jeff Gibbs, East York

ROY - Chris Horwood, Tecumseh

Jeff Watkin, Tecumseh; Damian Clarke, Milton

MGR - Steve Breitner, Etobicoke

Nolan Revin, Thornhill; Derek Bloomfield, Strathroy

 

 

 

Perhaps my assessment on a successful versus disappointing season is a bit skewed. However, from my time playing on two stacked Etobicoke teams that dominated COBA in the 2006-2007 regular seasons, falling short at the Elims felt like a massive disappointment those years. 2006 was my first year in senior, and every single day and game was geared towards the Elims. So when we lost by a run in the Final 5 to Windsor, we were very upset. Winning a COBA title didn’t feel like it meant much. The one year I made the finals at the Elims in 2009 with Leaside, being beaten twice by Windsor in the finals still stings. And that was one of the years Ontario only had one representative at the Nationals, so it was even more heart-breaking. Winning the GTBL title was not a consolation; not even close. In 2011 in Brampton, I was on a team filled with young but talented players, and making a run into Sunday at the Elims felt like a big success.

 

My contention has always been that there are a handful of teams that actually have a realistic shot of winning, and those teams need to be judged on a different standard in terms of success or failure. Is there something wrong with that? And it’s not even always about the results; a lot plays into it, including the closeness of games as well as draws. So there isn’t some sort of blanket feeling I have towards judging things- but for the most part it’s quite simple to assess performance- and it’s tied to expectations.

 

Bolton beating Windsor was huge. If the Brewers got mercied their next two games, I’d still consider it a good weekend for them. But to their credit, they still went on and competed in their other games. On the other hand, the Stars made it just as far as Bolton (round four), yet the weekend was a massive failure for them. I think this is pretty cut-and-dry. And once again, expectations are a good thing.

 

Like every other year, the 2016 Eliminations produced some disappointing results, as well as some surprising ones.

 

Surprising

 

Bolton – the Brewers shocked the world with a first-round upset of the Windsor Stars. They didn’t stop there though, putting up a tough fight against Strathroy, beating Ilderton, then putting up another tough battle against Leaside. This was their first full year in the GTBL, and playing against that type of competition should allow them to continue to get better as well as attract some more talent. Kudos to the Brewers on an impressive showing.

 

Milton – the Red Sox had just one win, but they had an extremely difficult schedule. They were neck-and-neck with Tecumseh in round one, and were locked in a 1-1 game before the Thunder woke up in the sixth. The 10-1 final didn’t indicate what type of game it really was. They then went on to beat a very tough Thornhill team before losing by a run to a Niagara team that made the Final 3. This weekend wasn’t necessarily a “surprise” per se, but it’s more of a testament to the hard work that George Moore and his staff have done over the years to make sure Milton won’t be a pushover against anybody.

 

Disappointing

 

East York – the Bulldogs were fresh off a Hap Walters championship, but they weren’t able to get it done this weekend. With dominant pitching and powerful hitting, they were built to win. Both of their losses came against Tecumseh, which on the surface is a very good feat. But their wins came against Sarnia, Erindale, Leaside and Pickering. And outside the Leaside win, they weren’t very convincing in winning those other games. They were considered a top dog, and Tecumseh showed them that they still have a little bit to go to get to that championship level.

 

Etobicoke – this was very bad. They seem to get favourable draws almost every year and have nothing to show for it in over a decade. They’ve made a couple Final 3 runs in the last few years, but it seems like that really is their ceiling. Anything can happen once you get to that point in a tournament, but anything doesn’t ever seem to happen for them. They had Oakville, then a bye, and then a date with Brampton. They failed to take advantage, losing 5-1 to the Royals then they were forced to play a team they don’t have any success against, the Mississauga SW Twins. They lost a 1-0 extra-inning heart-breaker, but this has got to feel like a very brutal weekend for them. With the junior program now gone, it will be interesting to see how Steve Breitner continues to add talent. You can bet that he will find a way, but their time as elite has probably eluded them for quite some time, but that’s just being realized now.

 

Leaside – on the surface, an appearance in the Final 7 is not a disappointment. But the road to that point was not a very daunting one for the Leafs. Sure, you have to play the games that are scheduled, but Leaside wasn’t too impressive in their contests. They lost in the first-round to Erindale by a run, and then got by Sarnia (in extras), Burlington and Bolton by a combined five runs. Then they ran into league-foe East York and got handled 14-1. If anything, the Leafs are still a pretty consistent bunch over the years, and one of the better performers in Ontario, but a so-so weekend followed by last year’s two-and-out isn’t a good look; and they appear to be trending down as a team.

 

Martingrove – them going two-and-out is not a shocker, but the surprise is that they continue to enter this tournament. I’m all for competing and playing against the best and yadda yadda yadda, but this has become almost unfair for teams to draw the White Sox. A few years ago, they were actually competitive in these games, and even knocked off Niagara in 2009. But they’ve lost 14-straight Eliminations games, and this madness needs to stop. Their second-round 9-7 loss ended a streak of eight Eliminations games in a row that they scored two or fewer runs. Someone needs to create a petition for the White Sox to either get better or to not enter this tournament all together. I am fully aware that Baseball Ontario isn’t going to turn down an entry fee. I fully understand that there are difficulties in acquiring talent, especially with the Rangers playing right down the street, and a handful of GTBL teams not too far away. I fully comprehend the sacrifices players and coaches need to make to play, coach and travel. But there are plenty of other tournaments and provincials they can enter, and this one is not one of them. This seriously needs to stop.

 

Windsor – the Stars are nowhere near the calibre of team they were a couple of years ago and for almost every year over the last decade, but the standards are still high in Windsor. Whatever way you look at it, losing to Bolton in round one, then beating Newmarket and Oakville before losing to Niagara is a very disappointing weekend. That Niagara game could have gone either way, and a win there could have positioned them for a deep run, but they didn’t get it done. It will be interesting to see how they can improve and get back to the dominant level they played at before. They’ll always have a terrific feeder system, but Tecumseh seems like the prime destination for available talent these days. The Stars will have to work hard to reverse that trend.

 

Great Weekend

 

Mississauga SW – the Twins came into this year having made three straight Eliminations finals, but they fell just short this year. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with losing your only two games to the two finalists. I’m sure the Twins will tell you that’s not good enough of a consolation, but they have to take solace in the fact that they were very close again. They’ve now made six straight Final 5 appearances, and nobody else in the province can lay a similar claim. Maybe teams like to see them lose because some of the antics they do during games. But maybe teams should just worry about making baseball fun again. They’re a close-knit bunch who feed off their energy. Oh, and they’re very talented and young too.

 

Niagara – the Metros continue to be just one big win away from the “big one”. They made the Final 3 in 2012, and just like that year, they lost a heart-breaker. On paper, this year’s version of the team wasn’t even as good as past teams they’ve had, but they put it together to pick up some big wins all weekend. The sidearm duo of Justin Ayles and Dylan Perego combine with Geoff Strong to give them a solid trio. If they can add to that, then they will continue to remain relevant. It’s tough to keep fielding good teams every year, especially in the Niagara region, where players tend to only live for short periods of time. The Metros have been able to recruit well and replenish their stock every year, and I expect that they’ll be able to continue doing that.

 

Strathroy – the Royals have an extremely dominant pitching staff, and it was on full display this past weekend. They gave up just 17 runs in their seven games, and their only two losses came at the hands of the Thunder in a couple of very closely-contested games. In fact, they uncharacteristically gave away the undefeated game with a couple of errors. They showed some versatility as well, winning a couple of one-run games, hitting timely home runs, and even winning a couple of games by 10 runs. They’ve had the pitching staff to do this every year, but they were finally able to put it together. The Royals will be heading to their second Nationals since 2012, and they’re the only team along with the Twins, Stars and Thunder to make a Nationals appearance in the last five years. Ironically enough, all these teams have gone multiple times now. If they can keep this pitching staff together, they’ll continue to be one of the top teams year in and year out. Great weekend for Coach Bloomfield and his team.

 

 

Tecumseh – the Thunder are this eras Windsor Stars. They are on a very similar dominant run, and they’re steamrolling through the province with no signs of slowing down. Their draw didn’t do them any favours either, as the Thunder were forced to beat Mississauga SW, East York (twice), Strathroy (twice), Niagara and Milton. They showed they’re capable of winning close games with solid pitching, winning five of their games by a combined nine runs. Their offence is the best in the province, and their pitching obviously remains quite capable. This was their third-straight championship and fourth finals appearance in a row. They got younger in 2016, and they show no signs of slowing down. This dynasty could continue to roll right along for years.

 

 

ONTARIO 1 (Tecumseh Thunder)

 

P Joel Pierce, Brandon Lindquist, Kyle Breitner, Billy Hurley, Chris Horvath, Cody Seremack, Jesse Carriere, Eric Carducci, Connor Soulliere

C Jeff Watkin, Eric Cunningham

1B Mitch Delaney, Keifer Quick

2B Matt Sykes

3B Casey Power, Ross Barker

SS Brandon Gignac

OF Curtis Lambkin, Paul Lamantia, Ryan Lapensee, Chris Horwood

 

Thu Aug 25 - vs Nfld Win 5-4 (WP- Joel Pierce, HR- Ryan Lapensee, Casey Power)

Thunder recover from a 2-0 fifth inning deficit. 

 

Joel Pierce - 7 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 8 SO

Ryan Lapensee - 2-for-4, HR, RBI

 

Fri Aug 26 - vs MB Win 6-0 (WP- Billy Hurley)

In what seems to be there mantra, the Thunder break open a 0-0 game in the fifth.

 

Billy Hurley - 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO

Curtis Lambkin - 2-for-4, RBI, R

 

Fri Aug 26 - vs AB Loss 3-2 (LP- Chris Horvath)

Horvath gives up a couple in the fifth, as Alberta rallies in the later part of the game.

 

Chris Horvath - 6.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO

Ryan PaPensee - 2-for-4, 2 2B, R

 

Sat Aug 27 - vs NB Win 6-1 (WP- Kyle Breitner)

A five-run second is all the Thunder would need in this one.

 

Kyle Breitner - 7 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO

Brandon Gignac - 2-for-2, 2B, 2 RBI

 

Semi-Finals: vs. New Brunswick Win 1-0 (Win- Brandon Lindquist)

Thunder beat NB again, on the strength of a complete-game shutout by Lindquist.

 

Brandon Lindquist - 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO

Mitch Delaney - 1-for-2, BB, R

 

Finals: vs. Strathroy Royals Win 4-3 (Win- Billy Hurley, HR- Curtis Lambkin, Mitch Delaney)

Delaney's sixth-inning home run the difference as the Thunder when back-to-back national titles.

 

Joel Pierce - 5.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 1 SO

Mitch Delaney - 1-for-2, HR, BB, RBI, R

 

 

ONTARIO 2 (Strathroy Royals)

 

P Tyler Annett, Jordan Petruska, Billy Martin, Matt Cook, Robert Ramsdale, Matt Grasby, Tom Couchie, Craig Steadman, Brandyn Agnew, Jeff Loveys

C Cam Graham, Bobby Grant

1B Ron Oneson

2B Taylor Castrillo, Kevin Martin

3B Justin Cook, AJ Reed

SS Jamie Bailey

OF Mark Reaume, Mitch Roy, Chris Mireault

 

Thu Aug 25 - vs NS Win 10-2 (WP- Tyler Annett, HR- Ron Oneson)

Royals score early and often and win rather easily.

 

Tyler Annett - 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 2 SO

Ron Oneson - 2-for-3, HR, BB, 3 RBI

 

Fri Aug 26 - vs Fredericton, NB Win 10-3 (WP- Billy Martin, HR- Ron Oneson, Cameron Graham, Chris Mireault, Justin Cook)

The Royals put up seven extra-base hits and won easily again.

 

Billy Martin - 7 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO

Chris Mireault - 4-for-4, HR, RBI, 2 R

Taylor Castrillo - 3-for-3, 2B, RBI, R

 

Sat Aug 26 - vs BC Loss 5-1 (LP- Matt Cook)

Defence lets the Royals down as all five runs scored in fourth inning were unearned.

 

Matt Cook - 5 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO

Kevin Martin - 2-for-4

 

Sat Aug 26 - vs QC Loss 6-3 (LP- Jordan Petruska)

Quebec plates three in the top of the sixth to drop the Royals.

 

Jordan Petruska - 6.1 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO

Mitch Roy - 1-for-3, 2B, BB, RBI, R

 

Quarter-Finals: vs. Alberta Win 7-5 (WP- Robert Ramsdale)

Royals score four in the top of the sixth to erase a two-run deficit. 

 

Robert Ramsdale - 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO

Craig Steadman - 5 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO

Chris Mireault - 3-for-4, 2 R

 

Semi-Finals: vs. Fredericton Win 1-0 (WP- Tyler Annett)

Royals beat the host team once again, plating a run in the top of the sixth to get it done.

 

Tyler Annett - 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 SO

Cam Graham - 2-for-3, R

 

Finals: vs. Tecumseh Thunder Loss 4-3 (LP- Billy Martin)

The Royals battled back from a 3-0 deficit to tie it in the top of the 6th, but lost 4-3.

 

Billy Martin - 6 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO

AJ Reed - 1-for-2, 2 RBI, R

 

Not only are the Tecumseh Thunder the best team senior men's baseball team in the province of Ontario, but for the second straight year, they're the number one team in Canada.

The Thunder tried very hard to gift wrap the game for the Strathroy Royals after making four errors in the game, but ultimately held on for a 4-3 victory. Joel Pierce started the game for the Thunder, but he fell victim to some shoddy defence in the top of the sixth, as the Royals scored three times on three Tecumseh errors in the inning. The three-run outburst tied the game for the time being, but Mitch Delaney played hero as he led off the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run. That run stood up as the eventual winner, as Billy Hurley was able to bring it home the rest of the way.

Tecumseh won the 2015 senior nationals, and won a silver in 2014. Needless to say, they are the cream of the crop in the entire country. A great season and representation for Ontario by not only the Thunder, but by the Strathroy Royals as well.

 

Finals Lineups:

 

Strathroy

1 Taylor Castrillo, 2B

2 Mitch Roy, CF

3 Cam Graham, C

4 Justin Cook, 3B

5 Ron Oneson, 1B

6 AJ Reed, LF

7 Chris Mireault, RF

8 Jamie Bailey, SS

9 Bobby Grant, DH

 

P Billy Martin

 

Tecumseh

1 Curtis Lambkin, RF

2 Ryan LaPensee, CF

3 Mitch Delaney, 1B

4 Paul Lamantia, LF

5 Jeff Watkin, DH

6 Casey Power, 3B

7 Eric Cunningham, C

8 Matt Sykes, SS

9 Brandon Gignac, 2B

 

P Joel Pierce

 

 

Congratulations to this year's standouts. This was the toughest year doing these awards, with so many viable candidates not making the cut.

 

All-Ontario First Team

C Mark Petrou, Newmarket             .438/.478/.734, 7 2B, 4 HR, 26 RBI

Petrou was the runner-up for the most-improved player award in 2014 but this is his first all-province honour.

1B Geoff Cullen, Erindale                            .394/.431/.532, 9 2B, 2 HR, 27 RBI

The legend retires on top. He was the 2009 MVP and a 2010 MVP runner-up. He was the 1st-team 1B both of those years and a 2013 3rd team 1B.

2B Anthony Dufour, Windsor                          .488/.539/.620, 9 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 19 RBI, 32 R, 10 SB

He was a 2nd-team SS back in 2009 and led the province in batting average this year.

3B Tyler Plumpton, East York                   .469/.521/.679, 14 2B, 1 HR, 26 RBI

A great season at the plate from start to finish for the 2012 and 2013 2nd-team C.

SS Jamie Smith, Mississauga SW          .417/.541/.565, 9 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 35 RBI, 39 R, 26 BB, 21 SB

Arguably the best all-around player in the game. He was a 2nd-teamer in 2011 and 1st-teamer in 2013.

OF Sean Sutton, Thornhill                          .396/.490/.585, 15 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 51 RBI, 48 R, 30 BB, 21 SB

For the second year in a row he filled up the stat sheet. He was a 1st-teamer and most improved player in 2015.

OF Robin Fox-Pappas, East York               .353/.439/.553, 7 2B, 1 3B, 7 HR, 55 RBI, 41 R

The power hitter led the province in RBI and took a leap forward by making an all-star team for the first time.

OF Jay Woodford, Erindale                         .315/.365/.601, 14 2B, 2 3B, 11 HR, 48 RBI, 47 R, 7 SB

The power-hitting Cardinal was a 2013 3rd-team OF and was runner-up for most improved that year.

DH Chris Novia, Erindale            .370/.468/.726, 10 2B, 14 HR, 52 RBI, 25 BB, 43 R

One of the best power-hitters senior baseball has ever seen. He's been on this list as a 1st-team DH every year since 2011, except for last year when he was a 3rd-teamer. He was an MVP runner-up in 2014. 

RHP Joel Pierce, Tecumseh 12-0, 1.70 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 84.2 IP, 61 H, 21 R, 16 ER, 27 BB, 74 K

A magical season was capped off with a gutsy performance at the finals in the nationals and elims. 

LHP Steve Teno, Windsor 8-2, 1.98 ERA, 1,13 WHIP, 63.2 IP, 48 H, 18 R, 14 ER, 24 BB, 80 K

This is very automatic. Here's his history: 2010 1st-team LHP (and Pitcher of the Year), 2011 3rd-team LHP, 2012 2nd-team LHP (and Pitcher of the Year runner-up), 2013 1st-team LHP (and Pitcher of the Year runner-up), 2014 2nd-team LHP (and Pitcher of the Year runner-up), 2015 1st-team LHP (and Pitcher of the Year). He's the only two-time winner of the Pitcher of the Year award and has been a runner-up three times.

RP Kyle Breitner, Etobicoke 6-3, 3 SV, 1.97 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 59.1 IP, 47 H, 22 R, 13 ER, 27 BB, 70 K

Sure, he started games and is the ace of the Rangers; but he spent a tonne of time relieving and closing games out. He was a 2013 Rookie of the Year runner-up and 2014 3rd-team RHP.

 

All-Ontario Second Team

C Jeff Watkin, Tecumseh                    .351/.543/.447, 4 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 34 R, 38 BB

The rookie Watkin finds himself as the 2nd-team catcher early in his career after finishing second in the province in OBP.

1B Harrison Greenough, Thornhill             .337/.378/.618, 2 2B, 1 3B, 7 HR, 30 RBI

The rookie had a knack for hitting the long ball in his debut season.

2B Brendan Emmett, Mississauga SW           .451/.548/.634, 8 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 23 RBI, 19 BB, 32 R, 6 SB

Another great season from the 2011 1st-teamer and 2013 3rd-teamer after leading the province in OBP.

3B Marc Walton, Oakville                          .450/.516/.625, 5 2B, 3 HR, 21 RBI

Walton's been known more for his pitching, but this is his second honour; he was a 2nd-team DH in 2013.

SS Troy McLoughlin, Newmarket         .387/.500/.559, 8 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 20 RBI, 27 R

The 2015 3rd-team SS finds himself on this list once again.

OF Daniel Murphy, Etobicoke                   .389/.471/.527, 6 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 38 RBI, 42 R, 26 SB

The speedster led the province in SB and this is his fourth time as an all-star. He was 2012 3rd-team, 2013 1st-team and 2013 3rd-team.

OF Chris Horwood, Tecumseh                    .348/.437/.637, 8 2B, 2 3B, 9 HR, 32 RBI, 29 R

The rookie cooled off a bit down the stretch but overall, he was very good.

OF Steven Adam, Windsor                          .364/.474/.550, 6 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 25 RBI, 22 BB, 45 R, 9 SB

He was very good last year too, but fell short making this list. Well, he's on it now.

DH Michael Cardinale, Mississauga SW    .336/.414/.522, 10 2B, 5 HR, 31 RBI, 29 R

The 2013 1st-team RP showed off his versatility. 

RHP Jeff Gibbs, East York 7-1, 1 SV, 1.89 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 62 IP, 35 H, 21 R, 13 ER, 30 BB, 87 K

The dominant righty was very imposing on the hill. He was a 2014 2nd-team RP and 2015 3rd-team RHP.

LHP Andrew Mullin, Erindale 6-3, 1 SV, 4.28 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 80 IP, 88 H, 50 R, 38 ER, 35 BB, 88 K

The overall numbers weren't as good as his 88/35 K/BB ratio in 80 IP indicates. He led the province in K.

RP Andrew Perryman, Etobicoke 6-0, 2.25 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 24 IP, 23 H, 11 R, 8 ER, 2 BB 13 K

He doesn't blow hitters away but he gets outs with regularity. 

 

All-Ontario Third Team

C Marco DiRoma, Brampton           .377/.441/.508, 12 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 23 RBI, 17 SB

He was a 2nd-team C in 2015 and appears to be destined for this list for a while.

1B Mitch Delaney, Tecumseh                       .316/.460/.592, 9 2B, 6 HR, 29 RBI, 26 BB

The slugger was a 1st teamer in 2014 (and also the MVP runner-up) and a 3rd-team all star in 2015. He had the game-winning home run to clinch gold at the nationals.

2B Mark Capone, Etobicoke                            .398/.532/.500, 12 2B, 23 RBI, 33 BB, 43 R

The veteran has been the model of consistency. He's been all-Ontario in all but two years since 2009 (excluding 2010 and 2012). He was also an MVP runner-up in 2013.

3B Averey Bet-Payumo, Leaside                .398/.487/.645, 9 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 38 RBI

The rookie really burst on to the scene this year and could be a mainstay in the Leaside lineup for years.

SS Jon Roehler, WAA                              .400/.439/.560, 6 2B, 5 3B, 20 RBI, 14 SB

He flew under-the-radar playing for the A's, but put together a fantastic season. 

OF Paul Lamantia, Tecumseh                     .352/.425/.524, 13 2B, 4 HR, 41 RBI, 32 R, 8 SB

The veteran was 2nd-team in 2011 and 3rd-team in 2012.

OF Russell McGibbon, Thornhill                .388/.476/.525, 11 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 31 BRI, 46 R, 7 SB

A terrific debut campaign for the Thornhill rookie.

OF Jesse Bartle, East York                           .371/.435/.490, 13 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 27 RBI, 49 R, 23 SB

A wonderful all-around season for Bartle, who did a bunch of everything for the Bulldogs.

DH Joe Ferreira, Brampton        .299/.394/.564, 7 2B, 6 HR, 20 RBI

He was a 1st-team DH and MVP runner-up in 2015 while leading the province in HR. He has another great season.

RHP Brandon Lindquist, Tecumseh 7-0, 0.98 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, 46 IP, 32 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 35 K

The big-game pitcher makes this list again. If he pitched a few more games he'd likely be 1st-team.

LHP Brad Crone, Newmarket 2-2, 3.57 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 35.1 IP, 31 H, 17 R, 14 ER, 7 BB, 24 K

The 2nd-team OF and Most Improved player in 2012 showed he can get it done on the hill too.

RP Eric Carducci, Tecumseh 2-2, 2.67 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 27 IP, 25 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 5 BB, 14 K

He helped solidify the back-end of games for Tecumseh during the season and was a reliable starter in tournaments. 

 

 

 

MVP - Chris Novia, Erindale Cardinals

Novia has been the premiere slugger in Ontario for years, and this year was no different. The Cardinals had one of their best seasons in a while this year, and Novia was right in the centre of everything they did. Their 15-12-1 record was good for third in COBA and they won the COBA playoffs; they went 27-21 overall. Novia slashed .370/.468/.726 and had a 1.194 OPS. His slugging percentage was second-best in the province and his 14 HR led Ontario. His 52 RBI were also second-best in the province. He saved his best for last, going 12-for-27 in the COBA playoffs. Since 2011, Novia has 82 HR in 237 GP (average of 56 per 162 games) and there is nobody in Ontario that's as big a threat as he is at the plate. A great season for Chris Novia of the Cards and you can bet he'll have something to say about this award again next year.

Runners-Up: Sean Sutton, Thornhill Reds; Jamie Smith, Mississauga SW.

 

PITCHER OF THE YEAR - Joel Pierce, Tecumseh Thunder

Pierce takes home his first Pitcher of the Year award, and it was well-deserved. The tall righty went an incredible 12-0, dominating to the tune of a 1.70 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. Pierce pitched a province-best 84.2 innings, fully earning every bit of this award. Pierce won both of his games in the elims, including the finals against Strathroy. He pitched two games at the nationals, winning one and taking a no-decision in the gold-medal game against Strathroy. Not only do his overall numbers have all the makings of a pitcher of the year, but so do the big-game performances. Congratulations to Joel Pierce of the Tecumseh Thunder as he joins Mitch Kramer as the second Tecumseh pitcher to win this award.

Runners-Up: Brandon Lindquist, Tecumseh Thunder; Jeff Gibbs, East York Bulldogs.

 

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - Josh Appel, Thornhill Reds

Josh Appel came from nowhere to help shore up the front-end of the Thornhill rotation. He helped the Reds remain relevant and competitive all year, and performed from the very first game this season. Overall, Appel went 7-1 while throwing in two saves. His 2.02 ERA and 1.07 WHIP would have been good enough to put him on the all-Ontario team as an RHP in every other year, but there were more deserving candidates this season. That doesn't diminish anything the Thornhill rookie did in 2016, though. He pitched 80.1 innings and produced an 82/21 K/BB ratio. Appel has an opportunity to develop into one of the best pitchers in Ontario for quite some time (if he isn't already).

Runners-Up: Chris Horwood, Tecumseh Thunder; Averey Bet-Payumo, Leaside Leafs.

 

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER - Jay Woodford, Erindale Cardinals

Jay Woodford has been a good power hitter since his junior days with Mississauga North, and he's continued to produce some good seasons at the senior level. While he hit 5 HR and 30 RBI in 2015, he hit just .237/.338/.430. He was a lot better in 2016, slashing .315/.365/.601 with 14 doubles, two triples, 11 HR and 48 RBI. Woodford improved in virtually every facet of the game. With Geoff Cullen retiring, the Cardinals will be counting on Woodford even more in 2017. Hats off to Jay Woodford on a superb 2016 campaign.

Runners-up: Marc Walton, Oakville A's; Chris Georges, Pickering Red Sox.

 

MANAGER OF THE YEAR - Derek Bloomfield, Strathroy Royals

Derek Bloomfield pulled the right strings all season long in Strathroy. The Royals dominated SWBL play once again, steamrolling competition all summer long. In the elims, the Royals made an incredible run, culminating in a finals berth in which they lost to Tecumseh. The silver earned them a spot in their second nationals tournament since 2012. They didn't stop there though, as the Royals charged their way to a finals berth at the nationals. They came up short by losing to the Thunder in the gold medal game there as well, but it was an unbelievable year for Strathroy. Congratulations to coach Bloomfield and his Strathroy Royals on a great 2016.

Runners-up: Nolan Revin, Thornhill Reds; Jamie Kell, Tecumseh Thunder.

 

 

The London tournament was a nice precursor for this coming weekend's Hap Walters. Despite Sarnia and Tecumseh being absent from the Hap, the tournament has most of the heavy-hitters in the province participating. 

 

Division 1:

 

MISSISSAUGA SW TWINS – The Twins have had an up-and-down regular season history over the years, but when it comes to the biggest stages, they always seem to perform well. They’ve had a subpar regular season and uncharacteristically went 1-2 in the London tournament. That said, they have much of their same team in tact and they should be a tough draw. They haven’t made the finals in the Hap since going back-to-back in 2012-13.

 

NIAGARA METROS – The Metros were one of the top teams in the province for a very long time, but they appear to have taken a step back this season. They still have a trio of pitchers (Justin Ayles, Dylan Perego and Geoff Strong) that are quite capable, but don’t have much after that. They are playing better as of late, and should be able to use that momentum as they take advantage of a favourable draw. They made the finals in this tournament in 2015.

 

MISSISSAUGA NORTH TIGERS (JR) – There was a time when the Mississauga North Tigers were one of the best midget teams in Canada. Those days are long gone, but the Tigers are still a very formidable junior team, but they should struggle against some better competition. They’re currently 8-2 in the COBA junior league.

 

WAA – The A’s have lost a lot of their more talented players to the Stars and Thunder, and it shows in their level of play. The A’s have taken a considerable step backwards, and they’re not the tough out that they once were. It should be a quick weekend for them.

 

PICKERING RED SOX – The Red Sox have made some key additions while retaining most of their talent from years past. Those additions have propelled them from being a good team to a very good team. They’ll have an opportunity to showcase just how good they are this weekend.

 

LEASIDE LEAFS – The Leafs have been rather inconsistent the last few years, but they’re hoping some new-found depth can help put them back in the conversation for these types of tournaments. The Leafs performed very well in London, falling just short in the finals to the juggernaut, Sarnia. This will be a great test to show where they stand in the province.

 

 

Mississauga SW (Byrnes) 7 vs Mississauga N 3

Niagara (Perego) 4 vs Leaside (Mosbaugh) 3

WAA (Warnock) 5 vs Pickering (Binns) 7

Mississauga SW (Rincon) 8 vs WAA (Shinas) 3

Pickering (Vecchiarelli) 4 vs Leaside (Frugoni) 3

Niagara (Ayles) 4 vs Mississauga N 2

Niagara (Subramaniam) 8 vs WAA (Nixon) 4

Mississauga N 4 vs Leaside (Howsam) 10

Mississauga SW (Petruska) 5  vs Pickering (Cheeseman) 3

 

Division 2:

 

MILTON RED SOX – The Red Sox are not spectacular, but being steady definitely counts for something. They’ve found a way to be a solid team over the years. They might not have enough to be in the fold come late Sunday, but they do have enough to steal a couple games.

 

ERINDALE CARDINALS – The Cardinals have been one of the better teams in COBA this year, and they’re also 2-2 in tournament play. Andrew Mullin has quietly been one of the better left-handed pitchers in the province the last couple of years, posting terrific strikeout numbers. As always, Chris Novia paces their offensive firepower.

 

OAKVILLE A’S – The A’s have been trending down at a rapid clip over the last couple of years. What was once a team good for an upset or two has become an easy out both in COBA play and in tournaments. That should be the case again this weekend.

 

WINDSOR STARS – The Stars won this tournament in 2015, and pulled off a three-peat from 2009-11. They were also finalists last year, and if their strong performance this season is any indication, they should be in the mix again come Sunday. As always, they have been one of the best teams in Ontario.

 

STRATHROY ROYALS – The Royals have propelled themselves into an elite team in Ontario. Outside of Windsor, Mississauga SW and Tecumseh, they have the best resume in the province over the last few years. Expect the Royals to have the pitchers that can carry them deep into this tournament.

 

NEWMARKET HAWKS – This year’s edition of the Hawks is quite similar to years past. They have a collection of pitchers that won’t blow anyone away, but they are good enough to keep the team in ball games. They are also fundamentally sound, and can hit the occasional long ball. All in all, they have a team capable of either going 0-3, or making a run all the way to the finals.

 

Milton (Cloes) 5 vs Oakville (Donaldson) 4

Erindale (Mullin) 3 vs Newmarket (Simon) 2

Windsor (Teno) 3 vs Strathroy (M. Cook) 1

Erindale (Nauth) 11 vs Oakville (Reagan) 6

Milton (Zettle) 3 vs Windsor (Renaud) 6

Erindale (Fox) 3 vs Strathroy (Steadman) 5

Windsor (Little) 4 vs Newmarket (Crone) 3

Milton (Schneider) 1 vs Strathroy (Annett) 4

 

Oakville (Ivanyi) 2 vs Newmarket (Aida) 8

 

Division 3:

 

ETOBICOKE RANGERS – Steve Breitner’s return to the third-base box has helped lead a charge in these Rangers. They seem like they have been poised to make some noise the last few years, but haven’t been able to put it all together. This weekend is an opportunity for the team to make some noise when it counts. They made the finals here in 2013, but haven’t done much else.

 

BRAMPTON ROYALS – The Royals have been as advertised. They can hit with anyone, but their pitching leaves a lot to be desired. They have the lineup depth that can carry them to some wins, but they’ll likely run out of horses at some point.

 

BURLINGTON BRANTS – The Brants have been somewhat of a surprise in COBA action, playing to a record of just a couple of games below .500. They’re not the worst team around, and they likely won’t be world beaters either. That said, they should be able to stay in all the games they play and won’t be a pushover for anyone.

 

ILDERTON RED ARMY – The Red Army played well in the London tournament, falling just short of a finals berth. They have a couple of dominant arms, and some decent ones (seems like most teams around have the same make-up). This team has the potential to make some noise and shake things up in this division.

 

EAST YORK BULLDOGS – The Bulldogs are one of the top handful of teams in Ontario, and they’re the defending champions in this tournament. They have all the potential in the world to repeat, and that’s exactly what they’ll set out to do this weekend. They’re one of the most complete teams in the province again.

 

THORNHILL REDS – Coach Nolan Revin continues to get every ounce of potential out of his roster. On paper, they have a team good enough to win a couple of games, but in real life they can easily outdo those expectations.

 

Brampton (Page) 4 vs Burlington (Ryerson) 2

Etobicoke (McBride) 2  vs East York (Gallo) 4

Ilderton (Townshend) 4 vs Thornhill (Cameron) 2

Etobicoke (Cleland) 6 vs Ilderton (Labine) 3

Brampton (Burke) 3 vs East York (Anderson) 7

Burlington (Rienzo) 4 vs Thornhill (Major) 6

Brampton (Ferreira) 10 vs Ilderton (Lumley) 4

Burlington (Woodjetts) 3 vs East York (Ziedins) 4

 

Etobicoke (Hyde) 4 vs Thornhill (Appel) 5

 

 

Rankings: 1. Windsor 2. East York 3. Mississauga SW 4. Niagara 5. Strathroy 6. Thornhill

 

QF: Mississauga SW (Martin) 6 vs Thornhill (Lehmkuhl) 2

QF: Niagara (Strong) 1 vs Strathroy 7

 

SF: Mississauga SW (Hurley) 2 vs East York (Gibbs) 1

SF: Windsor (Lauzon) 5 vs Strathroy 3

 

 

Finals: Windsor (St. Pierre) 6 vs Mississauga SW (McKenna) 4

This upcoming weekend is the time that all teams have been waiting for since last August. 22 teams make their way to London, Ontario with the hopes of being crowned Ontario champions, and representing the province at the Senior Nationals in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. This weekend seems to bring out the best in all individuals and teams. This year, despite having the toughest way into the Nationals, Ontario will only be given one berth to the big dance. Thus, getting to Nova Scotia will be that much tougher. The last three years Ontario has had two representatives. It seems logical to give two berths to Ontario, as no other province has to endure a 20 plus team double knockout tournament to reach the Nationals. Here’s a look at the first round matchups, and a brief synopsis on the teams.

GAME ONE Newmarket Hawks vs. Erindale Cardinals (8PM, LDBA)

This game features two teams with contrasting styles. Newmarket wins games with pitching, defence, and capitalizing on other teams’ mistakes. Erindale traditionally wins by outslugging opponents.

The Hawks are arguably the most underrated team in the province. They don’t necessarily have the big bat in the middle of the lineup, or the shutdown pitcher; but there are many tough outs throughout, and they have very solid pitching. They are led by the versatile Liam O’Brien, who can play many positions, and is having a great year at the plate. Paul Versteeg-Lytwyn is also having a terrific year in the batter’s box. CF Kevin Holloway is among the province leaders in stolen bases, and he is one of the better fielding outfielder’s around. Neal Baker and Adam Kallio have been the best pitcher’s all year long for the Hawks. But as mentioned, they are deep in pitching, and they have many solid pitchers who can get the job done. They usually make deep runs into the Eliminations every year, due to good pitching and defence.

The Cardinals have been one of the best hitting teams in the last decade or so. This year, they have combined that good hitting with good pitching. That combination has led to the Cards being at the top of the COBA standings all season. They have lost their last two games, but what’s most impressive about their season is the fact that those two losses are their first losses by more than one run. The Cardinals also have a tournament win under their belts, after capturing the London tournament. 1B Geoff Cullen has been the most feared hitter in the province over the past few years. RF Kevin Treichel is a big homerun hitter as well, and he compliments Cullen very well. 2B Frank Coccia won the COBA MVP last year. He is a solid hitter and is very good defensively. They don’t really have a standout pitcher, but as mentioned, they have been receiving solid pitching all year long.

GAME TWO Burlington Brants vs. Windsor Stars (3 PM, LDBA)

If this was the first round matchup in last year’s Eliminations, it would have been the best of the first round. This year, Windsor has continued winning as usual, while Burlington has taken a step back.

The Brants are almost a completely different team than the one that went to Windsor for the 2008 Eliminations. The team has had trouble winning ball games this season, but have remained competitive in almost all the games they have played. They went 0-3 at the Hap Walters but could have easily been 2-1. The good news for this team is that C JR Crosby will make his way to London with the team. After moving to Ottawa, JR has decided to join the Brants for this upcoming weekend. Over the past few seasons, he has been the best catcher in Ontario. Trevor Woodjetts is the unquestionable ace of the team. He is a first year senior player, but the Tiffin University graduate has a bright future ahead of him. OF Roger Lambert has put together a stellar season, and his hit 4 homeruns. Despite a sub par season for his standards, SS Joe Kirby is the team’s best player.

The Stars have been the team to beat over the last few years. They are the defending champions. Despite the fact that everyone is always gunning for them, the Stars always seem to get the best of their opposition. The main reason is the deadly pitching staff they throw at opponent’s game in and game out. As if former minor leaguers Steve Carter and John Picco weren’t enough; Brad Boussey has regained his dominant form, and the team has added lefties Steve Teno and Dane Little. Little has put together the best season in Ontario. The Wayne State grad has been lights out all season long. OF Tom Grubb has excelled this season. He is right up at the top of the homerun leader board in the province. CF Kris Klassen exemplifies consistency. He is a great bat at the top of the Windsor lineup. If they are able to add OF Adwin Springer and SS Jason Chapieski from Troy Jet Box, it is hard to fathom how anyone can beat these guys. The Stars have won three of the past four Elims.

GAME THREE Tecumseh Thunder vs. Lakeside Lizards (5:30 PM, LDBA)

Even though the Tecumseh Thunder are coming off a sub par year, they have proven that they can still win the big ones. That was evidenced by their impressive come back win against the Windsor Stars in the Wiseman Tournament final game. After being down 11-1, the always potent Tecumseh lineup slugged their way back into the game and won. They are led by pitchers Kyle Trudell, Rob Blunck, Matt Stezycki, and Andrew Masojc. OF Tom Beale leads the team in batting average, while 1B Dan Romanycia leads the province in home runs. The defence is led by SS Bill Gillen, who makes major league plays. First baseman Romanycia only made one error this year, and has proven that he has more to his game than a powerful bat. Beale also runs everything down in centrefield. Because of the amount of power this team possesses, they are never out of any game.

Lakeside Lizards - Key Player: LHP Sean Grimes.

GAME FOUR East York Bulldogs vs. Strathroy Royals (3 PM, Emslie Field)

The East York Bulldogs made an appearance at the Nationals in 2006, but seem to have taken a couple of steps back since then, as they rebuild their team. Over the last couple of years, the team has lost a lot of key veteran players such as Joe Callaghan, Derek Gauthier, Shaun McGuire and Adam Sarginson. Still in the fold is team ace and cleanup hitter Shawn Leah. The hard throwing righty is a very good pitcher, and has been dominant over the years. He also has a very powerful bat, and can change a game both on the mound and at the plate. SS Andy Ryder is probably the team’s best hitter, and he also has a great glove. If P Jake Gallo can get healthy, the former OUA pitcher of the year can beat any team in the province. Although they have not had a successful season in terms of wins and losses, this team still has the potential to be very good.

Strathroy Royals - Key Players: OF Steve Charles, LHP Jordan Townshend, SS Jason Helps.

GAME FIVE Glanbrook Grizzlies vs. Windsor Athletic Association (5:30 PM, Emslie Field)

Glanbrook went 2 and out last year, but that was due mostly to a tough draw. They take on a WAA team who traditionally does well in tournament play.

The Grizzlies will not impress anybody with their record this season, but anyone who takes them lightly will be heading home early. The Grizzlies possess one of the best pitching staffs in the province. They also have a plethora of bats that can get it done. Mike Czerwieniec, Andrew Page, Chris Cooney, Ryan Colling, Taylor Buck and Mike Grilli form a very deep rotation. Czerwieniec has only given up 1 earned run in COBA play this year. Cooney and Colling are former COBA pitchers of the year. Tim Sogan, Lou Proietti (who has returned from pro ball in Italy) and Adam Cholewka are a good hitting trio who can carry this team deep into the tournament. Corrie Morrison is also having a fine year at the plate. The team has been hurt by a short bench all season, but that won’t be the case this weekend.

WAA has traditonally fared pretty well in tournaments in recent years. They do not have a great record this season, but a lot of that has to do with playing in a very tough Can-Am league. They went 2-1 at the Hap Walters and failed to make the semi-finals due to tie-breaking rules. Barry Keith has been great both at the plate and on the mound. He has been the best pitching and hitter for the team. He came over from the Tecumseh Thunder. After spending a year with the Thunder, Bobby Gilligan is also back in the fold and is one of the best hitters and pitchers also.

GAME SIX St. Catharines Metros vs. Martingrove White Sox (8 PM, Emslie Field)

This game pits one of the best teams in the province over the years, with an up and coming team in the White Sox.

The Metros seem to finally be reaching the potential they have shown over the past few years, after an impressive showing as a semi-finalist at the Hap Walters. The Metros are playing the best baseball they have played in recent years. The team is now hitting .300 and boasts 7 players who hit at a clip of .300 or better. Joe Roach, Rocco Spano, Justin Czorny, Steve Baldinelli, Jonathan Paul, Andrew Soroachan… the list goes on with this team. All can hit. In addition to a very deep lineup, the Metros possess what is arguably the best pitching staff in Ontario, next to the Stars. Brian Essery and Dustin Turner are two of the most dominant pitchers around. Turner is the best power pitcher in the province. TJ Tavender, Baldinelli, Dan Estey and Ian Horner all provide a lot of pitching depth. Eric DeBoer is a guy who can be counted on to finish off games in the late innings. The Metros appeared in the finals in 1999.

The White Sox are the most improved team in the province. After going 6-19 in their inaugural season in 2006, Martingrove already has the most wins they have ever had in a season. They are playing over .500 in a tough GTBL league. Kevin Horton has put together an impressive team that might be poised to cause a few upsets. Ryan Donnelly has put together a fine season on the mound. Inderpal Rai, who has come over from the Kitchener Panthers, is a guy who has the ability to shut any team down. OF Steve Foley is new to senior ball, but he is no stranger to success. Foley has played in the Northern and Frontier Leagues, and had a lot of success doing it. One will be hard pressed to find a better hitter than him. OF Steve Correia has been the team’s best hitter since ’06.

GAME SEVEN Leaside Leafs vs. Oshawa Royals (3 PM, Labatt Park)

This game looks like it is shaping up to be the best of the round one matchups. These two teams are no strangers to each other, as they are GTBL foes. This is a rematch from round one of last year’s Eliminations in Windsor. The Royals won 4-0. The Royals also bested the Leafs 2-1 in the semi finals of the Oshawa Royals’ Invitational earlier this year.

The Leafs potentially have the best hitting lineup around. One through nine, they are tough to get out. SS Davey Wallace, who is a UBC grad, has put together the finest season of all hitters in Ontario. He has an average over .500, and has a knack of getting hits when the pressure is on. He is also a great fielder and leader. 2B Henry Yap is a tremendous leadoff hitter who always seems to be on base. OF James Rutherford seems to have rebounded from an off year, and is once again establishing himself as an elite player in Senior baseball. C Bryan Rock is the team’s most versatile player, and is arguably the toughest out on the team when he is on. Josh Howsam anchors a deep pitching staff. He is yet to lose since his first start of the season. He no hit Newmarket over 5 innings, and took a no hitter into the 7th against East York. Lee Maunu and Paul Nusca provide a dangerous top of the rotation. Desmond Sullivan, Jorge Frugoni, Gurminder Singh, Garrett Gilroy, Paul Kandola and Andrew Morales also provide depth to the pitching staff.

The Royals were semi-finalists in last year’s Eliminations. Just like the Stars, they are the epitome of success in Senior baseball. They win their games in a very similar manner as well. The Royals play great defensive baseball, with timely hitting and dominant pitching. Playing the game this way has resulted in a lot of success for this team over the last four years. Kenny Rodgers and Darryl Reid are back in the fold, and form the best 3-4 punch in the province. Mike Dahiroc, Jesse Murphy and co. are great on the bases. Tyler Plumpton is also a big part to this team’s success. The pitching staff includes guys like Chris Kemlo, Brett Backman, Jordan Prosper, Geoff Davidson, Derek Howe, Adam Anderson and Gary Rose. They have enough pitching and experience to carry them deep into Monday. The Royals have gone to the Nationals the last two seasons. They won the Elims in 2007.

GAME EIGHT Brampton Battlecats vs. Milton Red Sox (5:30 PM, Labatt Park)

These two COBA opponents are very familiar with each other. Brampton and Milton have improved considerably over the years. Brampton leads the season series 2-1.

The Red Sox have lost two of their top pitchers in Derek Howe and Tyler Wilson, but that hasn’t stopped them from playing good baseball. They are just under .500 in COBA play, but a finals appearance in the London tournament shows this team has the ability to win ball games. They are only a couple of years removed from their provincial ‘B’ championship, and they made a nice run last year in the ‘A’ Eliminations. SS Taylor Lawton is a great player both offensively and defensively. Nick Mazorotto and Steve Lauzon have carried the load offensively this season for the team. Newcomer Jason Egbuna has come on strong as of late, and is leading the team in average. Veterans Ian Zettle and Adam Ahearn will be counted on heavily to provide this team with good pitching efforts. Combined with rookie P Adam Scheerer, this team has a chance to upset some teams.

The Battle Cats are in the midst of their finest season in team history. They are playing .500 baseball right now in the COBA league. They have already eclipsed their highest win and point total. Lefty Mike Burke is the team’s best pitcher. 1B Mike Benyo is the team’s best and most consistent hitter. Jesse Edmunds leads the province with 4 saves . The biggest reason for the team’s success might be the influx of Junior players who enjoyed great success in 2006. That Junior team won the Canadian Nationals, and those players have now graduated to provide depth and talent to a team who was just a few players away from being competitive.

GAME NINE Etobicoke Rangers vs. Thornhill 2 (8 PM, Labatt Park)

The Rangers take on a team that is struggling to win games in the GTBL.

The Rangers have been one of the elite teams in the province for many years. Over the past couple of seasons, they have gotten a lot younger, but still continue to win games. 1B AJ Iafrate is having a dominant summer. He is hitting for average and slugging for power. The addition of IF John Zamora from Brampton has been good for the team. 2B Mark Capone still remains the team’s best player, and is a silent leader. Mike Janes is a tremendous pitcher who has an uncanny ability to step up when it counts the most. He is battling arm injuries, but seems to be recovering. This team will be counting a lot on its younger Junior players if it wants to make a deep run. Ryan Panas, Andrew Hyde, and Brett Sanders are three Junior players who have the ability to make an impact. If Kyle Hill of Troy Jet Box pitches, he has the ability to steal a win for the Rangers as well. Etobicoke has won 3 provincial titles since 1998. The last one was in 2004.

Thornhill 2 is the defending ‘B’ champion, but has had some trouble adjusting to ‘A’ baseball. This is a team that is learning how to win in a more competitive GTBL league, and is also dealing with the loss of ace Ryan Butkowsky and OF Darryl Pui. Other players seem to be having a hard time filling the void left by these impact players. If anyone is going to be picking up the slack, it has to be the team’s best hitter, Dave Benson.

GAME TEN Thornhill Reds vs. Markham Pioneers (5:30 PM, Byron)

These two GTBL foes take on eachother in what promises to be a very good first round game. Markham leads the season series 2-1.

The Reds have always been a team that has gone deep into the Eliminations every year. If they do so again this year, it will be no surprise. OF Justin Pennell has come aboard to provide a scary middle of the lineup. Adding his power bat to a lineup that already features UT Harman Brar and 1B Steve Wilson in the middle, spells disaster for opponents. OF Travis Skelton is one of the best leadoff hitters in the province. Brar is also the team’s ace, and pitches well on bigger stages. Jeremiah Groulx and Mike Stein need to have good starts in order to give this team a chance to go deep. If the pitching is solid, this team will be making another deep run, because their offence can be very dangerous.

The Pioneers are right near the top of the list when it comes to the Elite in the province. They go deep into every tournament they play in, including the Eliminations. Year in and year out, they are a team to watch out for. You can say the same for this season. The team returns all their key players from year’s past, and they have also added some players from the Ajax Spartans, who have folded. Their pitching staff is one of the best. It also includes one of the best pitchers around in veteran Mark Cheeseman. Steve Horsely and Steve Anderson give the Pioneers one of the most dominant trios in the province. The hard throwing Anderson is also one of the team’s best hitters. 1B Jesse Dynes is the team’s biggest offensive threat. With good pitching, solid hitting, and good coaching, this team will once again look to go deep into Monday. Markham won the Elims in 2003 and were finalists in 2001.

GAME ELEVEN Whitby Canadians vs. Oakville A’s (3 PM, Aldridge)

Whitby will be playing in the ‘A’ Eliminations after playing in the ‘B’s’ the last few years. Oakville is one of the most improved teams in Ontario over the last two seasons.

The Canadians have added some key players from the now defunct Ajax Spartans. P Mike Arsenault has come over from the Spartans, and provided the Candians with a solid ace. Lars Clay has been a solid pitcher for Whitby over the years. Jon Thiebaud is having a great season, and has been hitting all year long. Former Ajax OF Andre Steer is a tough out at the top of the lineup, and is even tougher on the bases. Rob Patterson has cooled off a bit after a hot start, but he still has very good power numbers. Everyone is going to have to play to their potential if they want to make a deep run.

Oakville has put together another solid season in COBA. They have combined solid pitching, excellent defence, and timely hitting all year long. As a result they are near the top of the COBA standings. They are very deep in pitching. Gord Robertson, Marc Walton, Julian Richards and Matt Chisamore have the ability to win any game they pitch. Walton and Robertson are also solid hitters as well. Jeff Jarockis is one of the best hitters in Ontario, and is a force in the middle of the lineup. They put together a nice run last season in Windsor, and expect them to do the same this season.


ELIMINATION RANKINGS

1. Windsor Stars (30-9) (Can-Am)
2. Oshawa Royals (24-4) (GTBL)
3. Markham Pioneers (20-8) (GTBL)
4. St. Catharines Metros (19-9) (COMBL)
5. Erindale Cardinals (24-11) (COMBL)
6. Leaside Leafs (14-11) (GTBL)
7. Oakville A’s (16-9) (COMBL)
8. Newmarket Hawks (17-10) (GTBL)
9. Etobicoke Rangers (17-16) (COMBL)
10. Glanbrook Grizzlies (12-16) (COMBL)
11. Tecumseh Thunder (16-22) (Can-Am)
12. Thornhill Reds (10-13) (GTBL)
13. Martingrove White Sox (8-5) (GTBL)
14. Windsor Athletic Association (11-19) (Can-Am)
15. Lakeside Lizards (11-5) (SSBL)
16. Brampton Battle Cats (13-13) (COMBL)
17. Milton Red Sox (12-18) (COMBL)
18. Strathroy Royals (10-8) (SSBL)
19. East York Bulldogs (9-15) (GTBL)
20. Whitby Canadians (6-17) (EOBA)
21. Burlington Brants (6-21) (COMBL)
22. Thornhill B (4-17) (GTBL)

All Ontario First Team

C Bryan Rock, Leaside (.370, 3 HR, 29 RBI, 12 SB, .460 OBP)
1B Geoff Cullen, Erindale (.368, 11 HR, 41 RBI)
2B Henry Yap, Leaside (.309, 11 2B, 34 RBI, 24 SB, .437 OBP)
3B Steve Lauzon, Milton (.341, 26 RBI, 57 H, 30 R)
SS Davey Wallace, Leaside (.433, 1 HR, 28 RBI, 30 SB, .543 OBP)
OF Tom Grubb, Windsor (.313, 11 HR, 42 RBI, 10 SB)
OF Jeff Jarockis, Oakville
OF Justin Pennell, Thornhill (.333, 9 HR, 34 RBI, 9 2B)
DH Steve Baldinelli, St. Catharines (.343, 5 HR, 27 RBI, 16 SB)
RHP Josh Howsam, Leaside (9-2, 2.17 ERA, 74.2 IP, 66 K)
LHP Dane Little, Windsor (10-1, 1.34 ERA, 73.2 IP, 82 K)
RP Andrew Masojc, Tecumseh (9 GP, 3-0, 3 SV, 1.33 ERA, 27 IP)

All Ontario Second Team

C Jason Marentette, Tecumseh (.290, 7 HR, 25 RBI)
1B Anthony Iafrate, Etobicoke (.430, 8 HR, 40 RBI, 16 2B)
2B Frank Coccia, Erindale (.314, 17 RBI, 24 BB, 49 H)
3B Matt Stezycki, Tecumseh (.338, 4 HR, 16 RBI)
SS Anthony Dufour, Windsor (.364, 34 RBI, 14 SB, .488 OBP)
OF Justin Butler, Erindale (.309, 8 HR, 31 RBI, 11 2B)
OF Kris Klassen, Windsor (.343, 2 HR, 18 RBI, 25 SB, .487 OBP)
OF Kevin Treichel, Erindale (.308, 5 HR, 44 RBI, 11 2B)
DH Kenny Rogers, Oshawa
RHP Brad Boussey, Windsor (7-2, 1.60 ERA, 56.1 IP, 39 K)
LHP John Picco, Windsor (7-3, 3.18 ERA, 59.2 IP, 68 K)
RP Alex Bruce, Markham (13 GP, 2-0, 6 SV, 2.08 ERA, 21.2 IP)

All Ontario Third Team

C Nick Mazzoroto, Milton (.298, 4 HR, 25 RBI)
1B Dan Romanycia, Tecumseh (.321, 8 HR, 25 RBI)
2B Mark Capone, Etobicoke (.333, 14 RBI, 20 BB, .436 OBP)
3B Steve Sadoff, Thornhill (.388 AVG, 98 AB)
SS Steve Anderson, Markham (.273, 33 AB, 5 HR)
OF James Rutherford, Leaside (.309, 22 RBI, 11 SB, .450 OBP)
OF Justin Czorny, St. Catharines (.371, 3 HR, 34 RBI)
OF Travis Skelton, Thornhill (.381, 20 SB, 35 R, 9 2B)
DH Barry Keith, WAA (.396, 2 HR, 17 RBI)
RHP Dustin Turner, St. Catharines (3-5, 2.75 ERA, 59 IP, 84 K)
LHP Julian Richards, Oakville
RP Mark Taplin, Erindale (13 GP, 1 SV, 1.93 ERA, 23.1 IP, 14 K)

MVP - Geoff Cullen, Erindale (.368, 11 HR, 41 RBI)
CY YOUNG - Dane Little, Windsor (10-1, 1.34 ERA, 73.2 IP, 82 K)
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - Davey Wallace, Leaside (.433, 1 HR, 28 RBI, 30 SB)
MOST IMPROVED - Justin Czorny, St. Catharines (hit .100 points higher this year)
COACH OF THE YEAR - Greg Brandes, Leaside (Elimination Finalists; Oshawa Semi-Finalists; St. Catharines Semi-Finalists; GTBL Champions)

Elims: Game 1 Preview
Game 1: Windsor AA/ Martingrove White Sox
Time: 2:30 PM
Location: Emslie Field

Both of these teams have struggled this year to say the least. Both teams can take solice in the fact that regardless of who wins and loses this game, both teams will receive a bye into the third round.

WAA: They are currently 7-19 in the tough Can-Am league. This past weekend, they went 1-2 in the Hap Walters, after losing 9-1 to Leaside and 14-9 to Markham. Their win was a 10-1 drubbing of Etobicoke. Any success this team has is going to likely rely on the efforts of P/IF Barry Keith. He is unquestionably their best pitcher, with a 3-2 record and 2.55 ERA. He is also arguably their best hitter, as he is hitting over .300 this season. CF Dale Kryway is great defensively, and is also hitting .362 at the plate this season.

Projected Lineup:
C - Matt Granger
1B - Bobby Gilligan
2B - David Weber
3B - Sean McDonald
SS - Barry Keith
LF - JP Karam
CF - Dale Kryway
RF - Frank Pirillo
DH - Darryl Presley

Pitching: Barry Keith, Bobby Gilligan, Will Alexander, Barry Munro, Kevin Knudsen

Martingrove: After putting together a solid 2009 season, which included a win over the Niagara Metros at the Eliminations, the White Sox have taken a huge step backwards this season. They have been at the bottom of the GTBL standings from the outset, and sport a 1-14-1 record. That being said, five of their losses have come by two or less runs. CF Steve Correia is the team's best player, and he is also one of the top players in the GTBL. IF Dennis Hucal has had a good season, and is batting .309. They are hitting just .201 as a team, and have a team ERA of 7.23.

Projected Lineup:
C - Chris Micolino
1B - Fil Vazzano
2B - Dennis Hucal
3B - Mike Didier
SS - Frank Diamanti
LF - Marcus Belardi
CF - Steve Correia
RF - Rick Boutilier
DH - Ryan Fosbury

Pitching: Mike Didier, Patrick Veccharelli, Ryan Donnelly, Dennis Hucal, Ryan Greco, Kevin Horton


Elims: Game 2 Preview
Game 2: Ilderton Red Army/ Leaside Leafs
Time: 2:30PM
Location: Pulham Field

Over the last couple of seasons, both of these teams have put themselves on the Senior baseball map. Ilderton made a run to the semi-finals in 2009, and Leaside was ousted in the finals last summer.

Ilderton: This team wins games with pitching. They already have a tournament victory under their belts this season, after winning the Tillsonburg Red Sox tournament. OUA standout, and team ace Jordan Townshend is a tough left handed power arm. He can beat any team on any given day. Last season in the OUA, he went 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA in 54 innings. He allowed just 28 hits and struck out 59. This team is solid defensively, and rarely gives games away.

Leaside: The Leafs are the finalists from last year, and are likely one of the favourites to go far again. The Leafs have struggled defensively in 2010, and must play better fundamental baseball if they hope to go far. Ace Josh Howsam is nursing a shoulder injury, and a lot of the team's success rides on his health. Jorge Frugoni has established himself as one of the better pitchers in senior baseball. The Leafs boast a tonne of offensive weapons, including: Henry Yap, Davey Wallace, Kyle Kristenbrun, Bryan Rock and James Rutherford.

Projected Lineup:
C - Bryan Rock
1B - Matt Nailer
2B - Henry Yap
3B - Jeff Gruchy
SS - Davey Wallace
LF - Shawn Jones
CF - Clarke Markle
RF - James Rutherford
DH - Kyle Kristenbrun

Pitchers: Joshua Howsam, Jorge Frugoni, Lee Maunu, Andrew Morales, Paul Nusca, Josh Bowman, Gurminder Singh, Garrett Gilroy, Phil Darling, Nick Bubela


Elims: Game 3 Preview
Game 3: Thornhill Reds/ Whitby Canadians
Time: 2:30PM
Field: Byron Sports Complex

Both of these teams are familiar with eachother, as they are GTBL counterparts. Whitby is going to have to devise a way to beat the Reds, as Thornhill has gotten the best of Whitby, going 4-0 in the season series.

Thornhill: For a while, it looked like the Reds would never lose a game. At one point, they were 10-1, but are now 13-5 after losing 4 of their last 6. OF Justin Pennell is second in the province in AVG, HR, and RBI, and is first in runs scored. OF Travis Skelton is the sparkplug of this explosive offence. Gary Rose and Harman Brar anchor a pitching staff that is going to have to really step it up if they want to make a deep run.

Projected Lineup:
C - Dave Nagy
1B - Steve Wilson
2B - Ryan Stewart
3B - Brian MacDonald
SS - Daniel Lehmkuhl
LF - Josh Matlow
CF - Travis Skelton
RF - Justin Pennell
DH - Harman Brar

Pitching: Harman Brar, Gary Rose, Mike Stein, Jeremiah Groulx, Miguel Sammy, Daniel Lehmkuhl, Andy Orfanakos

Whitby: At 9-13, the Canadians have had a decent start in their first year in the GTBL. This team has a lot of weapons, including OF Adam Sylvestre, DH Matt Tosoni, 2B Bruce Craine, and OF Andre Steer. All four are in their first season with the team. LHP Mike Arsenault has been the most dominant pitcher in Ontario, registering a province-high 73 strikeouts. With him on the mound, the Canadians will stand a chance against any team.

Projected Lineup:
C - Ben Anderson
1B - Rob Patterson
2B - Jimmy Sgourakis
3B - Kevin Hussey
SS - Bruce Craine
LF - Tristan Beadle
CF - Andre Steer
RF - Adam Sylvestre
DH - Matt Tosoni

Pitching: Mike Arsenault, Dave McElroy, Brad Crone, Lars Clay, Julian Daligadu


Elims: Game 4 Preview
Game 4: East York Bulldogs/ Glanbrook Grizzlies
Time: 2:30PM
Location: Labatt Park

This makes to be a great game, as two teams who have traditionally underachieved in the regular season take on one another. Glanbrook seems to have turned it around; whereas, East York is still underachieving.

East York: Despite a 4-12-1 record, the Bulldogs must not be taken lightly. SS Andy Ryder, OF Shawn Leah, OF Jesse Shimizu, and C Devlin Connelly lead an offence that has the potential to give opposing pitchers fits. The return of 1B Shaun McGuire should also provide some much needed power to the lineup. IF Troy Dawe leads the team with three homeruns. With the injury to Pat Smith, Leah appears to be the team's only reliable option on the mound.

Projected Lineup:
C - Devlin Connelly
1B - Shaun McGuire
2B - Alex Gellos
3B - Troy Dawe
SS - Andy Ryder
LF - Jeff Smith
CF - Jesse Shimizu
RF - Pat Janssen
DH - Shawn Leah

Pitching: Shawn Leah, Pat Smith, Duncan MacLellan, Pat Janssen, Ryan Matheson, Ryan Kitchen, Ben McPhee

Glanbrook: Outside of the COMBL, not many people knew how good this team has been. This year, that has changed. The Grizzlies boast one of the deepest pitching staffs in the province. Aces Chris Cooney and Andrew Page are joined by Ryan Colling, Mike Grilli, and Justin Czorny. Greg Swan also provides depth. SS Lou Proietti, OF Tim Sogan and OF Czorny are the team's offensive leaders. Top to bottom, this team can hit. It will be interesting to see how LHP Jason Pilkington does for the team.

Projected Lineup:
C - Brock Marshall
1B - Kevin Walsh
2B - Jamie Kozak
3B - Greg Urban
SS - Lou Proietti
LF - Corie Morrison
CF - Justin Czorny
RF - Tim Sogan
DH - Jay Reynolds

Pitching: Andrew Page, Chris Cooney, Jason Pilkington, Mike Grilli, Justin Czorny, Greg Swan, Ryan Colling, Bill Lawrence, Ang Amore


Elims: Game 10 Preview
Game 10: Peterborough Riverdogs/ Strathroy Royals
Time: 8:00PM
Location: Pulham Field

This game should be interesting, as two teams that nobody has heard much of do battle.

Peterborough: Before folding after the 2006 season, the Riverdogs were one of the most talented teams in the province. They had a dominant pitching staff, and a feared hitting lineup. The team folded, and a lot of the players joined the Oshawa Royals, and made them one of the top two teams in Ontario for years. Some of those players have returned to Peterborough, including ace Geoff Davidson, the former GTBL pitcher of the year. They are 10-3, and are the class of the EOBA once again.

Strathroy: The Royals are second in the Southwest London baseball league. They combined with Ilderton in 2008, and helped the team make a deep run in the Eliminations that year.


Elims: Game 11 Preview
Game 11: Windsor Stars/ Niagara Metros
Time: 8:00PM
Location: Emslie Field

This promises to be the best game of the first round.

Windsor: The Stars are fresh off their Hap Walters victory, and have picked it up at the most opportune time. Heading into the Eliminations, they will be one of the hottest teams in the province. Steve Carter and John Picco would be the best pitchers on any team in the province. Steve Teno, Brad Boussey, Jason Lauzon, and Hiarali Garcia assure that the Stars will have the edge in pitching in whatever game they play. Kris Klassen and Tom Grubb are polar opposites in terms of their games, but both are equally important to the team's success.

Projected Lineup:
C - Rob Mancini
1B - Adam Ellwood
2B - Jake Myers
3B - Alex Carducci
SS - Bryan Dufour
LF - Brian Simone
CF - Kris Klassen
RF - Dave Mastrodicasa
DH - Tom Brubb

Pitching: Chris Carter, John Picco, Brad Boussey, Steve Teno, Jason Lauzon, Hiarali Garcia, Adam Myers, Jake Myers, Kris Klassen

Niagara: Which Metros team will show up this year? It is anybody's guess. Year in and year out, they are supposed to go far and do well, but always manage to not live up to expectations. This year, the expectations are no different. They lost a lot of their offensive talent from last year, but they still have Dustin Turner, Jason Ermers, Geoff Strong, Mike Czerwieniec, TJ Tavender, and Major Leaguer David Davidson on the mound. Joe Roach is the team's best hitter. Recently, they have increased their scoring, and the team can only hope it will continue in London.

Projected Lineup:
C - Jono Marcheterre
1B - Dustin Wiley
2B - Jonathan Paul
3B - Tim Collins
SS - Matt Spillman
LF - Andrew Sorochan
CF - Steve Baldinelli
RF - Joe Roach
DH - David Davidson

Pitching: Dustin Turner, Brian Essery, Jason Ermers, Geoff Strong, Mike Czerwieniec, TJ Tavender, David Davidson, Steve Baldinelli, Jonathan Paul, Chris Magarian


Elims: Game 12 Preview
Game 12: Milton Red Sox/ Erindale Cardinals
Time: 8:00PM
Location: Labatt Park

Both of these teams are familiar with eachother, as they are COMBL rivals. The Cardinals lead the season series 1-0-1.

Milton: Without SS Taylor Lawton, it seemed as though the Red Sox would struggle to score runs and play defence. They have scored the fewest runs in the COMBL, but they are playing relatively well. Their record is 6-9-1, but this is a team that has posted a winning record the last five seasons. Ian Zettle is the team ace, and one of the better pitchers in the COMBL.

Projected Lineup:
C - Nick Mazzorato
1B - Kevin Cooper
2B - Kurt Mitchell
3B - Steve Lauzon
SS - Kevin Greer
LF - Mark MacNevin
CF - Carlos D'Costa
RF - Cavin Bratton
DH - Sean Mathe

Pitching: Ian Zettle, Liam Tennant, Devin Karlsen, Scott McTrach, Adam Ahearn, Ricardo Torres

Erindale: The Cardinals finally performed well this past weekend at the Hap Walters. Their run ended with a big 8-0 loss to Oshawa in the semi-finals, but the fact that they won their division is sure to give this slugging team some confidence at the right time. John DeWolfe has been dominant all season long, and has a 5-0 record with an ERA under 1. He is extremely underrated. Geoff Cullen has been, and still is- the best hitter in Ontario. He has added a plus .400 average to his 7 homeruns this season.

Projected Lineup:
C - Brad Kozak
1B - Geoff Cullen
2B - Frank Coccia
3B - Justin Butler
SS - Will Dubnyk
LF - Jay Woodford
CF - John DeWolfe
RF - Kevin Treichel
DH - Aaron Pitts

Pitching: John DeWolfe, Steve Gallant, Chris Currie, Andrew Mullen, Fabio Del Rio, Dan Estey, Ian Bala, Adam Forsey, Mark Taplin


Elims: Game 13 Preview
Game 13: Thornhill Redbirds/ Oshawa Royals
Time: 8:00PM
Location: Byron Sports Complex

On paper, the Redbirds appear to be mismatched against the powerful Royals.

Thornhill: The Redbirds are 6-10 this season. After a dreadful first season in the GTBL, they have been one of the most improved teams in the league. SS Oren Gal has been solid for the team all year long. P Nick Masci has been solid on the mound.

Projected Lineup:
C - David Bernholtz
1B - Calvin Mui
2B - Peter Westlake
3B - Erik Brown
SS - Oren Gal
LF - Tim Loch
CF - Steve Molinsky
RF - David Benson
DH - Joe Alberga

Pitching: Chris Gott, Nick Masci, Peter Westlake, Ian Okorofsky, Sean Scott, Mike Caine

Oshawa: The Royals appeared to lose some of their luster with a 10-7 record in the GTBL, but any doubts about their abilities were answered this past weekend. They beat Whitby 4-2, Brampton 3-0, Niagara 4-3, and Erindale 8-0; before falling to Windsor in the Hap Walters finals. They seemed to have lost a lot of talent from teams of years past, but their replacements have done more than a formidable job. Sean Cunningham, Jeff Murdoch, Drew Roberts, Jason Graham and Victor Simon have been huge additions.

Projected Lineup:
C - Victor Simon
1B - Drew Roberts
2B - Mike Dahiroc
3B - Jason Graham
SS - Chris Papalia
LF - Len Elias
CF - Brent Tamane
RF - Sean Cunningham
DH - Jeremy Brittain

Pitching: Brett Backman, Victor Simon, Jordan Prosper, Derek Howe, Jason Graham, Mark Blanchard, Tyler Robinson, Darryl Noble, Chris Goodale


Elims: Game 5 Preview
Game 5: Brampton Battle Cats/ Mississauga SW Twins
Time: 2:30PM
Location: Aldridge Field

The Twins have made a splash on the Senior A baseball scene, and the Cats are an explosive team. This game promises to be a good one.

Brampton: The Battle Cats are just 6-12 this season, but they are an explosive offensive team that can put runs up in a hurry. They have added a couple of big bats in C JR Crosby and 1B Cameron Robulack, to a team that already has Mike Gareri, Victor Speciale and Mike Benyo. They will never be out of a game, because of their run scoring potential. Pitching is a big question mark for this team.

Projected Lineup:
C - James Crosby
1B - Victor Speciale
2B - Allan Hughes
3B - Mike Benyo
SS - Ken Appleby
LF - Matt Held
CF - Ryan Knight
RF - Mike Gareri
DH - Cameron Robulack

Pitching: Mike Burke, Joey Nonis, Jaineel Purohit, Justin Deleskie, Chris McCanna, Jesse Edmunds, Steve Hough

Mississauga SW: The Twins are a first year A level team, but that has not stopped them from being successful. They have a tonne of pitching, speed, and do not make many errors. They have played sound, fundamental baseball all summer long. Eric Ventura, Mickey Campeanu and Adam Paish are the team's pitching leaders. Jeff Skelhorne-Gross is a rock behind the dish.

Projected Lineup:
C - Jeff Skelhorne-Gross
1B - Anthony Fantauzzi
2B - Mark Di Giulio
3B - Joe Pileggi
SS - Jamie Smith
LF - Andrew Salmon
CF - Chris Piccini
RF - Jerome Smith
DH - Andrew Dos Santos

Pitching: Eric Ventura, Mickey Campeanu, Adam Paish, Matt Piccini, Steve Bako, Andrew Foster, Chris Piccini


Elims: Game 6 Preview
Game 6: Burlington Brants/ Tecumseh Thunder
Time: 5:30PM
Location: Emslie Field

The Brants and Thunder will do battle in a game that promises to be a lot better than what it seems at first glance.

Burlington: The Brants are not your ordinary sub .500 team. It has taken them a while to jell with all the new personnel they have this season, but they can definitely steal a win or two this year. Ace Craig Hawkins is back after a one year stint with Guelph Intercounty. In 2008, Hawkins was arguably the most dominant pitcher in senior baseball. Trevor Woodjetts is a more than capable number two pitcher. Roger Lambert is an extremely underrated power bat for the Brants. Jon Amendola is also having a great season, with 5 homeruns. SS Joe Kirby is still the team's best player.

Projected Lineup:
C - Roger Lambert
1B - Jay Hewitt
2B - Darryl Pierce
3B - Ryan Kreiner
SS - Joe Kirby
LF - Trevor Hall
CF - Stirling Crawford
RF - Jason Egbuna
DH - Jon Amendola

Pitching: Craig Hawkins, Trevor Woodjetts, Daniel Nauth, Alex Baldassi, Travers Thompson, Carlos Cabrero

Tecumseh: Andrew Masojc has been the leader for this team up to this point. He is not alone though. Dan Romanycia, Bill Gillen and Ken Price are having good seasons, as usual. This year's Tecumseh team has been different from seasons past. This team is usually used to hitting homeruns in abundance; however, they only have three as a team this year. This new found approach has led them to a 14-14 record in the difficult Can-Am league. Kyle Trudell is still the team's ace. Mitch Kramer is also having a good season on the mound.

Projected Lineup:
C - Jason Marentette
1B - Dan Romanycia
2B - Frank Jeney
3B - Matt Stezycki
SS - Bill Gillen
LF - Andrew Masojc
CF - Tom Beale
RF - Adwin Springer
DH - Ken Price

Pitching: Kyle Trudell, Mitch Kramer, Matt Stezycki, Rob Blunck, Andrew Pierce, Jordan Dollar


Elims: Game 7 Preview
Game 7: Etobicoke Rangers/ Newmarket Hawks
Time: 5:30PM
Location: Labatt Park

Etobicoke made the final three last season, in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year. Newmarket has historically performed well on the big stage.

Etobicoke: The Rangers do not have the dominant pitching staff they have had in the past few years, but Mike Janes is still a big game pitcher. At one point, Janes was quite arguably the best big game pitcher in the province. Injuries have hurt him a bit in recent years. The return of Krys Doiron has helped spark this offence. 1B AJ Iafrate, the reigning COBA MVP, is one of the top sluggers around.

Projected Lineup:
C - Matt Ferriera
1B - AJ Iafrate
2B - Mark Capone
3B - Pip Murray-Smith
SS - Damian Eccleton
LF - Krys Doiron
CF - Rob Borden
RF - Peter Saweczko
DH - Jon Bezanson

Pitching: Mike Janes, Curtis Saunders, Shawn Silk, Kevin Breitner, Tim Lawrence, Mark Eccleton, Brian Molloy, Clayton Curtis

Newmarket: The Hawks' forte is a patient approach at the plate, and steady pitching on the mound. They will not blow you away with extra base hits, but the Hawks capitalize on walks, and miscues. Kevin Holloway and Paul Versteeg-Lytwyn fuel this team's offence. On the mound, they have about 5-6 solid pitchers, which bodes well for their chances. They are currently rolling in the GTBL, with a 13-6 record.

Projected Lineup:
C - Glenn Winegarden
1B - Paul Versteeg-Lytwyn
2B - Chris De Zorzi
3B - Adam Zorzit
SS - Liam O'Brien
LF - Brent Hillis
CF - Kevin Holloway
RF - Sean O'Brien
DH - Mark West

Pitching: Adam Kallio, Dan Dobson, Neal Baker, Adam Zorzit, Dave MacPherson, Paul Anthony Di Lulio, Mark West, Anthony Douris, Mike Lee, Travis Welder


Elims: Game 8 Preview
Game 8: Lakeside Lizards/ Markham Pioneers
Time: 5:30PM
Location: Pulham Field

The Lakeside Lizards will host the Elims for the second straight year. The Pioneers are the best power hitting team in the province.

Lakeside: The Lizards currently sit on top of the Southwest London standings. They made a deep run in last year's tournament, and seem poised to do the same again this year. The Lizards won their own tournament earlier this month, so they have the pitching depth to get it done.

Markham: The Pioneers are 14-10 in the GTBL, and were semi-finalists in the Hap Walters. They get it done with the long ball. They have been hitting homeruns all year long. Jesse Dynes, newcomer Shane Moore, and Mark Petrou lead their longball attack. On the mound, Steve Horsley has been the best pitcher in Ontario this year.

Projected Lineup:
C - Mark Petrou
1B - Jesse Dynes
2B - Jeff Fox
3B - Steve Horsley
SS - Mecky Paradys
LF - Reg Sarne
CF - Thomas Biskup
RF - Shane Moore
DH - Alex Bruce

Pitching: Steve Horsley, Brad Binns, Alex Bruce, Min-Soo Kim, Kyle Lawrence, Mark Cheeseman, John Frederick


Elims: Game 9 Preview
Game 9: Oakville A's/ Kingston Ponies
Time: 5:30PM
Location: Byron Sports Complex

The Oakville A's have had a very good team the last few years, but have been unable to make a run at the big dance. The Ponies return to the A scene after a couple of years off.

Oakville: This team will go as far as P Gord Robertson and P Marc Walton will take them. Both are legitimate number one pitchers, but after them, pitching depth is a question for this team. OF Jeff Jarockis is the best power hitter in the province, that nobody seems to talk about.

Kingston: Brett Gibson is the team's ace. He has been a steady pitcher over the years for the Ponies, after joining the team from the IBL. Jed Vallier is easily the team's best hitter, but he is going to need help from everyone if the Ponies want to make a run, and if they want to knock off Oakville.


2010 ELIMINATION RANKINGS
Here are the rankings for the 2010 Eliminations in London, ON next weekend. Included is the approximate record of each team, as well as their ranking heading in to last year's tournament.


1. Windsor Stars (24-11) 2009 Elimination Ranking: (1)
2. Oshawa Royals (20-10) (2)
3. Glanbrook Grizzlies (17-7) (10)
4. Markham Pioneers (20-14) (3)
5. Leaside Leafs (14-7) (6)
6. Lakeside Lizards (19-8) (15)
7. Thornhill Reds (16-9) (12)
8. Oakville A's (14-7) (7)
9. Ilderton Red Army (18-10) (NA)
10. Niagara Metros (15-11) (4)
11. Newmarket Hawks (15-11) (8)
12. Mississauga SW Twins (15-8) (NA)
13. Erindale Cardinals (13-16) (5)
14. Strathroy Royals (11-6) (18)
15. Etobicoke Rangers (15-15) (9)
16. Tecumseh Thunder (14-17) (11)
17. Whitby Canadians (10-16) (20)
18. Peterborough RiverDogs (13-5) (NA)
19. Burlington Brants (9-16) (21)
20. Brampton BattleCats (8-18) (16)
21. Milton Red Sox (8-16) (17)
22. East York Bulldogs (6-15) (19)
23. Kingston Ponies (9-9) (NA)
24. Thornhill Redbirds (7-11) (22)
25. Windsor Area Athletics (9-23) (14)
26. Martingrove White Sox (1-17) (13)

There are some changes from last year's ranking, which included 22 teams. As everyone knows, this year's edition of the tournament has a record 26 teams.

#1 Windsor and #2 Oshawa were both ranked in the same order last year. Last year's #3 was Markham, who is #4 this year. #4 Niagara and #5 Erindale from last year, have both dropped to #10 and #13 respectively. Leaside was #6 last year, and moves up one spot to #5. The Leafs went into last year's tournament with a 14-11 record, and this year they are 14-7-3 heading in. Windsor had the best record last year at 30-9, and are 24-11 this year.

The biggest improvements were Lakeside, who went from #15 last year, to #6 this year. Glanbrook went from #10 last year, to #3 this year. The Thornhill Reds have improved from #12 to #5.

The biggest slide was Martingrove, who went from #13 last year, to #26 this year. WAA dropped from #14 to #25. Etobicoke dropped from #9 to #15.

There are four teams that were not in last year's tournament: #9 Ilderton, #12 Mississauga SW, #18 Peterborough, and #23 Kingston.


Note: These rankings do not take draws in to account. They are simply a ranking of all 26 teams in this tournament, based on their play this season.

Best of luck to all teams!

Just like last year, this is not an official list. It is simply a way of getting players recognized for their accomplishments this season.

All Ontario First Team

C Bryan Rock, Leaside (.352, 6 HR, 31 RBI, 24 BB, 9 SB)
1B Geoff Cullen, Erindale (.413, 15 HR, 32 RBI, 92 AB)
2B Henry Yap, Leaside (.388, 5 HR, 36 RBI, 37 SB, 24 BB)
3B Brian MacDonald, Thornhill (.338, 5 HR, 27 RBI)
SS Damian Eccleton, Etobicoke (.373, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 12 BB)
OF Shane Moore, Markham (.417, 4 HR, 30 RBI)
OF Justin Pennell, Thornhill (.452, 18 HR, 55 RBI, 11 2B)
OF Kyle Kristenbrun, Leaside (.387, 5 HR, 41 RBI)
DH David Davidson, Niagara (.468, 4 HR, 28 RBI, 11 2B, 79 AB)
RHP Steve Carter, Windsor (8-4, 2.21 ERA, 85.1 IP, 91 K)
LHP Steve Teno, Windsor (8-2, 0.68 ERA, 66 IP, 65 K)
RP Andy Orfanakos, Thornhill (4-0, 3 SV, 23.1 IP, 30 K, 1.67 ERA)

Rock, Cullen, Yap, and Pennell were all first team all stars last year also. Rookies MacDonald and Orfanakos helped Thornhill to a good season in the GTBL. Eccleton is an up and coming player for the Rangers. Kristenbrun exploded this season in all categories across the board. Shane Moore never missed a beat after taking last season off. Not only did Davidson shore up the back end of the Niagara bullpen, but he also won the batting title for the province. Carter and Teno replace Josh Howsam and Dane Little as first team all-stars.

All Ontario Second Team

C Roger Lambert, Burlington
1B Anthony Iafrate, Etobicoke (.322, 3 HR, 39 RBI, 10 2B)
2B Andrew Masojc, Tecumseh (.380, 1 HR, 20 RBI, 15 SB)
3B Brent Hillis, Newmarket (.372, 3 HR, 15 RBI)
SS Matt Spillman, Niagara (.406, 8 RBI, 17 SB)
OF Joe Roach, Niagara (.342, 5 HR, 22 RBI, 27 BB)
OF Tom Grubb, Windsor (.380, 3 HR, 37 RBI, 57 H)
OF Jeff Jarockis, Oakville (.286, 9 HR, 38 RBI)
DH Alex Bruce, Markham (.323, 5 HR, 21 RBI, 24 BB)
RHP Dustin Turner, Niagara (4-2, 1.77 ERA, 61 IP, 76 K, 1.02 WHIP)
LHP John Picco, Windsor (6-1, 1.66 ERA, 59.2 IP, 66 K)
RP Mark West, Newmarket (3 SV, 7 IP, 0 R, 14 K)

Iafrate and Picco are second team all stars for the second year in a row. Lambert flies under the radar playing for Burlington, but put together a very solid season. Masojc showed his versatility after being a first team all star as a relief pitcher last season. Hillis was a key part of Newmarket's success. Spillman is one of the many young rookies on Niagara. Roach made the conversion to the outfield and hit very well once again. Statistically, Grubb never had the same success he did in 2009, but he came up with key hits all year long. Jarockis was a first team all star last year. Bruce had a fine season once again. Turner was a third team all star last year. West continues to be the best closer in the province.

All Ontario Third Team

C Devlin Connelly, East York (.339, 2 HR, 16 BB)
1B Jesse Dynes, Markham (.296, 8 HR, 28 RBI, 9 2B)
2B Brent Tamane, Oshawa (.386, 17 RBI, 11 SB)
3B Kevin Annett, Ilderton
SS Davey Wallace, Leaside (.404, 10 RBI, 11 SB)
OF Kris Klassen, Windsor (.370, 26 RBI, 18 SB, 57 H)
OF Sean Cunningham, Oshawa (.364, 3 HR, 34 RBI)
OF Kevin Treichel, Erindale (.323, 5 HR, 19 RBI)
DH Rob Spiak, Glanbrook
RHP Steve Horsley, Markham (5-1, 2.29 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 59 IP, 63 K)
LHP Mike Arsenault, Whitby (9-5, 1 SV, 2.48 ERA, 94 IP, 108 K)
RP David Davidson, Niagara (5 SV, 11 IP, 5 H, 21 K, 2.45 ERA)

Connelly should be making a lot of these lists in the near future. Dynes hit some mammoth homeruns once again. Tamane and Cunningham had terrific years for the Royals. Annett is the guy who sparks the Ilderton offence. Wallace was a first team all star last year. Klassen and Treichel were second team all stars last year. Spiak hit well from start to finish for Glanbrook. Steve Horsley was nearly unhittable at times this season. Mike Arsenault registered over 100 strikeouts. Davidson also makes the cut as an all-star reliever.

MVP - Justin Pennell, Thornhill

Pennell was remarkable all season long at the provincial level, and then again at the national level for the Stars. He does not get cheated at the plate. A strong case could be made for Geoff Cullen to win this award again, but the Cardinals did not have the wins to show for it.

Runners Up: Geoff Cullen, Erindale; Henry Yap, Leaside

CY YOUNG - Steve Teno, Windsor

The Stars lost last year's winner of this award, Dane Little- but former Central Michigan standout Steve Teno filled the void, and dominated from game one. His miniscule ERA, 8-2 record, and strikeout per inning pitched make him a no-brainer choice for this award.

Runners Up: Steve Carter, Windsor; Dustin Turner, Niagara

ROOKIE - Sean Cunningham, Oshawa

This is a tough award to choose, as there are many viable candidates. Overall, Cunningham was the most consistent of the potential winners, and he posted spectacular numbers for one of the best teams in the province. The Royals lost a lot of veteran bats this season, and needed younger players to step up and fill the void. Cunningham did just that.

Runners Up: Brian MacDonald, Thornhill; Matt Spillman, Niagara

MOST IMPROVED - Drew Roberts, Oshawa

Roberts has been a solid veteran hitter for the last few seasons, but 2009 was a year to forget for him. He spent the year with Markham, and hit just .148. This year, he exploded to the tune of a .419 AVG, 3 HR, 19 RBI, and 17 BB to just 10 SO. Darryl Reid left a big hole in the Oshawa lineup when he retired, but Roberts did a tremendous job filling in.

Runners Up: Brent Hillis, Newmarket; Victor Speciale, Brampton

COACH - Ron Smith, Windsor

Smith deserves a tonne of credit. The Windsor Stars are the best team in the province, and have been for the past few years. Smith gets the best out of all of his players, and seems to always make the right decisions come Eliminations time.

Runners Up: Rick Ellis, Glanbrook; Rudy Godwin, Ilderton

FIRST TEAM

C Bryan Rock, Leaside
1B Geoff Cullen, Erindale
2B Henry Yap, Leaside
3B Brian MacDonald, Thornhill
SS Steve Anderson, Markham
OF Justin Pennell, Thornhill
OF Tom Grubb, Windsor
OF Tim Sogan, Glanbrook
DH Shane Moore, Markham
RHP Andrew Page, Glanbrook
LHP John Picco, Windsor
RP Mark West, Newmarket

SECOND TEAM

C Evan Baglieri, Niagara
1B AJ Iafrate, Etobicoke
2B Mark Capone, Etobicoke
3B Kevin Annett, Ilderton
SS Davey Wallace, Leaside
OF Travis Skelton, Leaside
OF Kris Klassen, Windsor
OF Sean Cunningham, Thornhill
DH Kyle Kristenbrun, Leaside
RHP Steve Carter, Windsor
LHP Jordan Townshend, Ilderton
RP Steve Anderson, Markham

MVP - Henry Yap, Leaside/ Justin Pennell, Thornhill/ Geoff Cullen, Erindale
CY Young - Andrew Page, Glanbrook/ John Picco, Windsor/ Steve Carter, Windsor
Rookie - Andrew Hyde, Etobicoke/ Tyler Cattapan, Thornhill/ Alan McHenry, Glanbrook
Most Improved - TJ Tavender, Niagara/ Jeremiah Groulx, Thornhill/ Jeff Gruchy, Leaside
Manager - Rick Ellis, Glanbrook/ Nolan Revin, Thornhill/ Greg Cranker, Erindale
Biggest Offseason Acquisition - Travis Skelton, Leaside/ Sean Cunningham, Thornhill/ Brook Coatsworth, Leaside



Preseason C Rankings
1. Bryan Rock, Leaside
2. Mark Petrou, Markham
3. Ben Rich, Ilderton
4. Evan Baglieri, Niagara
5. Devlin Connelly, East York

Preseason 1B Rankings
1. Geoff Cullen, Erindale
2. AJ Iafrate, Etobicoke
3. Drew Roberts, Thornhill
4. Dan Romanycia, Tecumseh
5. Jesse Dynes, Markham

Preseason 2B Rankings
1. Henry Yap, Leaside
2. Mark Capone, Etobicoke
3. Frank Coccia, Erindale
4. Darryl Pierce, Burlington
5. Sonny Daniels, Ilderton

Preseason 3B Rankings
1. Kevin Annett, Ilderton
2. Justin Butler, Erindale
3. Brian MacDonald, Thornhill
4. Troy Dawe, East York
5. Matt Stezycki, Tecumseh

Preseason SS Rankings
1. Davey Wallace, Leaside
2. Jason Helps, Strathroy
3. Steve Anderson, Markham
4. Jamie Smith, Mississauga SW
5. Lou Proietti, Glanbrook

Preseason OF Rankings
1. Justin Pennell, Thornhill
2. Tom Grubb, Windsor
3. Shane Moore, Markham
4. Jeff Jarockis, Oakville
5. Kris Klassen, Windsor
6. Sean Cunningham, Thornhill
7. Kevin Treichel, Erindale
8. Tim Sogan, Glanbrook
9. Shawn Leah, East York
10. Travis Skelton, Leaside

Preseason P Rankings
1. Steve Carter, Windsor
2. John Picco, Windsor
3. Dustin Turner, Niagara
4. Andrew Page, Glanbrook
5. Eric Ventura, Mississauga SW
6. Jordan Townshend, Ilderton
7. Steve Teno, Windsor
8. Josh Howsam, Leaside
9. Shawn Leah, East York
10. Mark West, Newmarket

1. Windsor Stars (7-0) (1) No surprise here. They are the epitome of success.
2. Mississauga SW Twins (5-2) (4) They turned potential into results. Could be a force for a while.
3. Newmarket Hawks (4-2) (3) Continue to win games and make deep runs. Still seem to fly under the radar for some reason.
4. Lakeside Lizards (4-2) (23) Struggled mightily all season, then won four games in a row to start the weekend, coming from behind in all four.
4. Markham Mariners (4-2) (6) Veteran team made a deep run but fell just short once again.
6. Etobicoke Rangers (3-2) (19) Only two losses were to Lakeside. Blew the lead in both games.
6. Peterborough Riverdogs (3-2) (6) Fell a run short of the final five. Will be a force again next year.
6. Windsor Athletics (2-2) (22) Took full advantage of using players from the Windsor Junior Selects, who have a berth as the host team in the Junior Nationals.
9. Brampton Battlecats (2-2) (17) Made some noise, beating the top two teams in the London league, but ran out of gas on Sunday.
9. Burlington Brants (2-2) (15) Won their first two, then lost two in a row to bow out.
9. Leaside Leafs (2-2) (12) Disappointing season continues.
9. Niagara Metros (2-2) (18) Young ballclub who can put up runs. If they can get some pitchers healthy, look out.
13. Glanbrook Grizzlies (1-2) (9) Disappointing weekend, losing to both Windsor teams. They got no hit in the loss to WAA.
13. Ilderton Red Army (1-2) (7) Beat the finalists in round one, then lost to Etobicoke and Brampton.
13. Milton Red Sox (1-2) (16) Were missing some key bats this weekend.
13. Oakville A's (1-2) (14) A tough draw for a good team.
13. Tecumseh Thunder (1-2) (8) Not a good showing for a team that had a chance to do well.
13. Thornhill Reds (1-2) (2) Arguably the biggest disappointment of the tournament.
19. East York Bulldogs (0-2) (20) Dropped a couple of tough games.
19. Erindale Cardinals (0-2) (11) Second straight disappointing effort.
19. Martingrove White Sox (0-2) (13) Showed they still have a long way to go.
19. Sarnia Braves (0-2) (21) Made their return to AAA Elims and went two and out.
19. Strathroy Royals (0-2) (10) Continue to struggle since starting the season off red hot.
19. Thornhill Redbirds (0-2) (24) Lost a 12 inning heartbreaker to Etobicoke, then got blown out by Mississauga the following day.

CAN-AM vs. COBA 4-3
CAN-AM vs. GTBL 4-0
CAN-AM vs. SWBL 1-0
CAN-AM vs. OTHER 1-1
CAN-AM Overall: 10-4

COBA vs. CAN-AM 3-4
COBA vs. GTBL 7-6
COBA vs. SWBL 3-4
COBA vs. OTHER 1-1
COBA Overall: 17-18

GTBL vs. CAN-AM 0-4
GTBL vs. COBA 6-7
GTBL vs. SWBL 2-1
GTBL vs. OTHER 2-1
GTBL Overall: 11-14

SWBL vs. CAN-AM 0-1
SWBL vs. COBA 4-3
SWBL vs. GTBL 1-2
SWBL vs. OTHER 0-0
SWBL Overall: 5-6

OTHER vs. CAN-AM 1-1
OTHER vs. COBA 1-1
OTHER vs. GTBL 1-2
OTHER vs. SWBL 0-0
OTHER Overall: 3-4

The Windsor Stars went 7-0, beating the Mississauga Southwest Twins 6-5 in the finals. For the fourth straight year and the sixth time in seven years they are the top team in Ontario. Nobody should be surprised by the result. They have a star-studded pitching staff, great defence, and timely hitting.

Andrew Masojc singled home Brian Simone for the game's winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

For the first time since 2005, a COBA team made it to the finals. And for the first time since 2004, a COBA team will be heading to the Nationals.

Good luck to both the Stars and Twins at the Senior Nationals in New Brunswick.

PAST WINNNERS
YEAR - CHAMPIONS - FINALISTS
2011 - Windsor Stars - Mississauga Southwest
2010 - Windsor Stars - Ilderton
2009 - Windsor Stars - Leaside
2008 - Windsor Stars - Oshawa
2007 - Oshawa - Tecumseh
2006 - Windsor Stars - East York
2005 - Windsor Stars - Erindale
2004 - Etobicoke - East York
2003 - Markham - Woodslee
2002 - Etobicoke - Chatham
2001 - Tecumseh - Windsor Stars
2000 - North York - Etobicoke
1999 - Etobicoke - Northumberland
1998 - Windsor Stars - Etobicoke
1997 - Chatham - Windsor Stars
1996 - North York - East York
1995 - Tecumseh - Windsor
1994 - Sarnia - Windsor
1993 - Tecumseh - N/A
1992 - Tecumseh - N/A

Over the years, some fine talents have left the ranks of Senior baseball to go play in the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL), and vice versa. There are many Senior baseball standouts who are currently making an impact on IBL teams.

The IBL released their first and second team all stars, and there are some familiar names on the list.

DH Daniel Jagdeo of the Hamilton Thunderbirds was named to the first team, after having a great season at the plate. The slugger hit .346 with 4 HR and 24 RBI. He also hit .500 in the playoffs, with a HR and 2 RBI. Jagdeo spent 2007 with the Etobicoke Rangers, capturing the league batting title in his rookie season. In 2008, he hit over .400 and belted 7 HR for the Burlington Brants.

OF Allan Cattrysse of the London Majors, and RHP Matt McGovern of the Ottawa Fat Cats were named to the second team. Cattrysse is a former member of the Tecumseh Thunder. He hit .419 with 3 HR and 17 RBI. McGovern spent two seasons with the Oshawa Royals in 2008 and 2009. This year, he dominated the IBL to the tune of a 4-2 record and 1.83 ERA in 59 innings. He is currently 2-0 in the playoffs with a 1.00 ERA in 18 innings. Matt is no slouch at the plate either, where he hit .290 with 3 HR and 10 RBI.

Other notables:

P Mike Arsenault, London Majors (Whitby Chiefs) - 0-0, 5.63 ERA, 16 IP
P Kyle Bolton, Burlington Twins (Burlington Brants) - 5-2, 5.50 ERA, 55.2 IP
IF Adam Cholewka, Burlington Twins (Glanbrook Grizzlies) - .297, 3 HR, 19 RBI, 5 SB
OF Paul Lamantia, London Majors (Windsor Stars) - .333, 4 HR, 20 RBI, 12 SB
P Adam Echlin, Kitchener Panthers (Tecumseh Thunder, Windsor Stars, Lakeside Lizards) - 4-1, 3.26 ERA, 47 IP
IF Josh Federico, London Majors (Windsor Stars) - .305, 1 HR, 14 RBI
P Brett Lawson, Toronto Maple Leafs (Strathroy Royals) - 4-3, 4.96 ERA, 49 IP
IF Kevin Mailloux, London Majors (Windsor Stars) - .295, 4 HR, 19 RBI, 5 SB
OF Matt McGraw, Hamilton Thunderbirds (Burlington Brants) - .385, 3 RBI, 4 SB
P Adam Paish, London Majors (Mississauga Twins) - 3-2, 3.22 ERA, 44.2 IP
IF Chris Piano, Hamilton Thunderbirds (Glanbrook Grizzlies) - .276, 4 HR, 23 RBI, 10 SB
P Tyler Robinson, Ottawa Fat Cats (Oshawa Royals) - 1-1, 4.08 ERA, 17.2 IP
IF Matt Spillman, Burlington Twins (Niagara Metros) - .281, 12 RBI, 3 SB
OF Adwin Springer, London Majors (Windsor Stars, Tecumseh Thunder) - .198, 5 HR, 13 RBI, 4 SB

The Windsor Stars have added Justin Pennell (.297/5/20) of the Thornhill Reds to their roster for the Nationals. Pennell played with the Stars in their run last year, and was very instrumental to their success. He hit two homeruns with the team, including a walk-off grand slam.

The Mississauga Southwest Twins have also been busy with additions. They have added Ilderton Red Army ace Jordan Townshend (4-4, 2.61 ERA), and Thornhill catcher Tyler Cattapan (.314/4/18). The Twins extended an offer to Niagara Metros' catcher Evan Baglieri, but Baglieri was unable to attend due to school commitments.

More information will be posted as it becomes available.

Justin Pennell continues to impress not only in Ontario, but across the country as well. The Thornhill Reds' slugger, who is playing in the Nationals with the Windsor Stars, captured the homerun derby title in Miramichi, New Brunswick. Pennell and the Stars kick off their quest to be the best team in Canada, tomorrow at 9AM against Manitoba. The Mississauga SW Twins also play their first game at 9AM tomorrow morning, against Newfoundland and Labrador. Both teams play again at 4PM, against Halifax and New Brusnwick respectively.

The Windsor Stars went 6-1, including a convincing 8-2 victory over BC in the finals, to bring home the Canadian Senior Mens' Baseball championship to Ontario.

The Stars have been the best team in Ontario for years, and they can now say they are the best team in Canada.

The Stars hit .320 as a team, and Justin Pennell lead the team with a .478 average, and drove in five runs. He was second to Jason Chatwood of Alberta in average. Tom Grubb hit .364, and had a team high six RBI. Grubb was second in the tournament in RBI. Pennell and Grubb also stole two and three bases respectively. Windsor had a team ERA of 1.60. John Picco had two of the team's six wins. Picco was first in innings pitched, second in strikeouts, and was one of only two pitchers to record two wins.

Congratulations to the Stars on a spectacular season, and bringing the gold home!

First Team All Ontario

C Evan Baglieri, Niagara .411, 15 HR, 66 RBI, 12 2B, .513 OBP
1B Jesse Dynes, Markham
2B Brendan Emmett, Mississauga .405, 0 HR, 12 RBI, 15 SB, 47 H
3B Sean Mathe, Milton .365, 4 HR, 26 RBI
SS Taylor Anderson, Niagara .407, 0 HR, 24 RBI, 40 R, 9 SB, 59 H
OF Kris Klassen, Windsor .369, 2 HR, 27 RBI, 15 2B, 4 3B, 21 SB, 60 H, 47 R
OF Shane Moore, Markham
OF Ricky Ferri, Niagara .340, 0 HR, 11 RBI, 36 BB, 50 R, 24 SB
DH Chris Novia, Erindale .286, 12 HR, 39 RBI
RHP Steve Carter, Windsor 10-1, 1.27 ERA, 78 IP, 19 BB, 84 K, 1.06 WHIP
LHP John Picco, Windsor 8-2, 1.61 ERA, 78.1 IP, 30 BB, 87 K, 1.19 WHIP
RP Mark Tourangeau, Oakville 4-2, 3.40 ERA, 45 IP, 16 BB, 65 K, 1.20 WHIP, 3 SV

Second Team All Ontario

C Tyler Cattapan, Thornhill .308, 4 HR, 18 RBI
1B Victor Speciale, Brampton .428, 10 HR, 50 RBI, 13 2B, 14 SB, 60 H
2B Mike Gough, Ilderton .387, 2 HR, 24 RBI, 6 SB
3B Andrew Masojc, Windsor .320, 0 HR, 29 RBI, 41 R
SS Jamie Smith, Mississauga .333, 2 HR, 16 RBI, 17 SB, 41 R
OF Tom Grubb, Windsor .329, 3 HR, 41 RBI, 14 2B, 13 SB, 40 R
OF John DeWolfe, Erindale .353, 5 HR, 24 RBI, 12 2B
OF Tim Sogan, Glanbrook .294, 6 HR, 24 RBI, 18 SB
DH Kyle Kristenbrun, Leaside .386, 5 HR, 25 RBI
RHP Brad Binns, Markham
LHP Jordan Townshend, Ilderton 7-5, 2.15 ERA, 108.2 IP, 142 K, 1.14 WHIP
RP Mark West, Newmarket 7.2 IP, 1 ER, 17 K, 3 SV, 1.17 ERA

Third Team All Ontario

C Matt Veracalli, Windsor .301, 1 HR, 19 RBI, 31 BB
1B Adam Morton, Leaside
2B Mark Capone, Etobicoke .356, 0 HR, 18 RBI, 30 BB, .508 OBP
3B Sean Cunningham, Thornhill .345, 1 HR, 20 RBI
SS Justin Deleskie, Brampton .440, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 12 2B
OF Justin Pennell, Thornhill .286, 5 HR, 20 RBI, 25 BB
OF Travis Skelton, Leaside .321, 2 HR, 20 RBI, 15 SB, .491 OBP
OF Corrie Morrison, Glanbrook .358, 2 HR, 29 RBI, 24 BB, 13 SB
DH Kevin Cooper, Milton .367, 3 HR, 40 RBI, 12 2B
RHP Tim Sogan, Glanbrook 6-1, 2.36 ERA, 57 IP, 19 BB, 65 K, 1.01 WHIP
LHP Steve Teno, Windsor 5-1, 1.85 ERA, 48.2 IP, 14 BB, 55 K, 1.03 WHIP
RP Steve Anderson, Markham

AWARDS

MVP

Evan Baglieri, Niagara Metros

Although the young Metros finished below .500 for the first time in team history, they performed well when it counted. They ran the table on their way to the tournament title in Strathroy. They made it to Sunday for the first time in four years at the Elims. And they made it to the final four of the COBA playoffs.

It's hard to imagine where the Metros would have been without their slugging catcher/corner infielder Evan Baglieri. Evan put together a monster of a season, and lead wire to wire in the provincial homerun and RBI race. For a good chunk of the season, he was even hitting over .500. Numbers-wise, he put together a season that marvelled the terrific numbers of Justin Pennell in 2010. "Bags" hit .411, with 15 HR, and 66 RBI. He also added 53 hits and 39 runs scored, to go along with 27 walks, a .513 OBP, and an OPS of 1.366. The offensive numbers were astronomical to say the least. He even put together a single game performance for the ages, hitting three homeruns (a grand slam, three run homerun, and two run homerun) against Erindale this year. Defensively, Evan also did a spectacular job behind the dish, throwing out 11 of a possible 28 base stealers, for a 38 percent rate.

It should be to nobody's surprise that Baglieri takes home MVP honours this year.

Runners Up: Jesse Dynes, Markham; Kris Klassen, Windsor.

CY YOUNG

Steve Carter, Windsor Stars

For a while this season, it seemed like Steve Carter was not going to give up an earned run. He eventually proved he was human, but not by much.

Carter was an absolute horse for the Windsor Stars this season. In 15 games pitched, Carter was an impressive 10-1 with a save. He did not lose a game to an Ontario team, as his only loss was to Troy in the Can-Am league playoffs. He has a miniscule 1.27 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. In 78 innings pitched, he walked 19 batters and struck out 84. If you take out a two start stretch in which he allowed five runs to Peterborough and three runs to Troy, he allowed just three runs in the other 64 innings he pitched this season! You know what you are going to get from Carter every time he toes the rubber, and that's a guy who is going to go deep into every game, and shut down the opposition. In his ten starts, Carter went the distance in every single one of them, and allowed one run or less in 13 of his 15 appearances.

Carter posted his most dominant season to date, and he is a well-deserved winner of this award.

Runners Up: John Picco, Windsor; Jordan Townshend, Ilderton.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Ricky Ferri, Niagara Metros

This year, there were a tonne of young rookies who made huge impacts on their respective teams. The Metros had a handful of them alone. In what was the hardest award to pick, outfielder Ricky Ferri of the Metros edged out some very deserving candidates for the award.

Ferri gets the nod, as he has been an unsung hero in the Metros' explosive offence. He has been a catalyst all season long, setting the tables for the big boppers in the lineup. Ferri posted some very impressive numbers, without receiving much ink. He hit .340 and drove in 11 runs, while leading off for Niagara. While those numbers might not jump out at you, it is everything else that he did that proved his worth. He lead Ontario with 24 stolen bases, and 50 runs scored. As a young hitter, he showed an impressive eye at the plate, registering 36 walks (third in Ontario), and posting a .475 OBP. He also had 48 hits, which was good for top ten in the province.

As mentioned, Ferri had a lot of competition, but the 18 year old deserves it just a bit more than the field.

Runners up: Taylor Anderson, Niagara; Andrew Hyde, Etobicoke.

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER

Adam Morton, Leaside Leafs

The former Ontario Blue Jay, and Wright State outfielder battled injuries the last couple of seasons, and showed just how dangerous he can be when he is healthy.

From his very first at bat as a Leaside Leaf, Morton dominated, and was a force all season. As a member of the now defunct Oshawa Royals in 2010, Morton struggled mightily. He hit just over .200, and hit just two homeruns and piled up a bunch of strikeouts. That was the Morton with knee problems. This year, he hit almost .400, hit nine homeruns, and drove in almost 40 runs. That was the Morton without knee problems. It is incredible what a little good health and a change of scenery can do for a player. He played with confidence and smashed opposing pitchers in both league play and in tournaments.

Morton's hard work and dedication to better himself and get healthy certainly paid off, and he has now officially served notice to the Senior baseball scene.

Runners up: Justin Deleskie, Brampton; Kevin Cooper, Milton.

MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Ron Smith, Windsor Stars

Smith takes home the award for the second straight season, after helping vault the Stars in to National status.

Smith once again pulled the right strings all year long, as the Stars had their best season in team history. They dominated Ontario like they have never done before, winning the Lakeside tournament, Hap Walters tournament, the Eliminations tournament, and the Senior Nationals. their only blemish was a two and out performance in the Can-Am league playoffs. They went through almost every team this year with ease, and Smith was seemingly making all the correct decisions once again. The Stars get the other teams' best effort every game they play in. At times it can be hard to get up for a game in the middle of the season against a subpar opponent if you're the Stars, but they never seem to faulter.

Congratulations to Smith and the Stars on being the best team in Canada.

Runners up: Steve Marshall, Markham; George Moore, Milton.

First Team

C Evan Baglieri, Niagara
1B Victor Speciale, Brampton
2B Mark Capone, Etobicoke
3B Brian MacDonald, Thornhill
SS Jamie Smith, Mississauga SW
OF Kris Klassen, Windsor
OF Tom Grubb, Windsor
OF Justin Pennell, Thornhill
DH Shane Moore, Markham
RHP Steve Carter, Windsor
LHP John Picco, Windsor
RP Steve Anderson, Markham

Second Team

C Tyler Plumpton, Peterborough
1B Geoff Cullen, Erindale
2B Mike Gough, Ilderton
3B Andrew Masojc, Windsor
SS Davey Wallace, Leaside
OF Travis Skelton, Leaside
OF Kyle Fillier, Peterborough
OF Tim Sogan, Glanbrook
DH Kyle Kristenbrun, Leaside
RHP Andrew Hyde, Etobicoke
LHP Jordan Townshend, Ilderton
RP Mark West, Newmarket

MVP- Justin Pennell, Thornhill
CY YOUNG- Steve Carter, Windsor
ROOKIE- Brett Sanders, Etobicoke
MANAGER- Steve Breitner, Etobicoke

Round 1

BYE Thornhill Redbirds

1. Lakeside vs. Vaughan

Lakeside - The Lizards have the advantage based on familiarity with this tournament and the competition. The Lizards made it to Sunday night last year before losing to Etobicoke.

Vaughan - Over the years, first time entrants into the Eliminations have not had great success. Daniel Pelley, John Muia and Julian Testani have been the team's best hitters this season. Pelley is also 5-1 with a 1.77 ERA in the OSBA.

Prediction: Lakeside will be too much to handle for Vaughan, who is not battle tested. Lakeside 5 Vaughan 3

2. Etobicoke vs. Martingrove

Etobicoke - The Rangers have been a very good team for years now. At one point, they were the best. The team has undergone a massive change over the last few years. Peter Saweczko is the only player left from the last time Etobicoke won the Elims. Ryan Panas, Brett Sanders and Daniel Murphy lead a contingent of good, young hitters. Andrew Hyde and Alex Dannett are doing the same for the pitching staff. And of course there is veteran Mark Capone, who is as good as it gets in Senior baseball.

Martingrove - The days where this team was considered an "easy" win are long gone. They have worked themselves into a very respectable and formidable opponent. Steve Correia is a very underrated player who has posted excellent numbers once again. Chris Micolino remains among the leaders in AVG. Patrick Vecchiarelli always keeps this team in every ball game he pitches.

Prediction: The Rangers know how to win in August. This game won't be easy by any means, but the Rangers wil find a way to win. Etobicoke 6 Martingrove 4

3. Windsor Athletics vs. Niagara

WAA - The A's usually have a pitcher or two nobody has heard of, and that allows them to compete come Eliminations time. Even without any additions, they proved at the Hap that they will be very tough to beat. Kyle Trudell is having a monster season on the mound for this team. Jordan Ketterer is the power bat this team has been looking for.

Niagara - Despite some very good teams over the years, the Metros seem to struggle come Elims time. Could this year be different? A lot of the young Metros players were not around for some of the team's previous failures. The new blood might be something that helps this team avoid a letdown.

Prediction: This game has all of a sudden become relevant. WAA will find a way to stop the Metros. WAA 4 Niagara 2

4. Oakville vs. Markham

Oakville - The A's have a trio of pitchers (Marc Walton, Gord Robertson, Mark Tourangeau) who can pitch with the best of them. After that point, they have to lean on some unproven arms to get deep. Jeff Jarockis is streaky, but he has the ability to go deep at any time.

Markham - This team has a good track record. They are usually in the mix come Sunday night. With Brad Binns, Kyle Lawrence and the addition of Mike Arsenault- the potential for a deep run is there. Jesse Dynes is off to a slow start, and must turn things around for this team to have a chance.

Prediction: This should be a low scoring game, with a very good pitcher guaranteed to be on the mound for both teams. Markham wins a close one. Markham 3 Oakville 2.

5. Mississauga SW vs. Leaside

Mississauga SW - The Twins finished second last year, but that doesn't mean they are guaranteed for success this year. Leaside came in second in 2009 and went 2-2. In 2010, Ilderton came in second but went 1-2 last year. The Twins appear as if they are here to stay. If anyone had doubts, the Hap Walters should have proven naysayers wrong. They have a stable of good pitchers, and their offence causes havoc on the bases. Jamie Smith is arguably the best defensive shortstop in Senior baseball.

Leaside - The window of opportunity is slowly closing for the Leafs. They are a veteran team, with a decent mixture of younger talent. The veterans are not getting any younger so they must take advantage now. Bryan Rock, Henry Yap and Davey Wallace cannot be around forever to carry this team. Travis Skelton has been a force all year long. All that being said, their key to success depends solely on the health of their pitching staff. When healthy, Josh Howsam is a star and Chris Goodale was their game one starter last year. Both have been limited to injury. If Howsam can give the team a solid start (or two), they can go deep once again.

Prediction: Although the leafs beat Mississauga in Vaughan, the Twins have been a thorn in the side for the Leafs. They have eliminated them the past two years. The Twins also disposed of the Leafs in the Lakeside final this year. The Twins will get it done again against Leaside. Mississauga SW 5 Leaside 4

6. Strathroy vs. Sarnia

Prediction: Don't know much about either of these teams. Strathroy 6 Sarnia 1

7. Newmarket vs. East York

Newmarket - Adam Kallio is back to add another quality arm to the pitching staff. He leads the team in innings pitched and also has a good ERA and WHIP. Anthony Douris has been a pleasant surprise on the mound for the Hawks as well. They are not as deep as they have been over the last few years. Injuries to Dan Dobson and PA Di Lulio really cripple their staff. The Hawks will go as far as Paul Versteeg-Lytwyn and Kevin Holloway take theem.

East York - The youth movement has begun in East York. They have a quartet of solid pitchers in Dustin Lawson, Jack Malone, Mark Sikorski and Jake Gallo. How much they get out of veterans Shawn Leah and Pat Smith remains to be seen.

Prediction: The Hawks will upend the Bulldogs in a close one. Newmarket 4 East York 3

8. Windsor Stars vs. Burlington

Windsor - It will be interesting to see what strategy the Stars employ, in terms of pitching matchups early in the tournament. They seem to always have a very tough opponent early on, and Steve Carter or John Picco almost always draw the first round assignment. This year they are not faced with that problem. Will the Stars go with one of these guys, or will they turn to another pitcher (who would likely be the ace on an other team anyways)? If they choose not to go with one of their aces, it might hurt them, because the Brants are no pushovers.

Burlington - The Brants can score runs in bunches. Their pitching depth is very questionable, but they have the ability to hit the ball out of the park at any given time. Jon Amendola has flown under the radar over the years, and he is one of the best power hitters in the province.

Prediction: Likely the easiest round one game to choose a winner in. The Brants just got unlucky with this matchup. Windsor 10 Burlington 2

9. Tecumseh vs. Thornhill

Tecumseh - The Thunder didn't strut their stuff at the Hap, but they didn't need to. They are having one of their best seasons in recnt memory. Dan Romanycia and Matt Stezycki both have 5 homeruns each. Bill Gillen is a very tough out at the top of the lineup. They have the benefit of playing in a small park, but that doesn't change the fact that they have some very good hitters. Mitch Kramer and Kyle Trudell are good pitchers to have on the mound early in tournaments. After they get past these two guys, other guys are really going to have to step up.

Thornhill - This is not the same team as last year. Justin Pennell and JR Crosby are no longer there, and Sean Cunningham is hurt. On the flipside, this Thornhill pitching staff might be the best one the Reds have had in quite some time. Phil Owen is a good, young star and is very capable of stealing a win.

Prediction: This game really could go either way. Tecumseh squezes on out at Lacasse Park. Tecumseh 7 Thornhill 5

10. Glanbrook vs. Milton

Glanbrook - It seems like the Grizzlies are always stuck playing Windsor every year in round one. If it's not the Stars it's another good team (Mississauga SW last year). They must handle their business in this first round matchup. Chris Cooney, Tim Sogan, Atsushi Urata, Andrew Page, Mike Grilli. . . the list goes on and on. This team is loaded with pitching talent. Will their defence hold up over the course of a seven game grind?

Milton - The Red Sox have taken a step back this year, after winning the COBA league playoffs last year. Jon Roth and Kevin Greer are the team's top two players. Kevin Cooper and James Bruce are also key contributors. They don't have the pitching depth they have had over the years, but Ian Zettle is still a very good pitcher who will keep them in any game.

Prediction: The Grizzlies must take advantage of laying a struggling team. The Red Sox will not lay down for anyone and will make it tough for everyone they play. The Grizzlies must grind this one out. Glanbrook 4 Milton 2

11. Ilderton vs. Peterborough

Ilderton - Jordan Townshend can beat anyone, plain and simple. He is going to be up against a loaded lineup, and wil have to be at his usual best. If anyone can stop the Riverdogs it's him. After Townshend though, who will the Red Army turn to? Last year Townshend won his round one matchup, and the Red Army were blown away in their next two games.

Peterborough - The Riverdogs don't really have the dominant pitcher or two that many teams have. Their true advantage will show once they get deeper in the tournament. They have solid pitchers, and arguably the best offence in the province. Tyler Plumpton has been the best player in Ontario in 2012.

Prediction: The Riverdogs steal a win with a late run or two. Peterborough 4 Ilderton 2

12. Brampton vs. Erindale

Brampton - The Battlecats have stormed out of the gates, and currently have the best record in COBA. They didn't do too well at the Hap, but they can still hit with any team. They are going to have to put up a lot of runs to go deep. Victor Speciale is a stud, and Marco Di Roma, Justin Deleskie, Mike Gareri and JR Crosby are all very good. Andrew Thomson is having a fine season as well. RJ Page has had a couple of rough starts, but his "stuff" is undeniable.

Erindale - The Cardinals' run as an elite team may be nearing it's end. Geoff Cullen is still dominant, John DeWolfe is very good, Chris Novia leads Ontario in homeruns and Frank Coccia is still solid. The Cardinals do not have much to offer in terms of pitching depth.

Prediction: This is a very interesting matchup. It could be a low scoring game, or it could be a shootout. Either team can also win it. I'll take the team that's playing better. Brampton 12 Erindale 7


Round 2

13. Vaughan 4 vs. Martingrove 8

Martingrove will outslug Vaughan.

14. Niagara 4 vs. Oakville 0

The Metros' pitching and defence will prevail.

15. Leaside 13 vs. Sarnia 3

The Leafs' offence will be too potent for Sarnia to handle.

16. East York 5 vs. Burlington 2

East York's edge in pitching will prove to be too much.

17. Thornhill 7 vs. Milton 3

The Reds will upend the Red Sox once again.

18. Ilderton 10 vs. Erindale 8

The Cardinals will once again entertain a slugfest, and once again come out on the losing end.

19. Redbirds 4 vs. Etobicoke 6

The Rangers take on the Redbirds once again in the Elims, and the result will be the same.

20. WAA 2 vs. Markham 6

The Mariners' bats are better, and they will have a very good pitcher on the mound.

21. Mississauga SW 5 vs. Strathroy 1

The Twins roll in this one.

22. Newmarket 1 vs. Windsor 8

It is tough for any team to beat Windsor, especially early on.

23. Tecumseh 3 vs. Glanbrook 5

The Grizzlies will exact some revenge from a controversial loss two years ago.

24. Peterborough 10 vs. Brampton 6

Two high-powered offences will engage in a long game. The Dogs wil beat the Cats.

Round 3

25. Martingrove 3 vs. Niagara 7

These two teams have seen a lot of eachother in tournament play. The Metros will once again emerge victorious.

26. Leaside 4 vs. East York 3

These two GTBL foes will hook up in a good one, with the veteran Leafs coming out on top.

27. Thornhill 8 vs. Ilderton 3

The Red Army will run out of gas.

28. Redbirds 3 vs. WAA 11

The Redbirds will not have the pitching to contain WAA.

29. Strathroy 1 vs. Newmarket 2

The Hawks will get it done with pitching and timely hitting.

30. Tecumseh 6 vs. Brampton 3

The Cats will be done after facing a couple of tough opponents. 2013 will be different.

31. Lakeside 3 vs. Markham 6

Markham continues to knock down wins.

32. Mississauga SW 0 vs. Windsor 3

The Stars get payback from the Hap semi finals.

33. Glanbrook 2 vs. Peterborough 3

Very tough game to call. Peterborough wins it late.

Round 4

34. Leaside 5 vs. Thornhill 2

These two GTBL rivals lock horns with the Leafs winning.

35. WAA 2 vs. Newmarket 8

The end of the road for WAA.

36. Tecumseh 13 vs. Lakeside 4

See above.

37. Mississauga SW 6 vs. Glanbrook 4

The Twins know how to get it done.

38. Etobicoke 8 vs. Markham 7

The Rangers take advantage of a round 3 bye.

39. Windsor 8 vs. Peterborough 1

This game turns into a blow out.

Round 5

40. Niagara 0 vs. Newmarket 2

The Hawks take out the Metros.

41. Tecumseh 2 vs. Mississauga SW 7

The Twins will still have a capable pitcher or two left.

42. Markham 7 vs. Peterborough 12

The Dogs will outslug the Mariners.

43. Etobicoke 2 vs. Windsor 7

The Stars will be too much for Etobicoke to handle in the undefeated game.

Round 6

Six teams remain:

Windsor Stars
Leaside Leafs
Newmarket Hawks
Mississauga SW Twins
Peterborough Riverdogs
Etobicoke Rangers

Round 7

Windsor Stars, Mississauga SW Twins, Peterborough Riverdogs remain

Round 8

Windsor Stars beat Mississauga SW Twins in final

The Windsor Stars will look to win back to back Senior Men's Nationals Championships this week in Prince George, British Columbia. Also heading West will be the Strathroy Royals.

WINDSOR STARS

C Tyler Plumpton, Matt Varacalli
1B Justin Cook
2B Bryan Dufour, Branden Robitaille
3B Andrew Masojc
SS Kevin Mailloux
LF Dave Mastrodicasa, Jake Myers
CF Kris Klassen
RF Tom Grubb, Cameron Goddard, Brian Simone

P

Steve Carter
John Picco
Brad Boussey
Steve Teno
Dane Little
Jason Lauzon
Adam Myers
Mike Czerwieniec

Thursday vs. Prince George
Friday vs. Nova Scotia
Saturday vs. Alberta

STRATHROY ROYALS

C Andrew Mercier, Kyle Harris
1B Craig Vannus, Shawn Robinson, Jamie Bailey
2B Taylor Castrillo, Dylan Little
3B Mark Reaume, Ryan Harry
SS Scott Cushman
LF Craig Jacques
CF Calvin Clapdorp, Tom Geiger
RF Mitch Roy

P

Jordan Townshend
Chad Frayne
Matt Grasby
Danny Robson
Craig Steadman
Ryan Thompson
Matt Emery
Matt Brennan

Thursday vs. British Columbia
Friday vs. New Brunswick
Saturday vs. Manitoba

WINDSOR STARS

Game 1: vs. Manitoba W 9-0

WP- John Picco 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
LP- Sean Dryden

John Picco tossed 6 shutout innings, and the Stars scored five runs in the seventh inning, to win going away. Tom Grubb drove in four runs in the game.

Game 2: vs. Nova Scotia 2 W 6-5 (8 innings)

WP- Matt Rustulka 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
LP- Steve Ivey

The Windsor Stars jumped out to a 5-0 lead, but starter Jason Lauzon gave up four runs in the fifth inning to make it a close game. Nova Scotia 2 scored the tying run in the top of the seventh. In the bottom of the eighth, Justin Pennell singled to start off the inning for his third hit of the game, and was cashed in on a clutch two out, bases loaded single by Dave Mastrodicasa for the winning run.

Game 3: vs. Chatham (host) L 2-1

WP - Matthew Jenkins
LP - Steve Teno 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K

The Stars took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but failed to get on the scoreboard again, as the host Chatham team put up two runs in the fourth to win 2-1. Andrew Masojc had two hits, and Justin Pennell had the only extra-base hit of the game (a double).

Game 4: vs. British Columbia W 6-4

WP - Steve Teno 6 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
LP - Rob Harynuk
SV - Matt Rustulka

The Stars lead wire to wire to improve to 3-1. Tom Grubb had three hits and also drove in two runs.

Game 5: vs. Alberta W 10-0 (5 innings)

WP - Brad Boussey 5 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
LP - Cole Stober

The Stars made quick work of Alberta, scoring six in the fourth and four in the fifth, to advance to the medal round. Bryan Dufour had two hits.

Semi Finals: vs. New Brunswick W 6-1

WP - Mike Czerwieniec 7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
LP - Shawn O'Toole

The Stars broke open a 1-1 game in the top of the seventh, with a four spot. Mike Czerwieniec held New Brunwick to one run in seven innings, giving the offence a chance to wake up.

Gold Medal Game: vs. British Columbia W 8-2

WP - John Picco 7 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 6 BB, 4 K
LP - Leon Boyd

John Picco bent but didn't break, and the Windsor Stars brought the gold home to Ontario! Justin Pennell and Brian Simone had two hits each.


Projected Lineup:

1. Kris Klassen, CF
2. Adam Ellwood, 1B
3. Tom Grubb, RF
4. Justin Pennell, LF
5. Dustin Wiley, C
6. Andrew Masojc, 3B
7. Jason Chapieski, SS
8. Brian Dufour, 2B
9. Dave Mastrodicasa, DH

Rob Mancini
Brandon Robitaille
Brian Simone
Matt Varacalli

Pitchers:

John Picco
Steve Teno
Jason Lauzon
Brad Boussey
Dane Little
Matt Rustulka
Mike Czerwieniec
Adam Myers


MISSISSAUGA TWINS

Game 1: vs. Newfoundland and Labrador W 4-0

The Twins got a great pitching performance from lefty James Byrnes, who scattered just four hits in a complete game shutout. The Twins had just three hits of their own, one of which was a Jerome Smith homerun.

Game 2: vs. New Brunswick L 6-5 (8 innings)

WP- Jake Waugh
LP- Andrew Foster 4 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

Jordan Townshend gave up five runs in the third inning, but the Twins battled back to tie the game with a big five run sixth inning. Andrew Foster came on to relieve, and did a fabulous job. Unfortunately, a leadoff homerun by New Brunswick's Chris Sorenson in the bottom of the 8th, sealed the deal in walk-off fashion. The homerun was the only hit Foster allowed in four plus innings of work. Brendan Emmett doubled and walked three times, and Andrew Dos Santos had three hits.

Game 3: vs. Nova Scotia 1 L 4-2

WP - Marek Deska
LP - Adam Banski 7 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K

A couple of Ontario residents hurt the Twins, as Marek Deska pitched a complete game for Nova Scotia, and Rob Gillis hit a homerun for Nova Scotia. Both play for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the IBL. Brandon Emmett lead the way with three hits.

Game 4: vs. Alberta L 5-4 (9 innings)

WP - James Fischer
LP - Jordan Petruska 4.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

The Twins showed a lot of heart, scoring four runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game, but lost their second extra inning game, this time in the ninth.

Projected Lineup:

1. Jamie Smith, SS
2. Brendan Emmett, 2B
3. Chris Piccini, CF
4. Anthony Fantauzzi, C
5. Ian Campbell, RF
6. Andrew Dos Santos, 3B
7. Jerome Smith, 1B
8. Andrew Salmon, DH
9. Stephan Kulchyk, LF

Mike Cantwell
Mathew Dekundy
Steven Soukas

Pitchers:

Eric Ventura
Jordan Townshend
Adam Banski
James Byrnes
Andrew Foster
Matt Piccini
Jordan Petruska

Windsor (Ontario)

vs. Prince George - Loss 2-0 (LP- Steve Carter)
vs. Nova Scotia - Win 2-1 (WP-John Picco)
vs. Alberta - Win 15-5 (WP- Brad Boussey, HR- Kris Klassen, Kevin Mailloux, Tom Grubb)

Quarter-Finals: vs. Manitoba - Win 8-3 (WP- Steve Teno, HR- Kris Klassen)

Semi-Finals: vs. New Brunswick - Win 14-3 (WP- Mike Czerwieniec, HR- Kris Klassen)

Finals: vs. Prince George - Loss 9-5 (LP- Dane Little, HR- Kevin Mailloux)

Strathroy (Ontario 2)

vs. British Columbia - Loss 5-3 (LP- Matt Brennan)
vs. New Brunswick - Loss 5-2 (LP- Matt Grasby)
vs. Manitoba - Loss 5-4 (LP- Jordan Townshend)

First Team

C Evan Baglieri, Niagara .375, 12 HR, 61 RBI, 18 2B, 35 R, 24 BB
1B Hugh Sullivan, Peterborough .429, 6 HR, 34 RBI
2B Taylor Anderson, Niagara .377, 0 HR, 35 RBI, 26 BB, 12 SB, 41 RBI
3B Ryan Panas, Etobicoke .394, 6 HR, 53 RBI, 16 2B, 38 R
SS Kevin Mailloux, Windsor .438, 7 HR, 42 RBI, 50 R, 9 2B, 10 SB, BB, OBP
OF Kris Klassen, Windsor .376, 5 HR, 46 RBI, 14 2B, 62 R, 18 SB
OF Tim Sogan, Glanbrook
OF Tom Grubb, Windsor .364, 4 HR, 49 RBI, 11 2B, 26 BB
DH Chris Novia, Erindale .318, 15 HR, 43 RBI
RHP Paul McKenna, Niagara 9-1, 2.45 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 103 IP, 98 K
LHP John Picco, Windsor 8-0, 0.93 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 48.1 IP, 63 K
RP Justin Ayles, Niagara 23 GP, 5 GS, 5-2, 3.05 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 4 SV, 65 IP, 58 K

Baglieri was last year's first team catcher, and did almost as well as last season, when he hit 15 HR and 66 RBI. Kris Klassen was a first teamer last year, and he surpassed his 2011 totals in almost every category in 2012. Taylor Anderson was a first-teamer at SS last season. Novia hit 12 HR and was a first teamer at DH last year. This year he quietly led the province in HR. John Picco was last year's first team all-star for LHP. Grubb and Sogan were second teamers in 2011.

Second Team

C Tyler Plumpton, Peterborough .500, 5 HR, 38 RBI 17 2B
1B Brett Sanders, Etobicoke .392, 5 HR, 31 RBI, 12 2B
2B Mike Gough, Ilderton .348, 3 HR, 21 RBI, 3 3B, .446 OBP
3B Matt Stezycki, Tecumseh .280, 6 HR, 26 RBI, 22 BB
SS Justin Deleskie, Brampton .354, 2 HR, 16 RBI, .495 OBP
OF Kyle Moloney, Peterborough .341, 6 HR, 23 RBI, 15 SB
OF Brad Crone, Thornhill .448, 2 HR, 29 RBI, 11 2B
OF Steve Correia, Martingrove .438, 3 HR, 25 RBI, 10 2B
DH Dale Kryway, WAA .373, 5 HR, 25 RBI, 3 3B, .480 OBP
RHP Steve Carter, Windsor 7-3, 2.04 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 66.1 IP, 61 K
LHP Steve Teno, Windsor 5-0, 0.55 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, 33 IP, 40 K
RP Jason Lauzon, Windsor 12 GP, 5 GS, 6-0, 2.87 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 1 SV, 37.2 IP, 30 K

Mike Gough was a second teamer in 2011. Justin Deleskie was a third teamer last year. Carter was a first teamer last year, and teammate Teno was a third teamer.

Third Team

C Matt Varacalli, Windsor .330, 1 HR, 20 RBI, 31 R, 30 BB, .508 OBP
1B Paul Versteeg-Lytwyn, Newmarket .381, 3 HR, 43 RBI, 26 BB, .523 OBP
2B Bryan Dufour, Windsor .344, 0 HR, 17 RBI, 28 BB, .504 OBP
3B Adam Zorzit, Newmarket .341, 4 HR, 24 RBI
SS Marshall McDougall, Niagara .283, 0 HR, 21 RBI, 26 BB, 25 SB, 33 R
OF John DeWolfe, Erindale .371, 3 HR, 26 RBI, 12 2B
OF Daniel Murphy, Etobicoke .344, 0 HR, 26 RBI, 39 R, 26 BB, 29 SB
OF Anthony Vacca, Niagara .331, 1 HR, 26 RBI, 11 2B, 33 BB, .469 OBP
DH Kyle Clancy, Etobicoke .352, 3 HR, 24 RBI
RHP Jordan Petruska, Mississauga 3-0, 2.70 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 53.1 IP, 46 K
LHP Kyle Lawrence, Markham
RP Brad McLaughlin, Brampton 5 GP, 1 GS, 2-0, 2.40 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 15 IP, 20 K

Varacalli amd DeWolfe were both hird teamers in 2011.


MVP

Kevin Mailloux, Windsor Stars

The return of Kevin Mailloux to the Windsor area made things a heck of a lot more difficult for the rest of Ontario. Mailloux solidified the middle of the Stars' lineup, and created a devastating power combo with Tom Grubb. Grubb was the only consistent source of power the Stars have had over the last few years, and Mailloux made things a lot easier for him. In fact, he made things a lot easier for the entire team - as the Stars put up a plethora of runs in 2012. A lot of that offensive outburst can be attributed to the addition of Mailloux.

The slugging shortstop came on strong at the end of the year and posted a .438 batting average (4th in Ontario), to go along with 7 homeruns (3rd) and 42 runs batted in (7th). He also walked 30 times (3rd), and had the highest on base percentage in the province at .572. He added 9 doubles, stole 10 bases, and scored 50 runs (2nd). Although there was not a clear-cut favourite for this award this year, Mailloux' importance to the Stars' powerful offence cannot be ignored. Congratulations to Kevin Mailloux on a fine season.

Runners-up: Kris Klassen, Windsor; Evan Baglieri, Niagara

CY YOUNG

John Picco, Windsor Stars

It was only a matter of time before John Picco was named the Most Valuable Pitcher in the province. With so many of his teammates capturing this award over the years, Picco's turn was undeniably around the corner. In 2009 it was Dane Little, in 2010 Steve Teno, in 2011 Steve Carter, and this year Picco finally gets his turn.

The numbers were extraordinary, and the choice was not very difficult. In 48.1 incredible innings, Picco was 8-0 (2nd) with a .93 ERA (2nd) and a .97 WHIP (7th). He dominated hitters to the tune of 63 strikeouts (4th) - a rate of of 11.73 K/9 IP.

Picco has been the type of pitcher who can throw a no-hitter every time he is on the mound. Picco's trek up the 401 from Woodslee to Windsor has been a huge reason why the Stars seem like they cannot be beaten anymore. Adding Picco to an already accomplished pitching staff has made things unfair so to speak. With such spectacular numbers, it was an easy choice to name John Picco the winner of the 2012 Senior Baseball Cy Young.

Runners-up: Paul McKenna, Niagara; Steve Teno, Windsor

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Ryan Panas, Etobicoke Rangers

Over the last few seasons, naming the winner of this award has been very difficult. Ryan Panas made that decision quite easy this summer. Panas has had a few stints with the Senior Rangers over the last couple of years, but this was his first full season (his first as a Senior-aged player).

Panas raked his way to a .394 average, 6 homeruns (5th) and 53 runs batted in (2nd). He also had 16 doubles (3rd) and scored 38 runs (7th). He seemed to do most of his damage when the Rangers needed him most (in tournaments, and in the playoffs). In those games, the rookie hit .441 with 5 HR and 30 RBI. Panas has played all over the infield for the Rangers, but his bat did a tonne of damage regardless of where he was playing. It is players like Panas who have the Rangers excited about their future. Congraulations to Ryan Panas on a great rookie season.

Runners-up: Brett Sanders, Etobicoke; Jack Malone, East York

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER

Brad Crone, Thornhill Reds

In 2011, the Thornhill Reds had so much offensive firepower that Brad Crone was an afterthought. Although he led the Reds with 130 at bats, Crone hit just .262, with 1 homerun and 20 runs batted in. He walked just four times and struck out 17 times. He had only four extra-base hits all summer. Crone was one of the top pitchers on the Whitby Canadians before coming over to Thornhil, but he did not see a single inning on the hill in 2011.

Fast forward to 2012: where the Reds lost some offensive punch, and needed players to step up their production. Crone has calmly stepped up and assumed a huge role with the Reds. He hit .448 with 2 homeruns and 29 RBI heading into the GTBL playoffs. He also added 11 doubles, and 13 walks to just 11 strikeouts. His .511 OBP was also amongst the province's best. On the mound, Crone impressed so much that he earned a game one Elims start, and a game one playoffs start in the GTBL. He didn't pitch until June, but has forced his way to 42 innings on the hill. He was 4-2 with a save, a 3.21 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. He also struck out 46 hitters. Crone's improvement has kept the Reds in contention in the GTBL.

MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Kerry Hedden, Niagara Metros

Coming off a season in which they finished 11-16-1 and allowed the most runs in COBA, not much was expected of the Niagara Metros in 2012. Somebody forgot to tell Kerry Hedden and the young Metros.

The Metros stormed their way to an 18-10 regular season record, and finished tied with the Brampton Battlecats for the league lead. They also exhibited fine play outside of their league, finishing as semi-finalists in the Strathroy Royals tournament, and also in the always difficult Hap Walters tournament. In the Eliminations, they continued to have success, as they were one of three remaining teams on Monday afternoon. A one run loss to Strathroy ended their quest for a Nationals' berth. Despite the
heart-breaking loss, manager Kerry Hedden got his team right back on track en route to winning the COBA playoffs. The win was the Metros' first playoff win since 2005.

Congratulations to Kerry Hedden and the Niagara Metros on a
terrific 2012 season.

Runners-up: Derek Bloomfield, Strathroy; Scott Stephenson, Brampton

 

First Team

C Evan Baglieri, Niagara .491, 4 HR, 21 RBI, 7 2B, 22 R

1B Victor Speciale, Brampton .423, 2 HR, 21 RBI, 15 R, 7 2B, 4 SB

2B Mark Capone, Etobicoke .412, 0 HR, 14 RBI, 16 BB, 7 2B, 8 SB

3B Taylor Anderson, Niagara .456, 2 HR, 21 RBI, 6 SB, 19 R

SS Graham Magee, Martingrove .467, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 4 2B

OF Jeff Jarockis, Oakville .429, 6 HR, 19 RBI, 8 2B, 3 SB

OF Kyle Moloney, Peterborough .439, 5 HR, 16 RBI, 7 SB, 6 2B

OF Tim Sogan, Glanbrook .429, 4 HR, 7 2B, 2 3B, 8 SB

DH Chris Novia, Erindale .382, 12 HR, 33 RBI, 29 R, 6 2B, 20 BB, .528 OBP

RHP Kyle Breitner, Etobicoke 6-1, 3.12 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 40.1 IP, 50 K

LHP Steve Teno, Windsor 7 GP, 2-0, 2 SV, 0.86 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, 21 IP, 34 K

RP Josh Spagnoletti, Oakville 10 GP, 4-0, 1 SV, 0.88 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 30.2 IP, 34 K

Second Team

C Chris Pittaway, Milton .423, 3 HR, 21 RBI, 11 2B, 20 R

1B Brett Sanders, Etobicoke .342, 3 HR, 19 RBI

2B Frank Coccia, Erindale .321, 0 HR, 8 RBI, 27 R, 7 2B

3B Adam Zorzit, Newmarket .486, 1 HR, 6 RBI

SS Kevin Greer, Milton .360, 0 HR, 17 RBI, 8 2B

OF Andrew Thompson, Brampton .367, 0 HR, 11 RBI, 2 3B, 16 R, 15 SB

OF Daniel Murphy, Etobicoke .326, 0 HR, 10 RBI, 23 SB, 26 R

OF Kyle Fillier, Peterborough .354, 4 HR, 13 RBI

DH Marc Walton, Oakville .393, 2 HR, 23 RBI, 7 2B, 4 SB

RHP Zack Breault, Tecumseh 2-3, 2.45 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 47.2 IP, 54 K

LHP Dane Little, Windsor 9 GP, 4-0, 2 SV, 1.19 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 22.2 IP, 10 K

RP Justin Ayles, Niagara 10 GP, 0-0, 4 SV, 1.73 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 26 IP, 34 K

 

MVP- Jeff Jarockis, Oakville

Jarockis has been a terrific power hitter for the last few years with Oakville.  This season, he has combined his power with an excellent average and team success.  Jeff is currently hitting .429, and 14 of his 21 hits have gone for extra bases (including 6 long balls). He also has 19 RBI and has scored 13 runs to go along with 3 stolen bases.  His .959 slugging percent is good for third in the province.  Above all else, Jarockis has helped Oakville come out of nowhere to become a legitimate threat to win it all this year.  The team has a 15-7 overall record and has a Strathroy tournament victory under it's belt.  When the slugger records 2 or more hits in a game, the A's are 6-0.  In the three games Jeff has failed to register a hit, the team is winless.

Honourable mention: Chris Novia, Erindale; Evan Baglieri, Niagara.

CY YOUNG- Steve Teno, Windsor

Teno has served primarily out of the bullpen for the Stars this season, starting just 2 of the 7 games he has pitched in.  Regardless of the role he has served, Teno has been lights out.  In his 7 games, he has pitched 21 innings, and has allowed just 2 earned runs for a 0.72 ERA to lead the province.  His 0.71 WHIP is also first in the province.  He has a very impressive 34 strikeouts and leads the province with 14.57 strikeouts per 9 innings. In addition to all that, Teno has a perfect 2-0 record and has added 2 saves as well.

Honourable mention: Kyle Breitner, Etobicoke; Zack Breault, Tecumseh

ROOKIE- Kyle Breitner, Etobicoke

The young Etobicoke righty is in his first Senior eligible year, and he has not disappointed.  He leads the province with 6 wins, and also has a 3.12 ERA and 1.31 WHIP.  He has pitched 40.1 innings, and has 50 strikeouts for a rate of 11.16 strikeouts per 9 innings.  He is in the top ten in both innings pitched, strikeouts, and K/9.  Kyle struggled to start the season, combining for 3.1 IP, 5 H, 11 R, 9 ER, 9 BB, 2 K in his first two appearances.  Since then, he is 6-0 with a 1.21 ERA, and a 1.05 WHIP.  If you take those first two games out of the equation, he is easily the frontrunner for the "Cy Young".

Honourable mention: Zack Breault, Tecumseh

MOST IMPROVED- Chris Pittaway, Milton

Pittaway has exploded onto the scene for the Red Sox in 2013.  The catcher is hitting .423 (10th in Ontario) in 78 at bats.  His 33 hits are first in the province, and so are his 11 doubles.  He has scored 20 runs, which rank him in the top 10.  He has also showed some pop, hitting 3 HR and adding 21 RBI.  What is most impressive about what Pittaway has done thus far, is the fact that 2012 wasn't nearly as kind to him.  Last year, he hit .151 in 53 at bats, with 0 HR and 12 RBI.  Needless to say, 2013 has been a completely different story.

Honourable mention: Kyle Killier, Peterborough; Mark Sikorski, East York

MANAGER- Steve Breitner, Etobicoke

The Rangers struggled to start the season, but have been scorching hot as of late.  They recently had a 12 game winning streak snapped by the Tecumseh Thunder in extra innings of the Lakeside tournament.  The team has an overall record of 18-7 and are currently ranked 3rd in the Ontario top 10.  Breitner has guided this young team to a great deal of success, including a tournament victory in Vaughan.  With the young talent on the roster, and Breitner making the decisions, it will not be a surprise at all to see the Rangers reign supreme once again in the province.

Honourable mention: Ron Smith, Windsor; David Smallhorn, Oakville

Game 1: Tecumseh Thunder vs. Bolton Brewers

The Thunder can put themselves in really good shape with a win over Bolton.  The winner of this game gets a bye into the third round, where they will play either of Etobicoke, Lakeside or East York.  As we have seen in this tournament year in and year out, anything can happen;  therefore, Tecumseh needs to be careful not to look ahead to the third round.  

The Thunder are very deep when it comes to pitching, and they have a very realistic shot at winning it all.  They can try to win this game without using one of their best pitchers, and get into Saturday afternoon with a stable of pitching left.  Zack Breault has been one of the best pitchers in the game, and leads the province in innings pitched and strikeouts at the time of writing.  Matt Stezycki has also been a pleasant help to the Thunder on the mound, pitching some big games early on.  He also has a couple of homeruns at the plate.  In addition to these two, they have one of the best lefties around in Mitch Kramer.  The biggest news for this team has been the signings of Matt Cook and Justin Cook.  The two hard-throwing brothers are a part of a long list of flamethrowers to come out of the Windsor area.  All of these pitchers, yet no mention has been made about their ace from the past few years: Kyle Trudell.  Trudell has not been in his form from recent years but he is obviously capable of winning a game or two at the Elims.  Brandon Lindquist is another good, young arm out of the bullpen, and can start and win against pretty much any team.  All of this pitching is quite the change from years past, when the Thunder have had an excess of hitting but little pitching to match.

The Bolton Brewers are going to be hard-pressed to make a run.  They were not done any favours by drawing Tecumseh in the first round.  After winning their first two GTBL games, and showing well in Tillsonburg, the Brewers have struggled outside of the North Dufferin League.  They have dropped five straight GTBL contests.  Shawn Chalmers, Brett Chater and Mike Wallace have been tearing up pitching in the North Dufferin League, but they must prove that they can do it against better teams.  Chalmers is a former IBL product and is the teams best hitter.  Pat Warden is a hard-throwing lefty who will likely get the nod in the first game.  Tecumseh shouldn't take him lightly because he is a solid pitcher.  Outside of that, the Brewers need some guys to step up and get it done.

Prediction: Tecumseh 5 (Trudell) Bolton 2 (Warden)

Game 2: Etobicoke Rangers vs. Lakeside Lizards

The winner of this game takes on the East York Bulldogs, who received a first round bye.  The loser takes on the loser of Tecumseh and Bolton.  Both teams have had successful seasons, but 2013 seems like it is shaping up to be a great one for the Etobicoke Rangers, and winning this game would set them up to go deep into the weekend.

The Rangers have reeled off a bunch of wins and have vaulted themselves to second in the Ontario top ten list heading into this weekends Hap Walters.  They already have a tournament title after winning Vaughan, and they made it to the sem-finals in London.  The Rangers possess a versatile offence, with a good mix of speed and power.  The offence is led by 1B Brett Sanders, who is one of the premier sluggers in Senior baseball.  Throw 3B Ryan Panas and 2B Mark Capone in the mix, and you have three-quarters of one of the best infields going.  The outfield is patrolled by speedsters Daniel Murphy and Jeff Altpeter.  Murphy has been the most dangerous baserunner in Ontario the last two years.  Kyle Breitner is quickly becoming one of the best pitchers in Senior baseball, and appears to be the ace of the team at the moment.  Andrew Hyde is a close second on the depth chart.  Both pitchers are among the province leaders in innings pitched and strikeouts, and Breitner leads the way in wins.  Josh Wood is a guy who has not been talked about much, but he is a very good pitcher who will be counted on heavily.

Prediction: Etobicoke 3 (Breitner) Lakeside 2

Game 3: Newmarket Hawks vs. Peterborough Riverdogs

This game between GTBL foes should be a good one.  Both teams have the ability to make a deep run, and it's too bad that one of them is guaranteed a loss after the first round. That being said, the winner of this one will have a much easier task in their round two game, as they will play the winner of Martingrove and Burlington.

Newmarket is a team that has exhibited success in tournaments over the years.  They have a lot of arms who can get the job done, and a lineup that is capable of hitting in key situations.  This team is filled with a lot of accomplished veterans, and the time to win is now because the window of opportunity may be closing.  Victor Simon has bounced around from team to team but he can still get it done both on the mound and at the plate.  Re-signing Kevin Holloway is a huge boost for this team, as he is a sparkplug at the top of the lineup.  Paul Versteeg-Lytwyn and Adam Zorzit are arguably the two best hitters on the team, and Zorzit can also lend a hand on the mound as well.  Mark West is probably the best "closer" in Senior baseball, and this year he has been helping at the plate too.  The biggest strength of this team is its pitching depth, and guys like Simon, West (late in games), Zorzit and Adam Kallio will be relied on the most.  If they can manage to get by Peterborough, they will be able to take advantage of their aforementioned depth.

There are not many teams that can hit like Peterborough.  The question with this team will be how many quality starts can they get with their pitching staff?  Offensively, there haven't been many hitters hotter than Kyle Moloney and Kyle Fillier.  Both outfielders are having great seasons and possess a tonne of talent.  Tyler Plumpton is the best catcher Senior baseball has to offer.  He can also help out on the mound as well.  1B/P Hugh Sullivan is another dual threat who can get it done on the mound and at the dish.  Regardless of how many great hitters they have, Dave Anderson and Brad Grieverson are going to have to be the team's two most valuable players Eliminations weekend.  They are both going to have to pitch to their capabilities likely more than once for this team to win.  The health of Gary Rose and John Murray will also be a big question mark for the Tigers.

Prediction: Peterborough 4 (Grieverson) Newmarket 3 (Kallio)

Game 4: Burlington Brants vs. Martingrove White Sox

Both of these teams drew one of the few teams that they are legitimately capable of beating.  The winner will have a tough task taking on the winner of Peterborough/Newmarket, whereas the loser is set up nicely to go two and out.

 Burlington getting an Intercounty team did not bode well for the Brants, as they have lost a lot of potential talent to their IBL counterparts.  That being said, when they are at full strength they have the ability to run out three to four hitters who can put the ball out of the park.  Roger Lambert and Paul Saville are the two best hitters on the Brants.  Saville recently left the Burlington Bandits of the IBL and re-joined the Brants for the stretch run.  Darryl Pierce is one of the best fielding second basemen in the province, and this season he has also contributed with the bat,- hitting over .300.  This team is going to find it extremely difficult to find pitchers who can shut down opponents.  Cam McKnight and Vince Cambruzzi are two decent options for the Brants, but outside of that they are in trouble.  A healthy Trevor Woodjetts would be huge for this team's chances.

On paper, the White Sox have improved considerably over the years.  They are playing roughly .500 ball this year, and that can be attributed to the increase in talent on the roster.  They are not a part of the GTBL's elite, but they are making strides.  Like the Brants, this team can hit.  Graham Magee, Ryan Fosbery and Steve Correia are all very good hitters.  Denis Hucal is also a very underrated player who seems to get better with age.  He can also contribute on the hill along with Correia.  The difference between the Sox and the Brants is that Martingrove has more talent on the mound.  Patrick Vecchiarelli has been the best pitcher on the team for some time, and has been a strikeout-per-inning type of pitcher.  His older brother Rob, a one-time Etobicoke standout has also joined the team recently.  It will be interesting to see if Jeremiah Sammy will be available to contribute for this team.  If so, the former Rockies' farmhand makes this team potentially dangerous.

Prediction: Martingrove 7 (P. Vecchiarelli) Burlington 4 (McKnight)

Game 5: Thornhill Redbirds vs. Strathroy Royals

It is hard to look at this game any other way other than the fact that Strathroy is expected to easily take care of the Redbirds.  The winner of this game takes on the winner of Vaughan and Milton.

The Redbirds have not improved much since they have shifted to the GTBL a few years ago.  They have kept their roster mostly intact, and it has yielded similar results year after year.  They are going to be in tough in this matchup, and every other matchup for that matter.  Myles Swartz is a pretty decent pitcher, but outside of him this team is in a lot of trouble.

The Royals are last year's runner-up, and they have the chance to repeat their success of last year.  They seem to have lost a couple of bats from last years team, but they still have the talent and pitching to win.  They will not have to face any of the upper echelon teams until at least the third round.  This team has a few very good pitchers, led Tyler Annett, Matt Brennan and Matt Grasby. Brennan is a former member of the London Rippers pro team.  He and Grasby both started games at the Nationals last year.  The biggest question for this team will be its ability to hit.  The pitchers will keep the team in almost every game, but it is going to be the hitters who will have to step up when it matters.  They need to take full advantage of a favourable early draw.

Prediction: Strathroy 8 (Steadman) Redbirds 1 (M. Swartz)

Game 6: Milton Red Sox vs. Vaughan Vikings

This will be an interesting game.  The Red Sox have been playing solid baseball all season long, but will be in tough against a Vaughan team that is very scrappy and capable of pulling off upsets.  The winner plays the winner of the Redbirds/Strathroy matchup.

Milton has gotten a lot younger over the years, and they have also gotten better,  An influx of new faces have helped the Red Sox' offence a great deal.  A bunch of Milton's hitters are having good seasons, including: Chris Pittaway, Don Smith, James Bruce and newly signed Jordan Windisch from the IBL.  The team's best player is probably SS Kevin Greer.  He is as solid as they come.  The team has a lot of new faces in the lineup, but it is the usual suspects who get it done for them on the mound.  The trio of Ian Zettle, Tyler Wilson and Liam Tenant is very good.  Milton is a very difficult team to project, as they can win both of their first two rounds as easily as they can lose them.

 The Vikings showed earlier this year that they are capable of reeling off some upsets.  They were able to handle Martingrove, East York and even Peterborough at the Vaughan tournament earlier this year.  They eventually ran out of pitchers in a 21-3 pasting at the hands of Etobicoke.  To win this tournament you need a bunch of capable pitchers, which this team might be hard-pressed to find.  Early on though, guys like Daniel Pelley and Matthew Laise are good options for Vaughan on the hill.  Julian Testani is the team's best hitter.

Prediction: Milton 4 (Zettle) Vaughan 2 (Pelley)

Game 7: Oakville A's vs. Markham Mariners

This is another good game on the schedule for the opening round.  The A's are a team that has been playing well all season long, whereas the Mariners have had an up-and-down season but usually do well in this tournament.  The winner plays the winner of Erindale and Sarnia.

Oakville has a few very capable arms.  Gord Robertson and Marc Walton have been the two guys at the top of the rotation for the last few years.  They now have a bit of help from Dan McMullan and Josh Spagnoletti.  The latter has put together a very good season for the A's, ranking in the top 10 in multiple categories.  Offensively, Jeff Jarockis is putting together an MVP-caliber season.  He is in the top 10 in both AVG and HR.  Matt Bekar has also come on strong of late, and Walton is also good at the plate as well.  This team is very sound defensively, and has a deep pitching staff.  They definitely have the tools to get it done.

Markham has been inconsistent this season but they seem to turn it on come tournament time.  They usually make a deep run every August in the elims, and also make deep runs in all the other tournaments they play in.  Eventually they just run out of gas and pitching.  Steve Anderson re-joined the team a couple of weeks ago and he is one of the true aces in Senior baseball.  He can also hit for a tonne of power.  He is a huge addition for the team.  Jesse Dynes continues to hit homeruns for the Mariners and is showing very little signs of slowing down.  Mark Cheeseman seems to have regained his form of years past, when he dominated Senior baseball every year.  The question will be what kind of pitching will they get from Kyle Lawrence and Brad Binns?

Prediction: Markham 3 (Anderson) Oakville 2 (Robertson)

Game 8: Erindale Cardinals vs. Sarnia Braves

Erindale's mighty offence takes on a Sarnia team who probably has a decent pitcher or two.  The question will be whether or not Sarnia can hit enough to keep it close?  The winner takes on the winner of Markham and Oakville.

It seems like you can just pick a name out of a hat for Erindale's pitching staff and each guy will do pretty much the same thing.  John DeWolfe is the best pitcher on the team, but after him it is anyones guess what they will get from their pitching.  One thing is for sure: they can hit with anyone.  Chris Novia is doing his best Geoff Cullen impersonation this season, leading the province in HR and RBI.  Cullen is also still hitting the ball out of the park, although his AVG has dropped a bit.  DeWolfe is also a key contributor in the lineup as well.  Jay Woodford and Jon Amendola are also having good seasons for the Cardinals, who can all ut the ball out of the park 1 through 9.

Prediction: Erindale 10 (Morely) Sarnia 5

Game 9: Glanbrook Grizzlies vs. Mississauga SW Twins

This is quite simply the game to watch in the first round.  As is the case in the Newmarket/Peterborough matchup, it is too bad one of these teams is guaranteed a loss in round one.  The winner will take on the winner of WAA and Thornhill.

Glanbrook always has the team capable of putting together a run and winning it all.  For whatever reason, they just seem to find ways to lose.  They were battling a bunch of injuries earlier in the year, but are slowly overcoming them and putting together a good stretch of baseball.  They are one of the deepest teams when it comes to pitching, and they have a couple of very capable hitters.  Tim Sogan is the key to this team.  He is the best hitter and pitcher on the team, and he is one of the best in Ontario at both.  Chris Cooney, Atsushi Urata and Mike Grilli also provide some good quality pitching for the Grizzlies.  Corrie Morrison is an unsung star for this team at the plate.  The Grizzlies need to get deep enough to take full advantage of their strength in pitching depth.

The Twins have been a force the past couple of seasons.  Two years ago they made it to the Elims finals, and since then they have been winning games with regularity and doing well in tournaments.  Like the Grizzlies, they have a tonne of pitching.  They have arguably the best pitching staff next to the Windsor Stars and that is why they continue to dominate.  Adam Paish, Eric Ventura and Adam Banski lead a staff that has about 5-6 excellent starters. Offensively, they are not pushovers by any means.  They have some very good hitters like Sean Bignall, Jamie Smith and Chris Piccini.  Smith is arguably the best SS in the province.

Prediction: Glanbrook 2 (Sogan) Mississauga 1 (Paish)

Game 10: Windsor AA vs. Thornhill Reds

These two teams met up in the Tillsonburg semi-finals where WAA squeezed by Thornhill 1-0.  The winner of this game plays either Glanbrook or Mississauga SW.

Despite a bad overall record, WAA can never be counted out.  They compete hard, pitch decent enough, and play sound defence.  They do not make many mistakes, and for this reason they are in a lot of ballgames come tournament time.  The difficulty with this team is that they lack that big bat and that big arm.  Cody Seremack has done his best to become the team's ace but they are usualy outmatched in the pitching department.  At the plate, they do not really have that big bat that puts a scare into opposing pitching.  But once again, the team's deficiencies seem to never get in the way of their competitive spirit and they always go down fighting.

Thornhill was struggling mightily earlier this year but they go into the Hap Walters firing on all cylinders.  They are now somehow .500 after winning six in a row at the time of writing. They have had commitment and injury issues all season long, but are still a very formidable opponent when they are at full strength.  That is something they can never be without Justin Pennell though, and the slugger is questionable for the Elims due to injuries.  Outside of him, Brian MacDonald, Mike Alati and Tyler Cattapan need to have big weekends for this team to go far.  SS Argenis Paz is a wizard with the glove.  They don't really have a true ace, but they do have some pitchers who are very solid.  Brad Crone, Dave McElroy and Phil Owen are the best pitchers on the team.  Chadwick Cameron has also stepped up to solidify their depth.

Prediction: Thornhill 3 (Crone) WAA 2 (Seremack)

Game 11: Brampton Battlecats vs. Niagara Metros

This game matches up two COBA rivals.  One has been one of the best in the league whereas the other has dropped to the bottom of the standings.  The winner plays the winner of Ilderton and Leaside.

The Battlecats seem to have lost way too much firepower from the last couple of years.  Victor Speciale has done an unbelievable job keeping this team afloat but they lost a couple of key bats from last year and JR Crosby is questionable for the Elims as well.  Andrew Thompson has also had a good season for the Battlecats.  Pitching is a huge question mark for this team.  Steve Hough is a lot better than his numbers indicate, but even with him at his best the team is going to be in trouble.

The Metros have solidified themselves as a bonafide team and it seems like they are here to stay for a while.  They are young and good.  They have also lost a lot of talent over the years but an influx of young stars has made them even better somehow.  Paul McKenna and Geoff Strong form a very good 1-2 punch in the pitching department.  Justin Ayles has also been very good for the Metros.  Evan Baglieri is now probably the most feared hitter in the province- and for good reason.  He has had some monster seasons and this year is no different.  Taylor Anderson is also establishing himself as one of the best players in the province.  Ricky Ferri is a very versatile player and can do a lot of different things on the field.  The question for this team will be how much pitching can they get from the back-end of their rotation?

Prediction: Niagara 6 (Strong) vs. Brampton 3 (Strong)

Game 12: Ilderton Red Army vs. Leaside Leafs

Both of these teams have not done much since making the Elims finals in 2009 and 2010 respectively.  The Leafs are still very talented though and have a chance at a run.  The winner of this game plays the winner of Brampton/Niagara.

The Red Army have kind of fell off the map since making the Elims finals in 2010.  They seem to have a lot of their key hitters from that team, including Craig Orton and Rob Wakefield , but they lack in quality pitching.  They have lost a few key pitchers from the past few seasons and just don't seem to have the necessary depth to make a run.  Former Indians draft pick Nick Cobler has been the team's best pitcher and is poised to pitch an upset.

The Leafs are a hard team to predict.  They have an abundance of talent but just don't seem to be able to put a long stretch of quality baseball together.  Davey Wallace, Travis Skelton and Tyler Hughes make up a very good top of the lineup.  Bryan Rock is arguably the team's most important player.  On paper they have a wealth of hitting, but seem to be struggling to put up runs in tournaments this year.  They are not going to the Hap either, so it will be difficult to judge exactly where they stand.  Jorge Frugoni is the unquestionable ace of the team, and he is going to have to give them two great starts to win this thing.

Prediction: Leaside 2 (Frugoni) Ilderton 0 (Cobler)

Round 2 Predictions

13. Bolton 4 vs. Lakeside 6

14. Newmarket 5 (Simon) vs. Burlington 3 (Cambruzzi)

15. Redbirds 5 vs. Vaughan 11

16. Oakville 4 (Spagnoletti) vs. Sarnia 3

17. Mississauga SW 9 (Banski) vs. WAA 3 (Parker)

18. Brampton 10 (Burke) vs. Ilderton 8 (Ambrose)

19. East York 2 (Sikorski) vs. Etobicoke 3 (Hyde)

20. Peterborough 6 (Kempt) vs. Martingrove 4 (Bannon)

21. Strathroy 2 (Brennan) vs. Milton 0 (Wilson)

22. Markham 5 (Lawrence) vs. Erindale 8 (DeWolfe)

23. Glanbrook 5 (Urata) vs. Thornhill 2 (McElroy)

24. Niagara 7 (McKenna) vs. Leaside 3 (S. Donnelly)

Round 3 Predictions

25. Newmarket 7 (Di Lulio) vs. Lakeside 4

26. Vaughan 2 vs. Oakville 8 (McMullan)

27. Mississauga SW 13 (Ventura) vs. Brampton 3 (McLaughlin)

28. East York (Gallo) 5 vs. Martingrove (Hucal) 3

29. Milton 3 (Tenant) vs. Markham 6 (Cheeseman)

30. Thornhill (Owen) 4 vs. Leaside 6 (R. Donnelly)

31. Peterborough 3 (Anderson) vs. Tecumseh 4 (Breault)

32. Strathroy 9 (Annett) vs. Erindale 4 (Mullin)

33. Glanbrook 2 (Cooney) vs. Niagara 5 (Ayles)

Round 4 Predictions

34. Oakvile 1 (Walton) vs. Mississauga SW 4 (Petruska)

35. East York 7 (Lawson) vs. Markham 2 (Binns)

36. Leaside 4 (Goodale) vs. Peterborough 10 (Sullivan)

37. Erindale 5 (Estey) vs. Glanbrook 8 (Grilli)

38. Etobicoke 3 (Wood) vs. Tecumseh 5 (M. Cook)

39. Strathroy 4 (Grasby) vs. Niagara 3 (Kusey)

Round 5 Predictions

40. Newmarket 4 (Zorzit) vs. Missisauga SW 8 (Byrnes)

41. Peterborough 5 (Plumpton) vs. Glanbrook 2 (Wild)

42. Etobicoke 6 (Dannett) vs. Niagara 5 (Beattie)

43. Tecumseh 6 (J. Cook) vs. Strathroy 1

Round 6 Predictions

Final 6 teams: Mississauga SW, Peterborough, Etobicoke, Strathroy, East York, Tecumseh (undefeated)

Round 7 Predictions

Final 4 teams: Peterborough, Mississauga SW, Etobicoke, Tecumseh

Round 8 Predictions

Final 2 teams: Mississauga SW vs. Tecumseh

Champions: Tecumseh Thunder

 

 

1. Mississauga Southwest 7-1, 49 RF, 30 RA

2. Tecumseh 5-2, 36 RF, 22 RA

3. Newmarket 4-2, 32 RF, 17 RA

3. East York 4-2, 29 RF, 27 RA

5. Erindale 4-2, 33 RF, 23 RA

5. Sarnia 3-2, 17 RF, 26 RA

7. Niagara 3-2, 28 RF, 15 RA

7. Thornhill 3-2, 28 RF, 27 RA

7. Etobicoke 3-2, 24 RF, 14 RA

10. Strathroy 2-2, 21 RF, 20 RA

10. Oakville 2-2, 17 RF, 16 RA

10. WAA 2-2, 22 RF, 18 RA

10. Bolton 1-2, 10 RF, 15 RA

14. Leaside 1-2, 16 RF, 21 RA

14. Milton 1-2, 12 RF, 16 RA

14. Burlington 1-2, 7 RF, 23 RA

14. Ilderton 1-2, 22 RF, 21 RA

14. Vaughan 1-2, 9 RF, 15 RA

14. Peterborough 1-2, 15 RF, 14 RA

20. Lakeside 0-2, 4 RF, 9 RA

20. Martingrove 0-2, 2 RF, 12 RA

20. Redbirds 0-2, 8 RF, 15 RA

20. Markham 0-2, 4 RF, 12 RA

20. Glanbrook 0-2, 5 RF, 17 RA

20. Brampton 0-2, 5 RF, 15 RA

The Mississauga SW Twins took advantage of the absence of the Windsor Stars, and are headed back to the Nationals after defeating the Tecumseh Thunder in the gold medal game by a 3-2 score.  The Twins downed East York 4-1 in the first semi-final at 9AM this morning, and the Thunder beat Newmarket 4-3 in the second semi-final.  

The Twins are fresh off a Hap Walters tournament victory just two weekends ago.  In their first game, they snuck by Glanbrook 7-4 in extra innings.  Michael Cardinale picked up the victory.  They were trailing 4-2 to Thornhill in their second game, before they struck for 5 runs in the 7th inning to shock the Reds.  Jordan Petruska earned the win there.  In round three, the Niagara Metros destroyed the Twins 12-2 as ace Adam Paish was handed the loss.  The Twins rebounded in their next contest with a 6-2 win against last year's finalist Strathroy.  In the next game, Mississauga defeated Thornhill again.  This time they had an easier time, winning 10-4.  On Sunday night, the Twins once had an easy time again- eliminating Sarnia with a 10-0 win to make it to today's semi-final.

The Thunder took the "back door" to get to the finals.  They shockingly lost their first game to Bolton, losing 2-1 with Mitch Kramer on the hill.  In their second game, Zack Breault took the hill and dealt Lakeside a 4-2 loss.  The Thunder scored 2 runs in the 7th to go ahead for good.  In round three, the Thunder used an 8-run fifth inning to beat  Peterborough 11-7.  The win got them a bye and they faced Etobicoke afterwards.  The Thunder scored 4 runs in the second inning before holding off Etobicoke 4-3.  Matt Cook got the win. In the next round, Tecumseh dealt East York their first loss, winning 10-3 with Matt Stezycki on the hill.  That win got them into today.

In 2011, the Twins earned a berth in the Nationals after losing to Windsor in the finals of the Eliminations.  2013 has been an unbelievable year for the Twins who sit at the top of the COBA standings with a 17-5 record.  They have also been successful in three tournaments.  At the Lakeside tournament the Twins made it to the finals where they lost to the Tecumseh Thunder Juniors.  Their only two losses in the tournament were to the Juniors, and they went 4-0 against Senior teams.  At the Hap Walters, the Twins ran the table with a 5-0 record and a championship.  After all that, they did not disappoint this weekend as the top ranked team in the tournament.  They did not receive a bye all tournament long and went 7-1.  Overall, they are no 33-8 this season.  Congratulations to the Twins on a great season and best of luck in Windsor at the Nationals.

 

WINDSOR STARS

C Laszlo Horvath, Tyler Plumpton

1B Adam Ellwood

2B Bryan Dufour

3B Andrew Mosojc

SS Branden Robitaille, Jason Chapieski

OF Kris Klassen, Dave Mastrodicasa, Tom Grubb, Cam Goddard

P Dane Little, Steve Teno, Matt Cook, Brad Boussey, Zack Breault,  Mike Czerwieniec, John Picco, Steve Carter, Jason Lauzon, Adam Myers

 

Schedule:

Thu. Aug. 22 - Vs. Alberta 2. WIN 5-4 (8 innings) (WP- Jason Lauzon)

Fri. Aug. 23 - Vs. New Brunswick.  WIN 4-1 (WP- Steve Carter, SV- Brad Boussey)

Fri. Aug. 23 - Vs. Manitoba. WIN 4-3 (10 innings) (WP- Zack Breault, HR- Bryan Dufour)

Sat. Aug. 24 - Vs. British Columbia.  LOSS 10-0 (LP- Mike Czerwieniec)

QF: Sat. Aug. 24 - Vs. Alberta. WIN 3-2 (10 innings) (WP- Adam Myers)

SF: Sun. Aug. 25 - 1:00 PM Vs. Mississauga Southwest (Ontario)

 

 

 

 

MISSISSAUGA SOUTHWEST TWINS

C John Broll, Ed Largy, Antonio Fantauzzi

1B Jerome Smith

2B Brendan Emmett

3B Matt Dekundy

SS Jamie Smith

OF Stephan Kulchyk, Ian Campbell, Chris Piccini, Matt Piccini, Nathan Smith, Mike Cantwell, Sean Bignall

P Paul McKenna, Jordan Petruska, Adam Paish, James Byrnes, Adam Banski, Michael Cardinale, Billy Hurley

 

Schedule:

Thu. Aug. 22 - Vs. New Brunswick 2. WIN 7-4 (WP- Billy Hurley, SV- Michael Cardinale)

Fri. Aug. 23 - Vs. Newfoundland.  WIN 4-1 (WP- James Byrnes)

Fri. Aug. 23 - Vs. Nova Scotia. WIN 2-0 (WP- Jordan Petruska,  SV- Michael Cardinale)

Sat. Aug. 24 - Vs. Alberta. WIN 7-1 (WP- Adam Paish,  HR- Matt Dekundy)

SF: Sun. Aug. 24 - 1:00 PM Vs. Windsor (Host)

 

 

The Twins had to rebound after a heart-breaking loss to the Windsor Stars.  Manitoba also faced a similar fate, losing 1-0 to BC in the other semi-final.

The Twins got off to a good start, with slugger Sean Bignall hitting his second homerun of the day to put his team ahead 1-0 in the first- giving starter James Byrnes an early lead.

The Twins would forge ahead 7-1 before Manitoba came storming back to cut the gap to 7-6.  That is as close as they would come as Mississauga won 10-6.

WP- James Byrnes 4.2 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 0 BB, 5 K

Sean Bignall- 4 for 4, HR, 3 RBI,  3 R

Jerome Smith- 2 for 3, 2 RBI,  2 R

The Windsor Stars jumped ahead 3-0 early on and led wire to wire to win 3-1.  Thomas Grubb homered and Bryan Dufour drove in a run and scored one himself.

John Picco started and pitched 3 innings and gave up 1 run, 4 hits and struck out 1.  Zack Breault came on to relieve Picco and pitched the final 4 innings, earning his second win of the tournament.  He walked two batters in the final inning but got a double play to end the game. He did not allow a hit and struck out 1 in 4 innings.

Congratulations to the Stars on yet another miraculous season.  They are not only Ontario's best but they are once again the best in Canada.

WP- Zack Breault 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K

Tom Grubb- 2 for 3, HR, RBI, R

 

First Team

C Evan Baglieri, Niagara .440, 6 HR, 36 RBI, 16 2B, 24 BB, 20 SB, .521 OBP

1B Brett Sanders, Etobicoke .403, 7 HR, 52 RBI, 5 SB, 17 2B, 4 3B, 45 R, 73 H

2B Mark Capone, Etobicoke .408, 1 HR, 37 RBI, 41 BB, 17 SB, 22 2B, 3 3B, .526 OBP, 58 R, 69 H

3B Ryan Panas, Etobicoke .342, 3 HR, 40 RBI, 23 BB, 11 SB, 13 2B, 3 3B, 35 R, 55 H

SS Jamie Smith, Mississauga SW .304, 5 HR, 22 RBI, 49 H, 29 BB, 22 SB

OF Tim Sogan, Glanbrook

OF Kyle Moloney, Peterborough .405, 5 HR, 24 RBI, 9 2B, 31 R, 10 SB, .510 OBP

OF Daniel Murphy, Etobicoke .315, 27 RBI, 18 BB, 41 SB, 47 R, 58 H

DH Chris Novia, Erindale .327, 19 HR, 57 RBI, 11 2B, 48 H, 53 R, 38 BB

RHP Steve Carter, Windsor 13 GP, 10 GS, 9-0, 2 SV, 4 CG, 1.52 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 65 IP, 44 H, 10 BB, 48 K

LHP Steve Teno, Windsor 13 GP, 6 GS, 6-0, 3 SV, 1.80 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 2 CG, 55 IP, 36 H, 14 BB, 75 K

RP Michael Cardinale, Mississauga SW 4-0, 7 SV, 2.87 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 31.1 IP, 29 H, 9 BB, 26 K

Second Team

C Tyler Plumpton, Peterborough .379, 1 HR, 21 RBI, 26 R

1B Jerome Smith, Mississauga SW .385, 3 HR, 42 RBI, 50 H, 28 BB, .500 OBP

2B Jeremiah Groulx, Thornhill .357, 1 HR, 31 RBI, 13 SB, 50 H, 36 R

3B Taylor Anderson, Niagara .404, 2 HR, 35 RBI, 11 SB, 2 3B, 33 R

SS Kevin Greer, Milton .333, 4 HR, 29 RBI, 10 2B, 53 H, 31 R

OF Matt Bekar, Oakville .376, 2 HR, 25 RBI, 25 R, 8 2B, 44 H, 22 BB, 19 SB

OF Jeff Jarockis, Oakville .406, 6 HR, 20 RBI, 9 2B, 5 SB, 16 R

OF Sean Bignall, Mississauga SW .367, 4 HR, 38 RBI, 14 2B, 9 SB

DH Marc Walton, Oakville .361, 3 HR, 36 RBI, 12 2B

RHP Zack Breault, Tecumseh 17 GP, 13 GS, 6-5, 2.56 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 1 SV, 7 CG, 98.1 IP, 72 H, 41 BB, 107 K

LHP Mitch Kramer, Tecumseh 7 GP, 7 GS, 4-2, 1.66 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 3 CG, 38 IP, 35 H, 4 BB, 44 K

RP Brad Boussey, Windsor 8 GP, 1 GS, 2-1, 3 SV, 1.37 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 26.1 IP, 24 H, 3 BB, 19 K

Third Team

C Chris Pittaway, Milton .324, 3 HR, 34 RBI, 15 2B

1B Geoff Cullen, Erindale .313, 8 HR, 39 RBI

2B Brandon Emmett, Mississauga SW .340, 1 HR, 28 RBI, 17 2B, 21 BB, 9 SB

3B Matt Dekundy, Mississauga SW .367, 5 HR, 27 RBI, 9 2B

SS Paul Wilson, Thornhill .336, 0 HR, 25 RBI, 40 BB, 6 2B, .506 OBP

OF James Bruce, Milton .319, 2 HR, 24 RBI, 23 BB, 21 SB, 5 3B, 39 R

OF Jay Woodford, Erindale .324, 5 HR, 33 RBI, 9 2B

OF Brian MacDonald, Thornhill .317, 5 HR, 39 RBI

DH Dave Davidson, Niagara .305, 5 HR, 30 RBI

RHP Andrew Hyde, Etobicoke 16 GP, 7-1, 2.46 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 87.2 IP, 76 H, 37 BB, 94 K

LHP Mike Czerwieniec, Windsor 7 GP, 6 GS, 1-3, 1 SV, 2 CG, 2.18 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 33 IP, 26 H, 9 BB, 22 K

RP Josh Spagnoletti, Oakville 15 GP, 4 GS, 5-2, 2.56 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 2 SV, 52.2 IP, 43 H, 20 BB, 45 K

 

 

MVP

 

Brett Sanders, Etobicoke Rangers

Of all the years this award has been handed out, this year by far has been the most difficult to decide a winner.  There were plenty of deserving candidates, and all of them were completely deserving of the honour.  In the end, Etobicoke first baseman Brett Sanders got the nod.

Sanders' accomplishments speak for themselves.  The slugger hit .403 (8th in Ontario) with 7 HR (3rd) and 52 RBI (2nd).  He also added 45 runs scored (5th), 17 doubles (2nd), 4 triples (2nd), 5 stolen bases and 73 hits (1st).  In addition to those impressive numbers, Sanders had a .657 slugging percentage (7th) and a .458 OBP.  The Rangers had a lot of players who got on base and stole bases, but Sanders was their main power threat, and added a whole new element to the Etobicoke lineup.  

The Rangers had a tonne of accomplishments this year as a team.  Their 39 wins ranked second in the province next to Windsor.  They spent most of the season as a top three team in the province, finishing the season in fourth place.  They were the first place team in the regular season in COBA, and were a win shy of winning the league playoffs.  They won the Vaughan tournament and came in second place at the Hap Walters.  They also had good showings at the Lakeside tournament and at the Eliminations.  The Rangers appear as though they will be a force for the next few years, and they will be anchored by the big bat of Brett Sanders- the former Team Canada Junior team member.  Well done on a great season Brett.

 

Runners-up: Mark Capone, Etobicoke; Evan Baglieri, Niagara.

 

CY YOUNG

Steve Carter, Windsor Stars

The Windsor Stars' pitching staff keeps taking turns winning this award.  This year it was Steve Carter's turn.  As everyone knows, Carter has been a top two or three pitcher in Ontario year in and year out for a while now.  This year, he started slow but came on strong late and put a stranglehold on the race for the award.

Carter pitched in 13 games, starting 10 of them.  He posted a record of 9-0 (2nd) with a 1.52 ERA (2nd) and a 0.83 WHIP (1st).  In 65 innings (11th), he walked just 10 batters and struck out 48.  His K/BB ratio of 4.80 ranked 8th in the province.  His strikeout numbers were down from years past, but that didn't make him any less dominant, as was evidenced by his perfect game against Sarnia.  This is Carter's second time winning the award in the last three years, and something tells me he is not done yet.

Runners-up: Zack Breault, Tecumseh; Steve Teno, Windsor

 

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Zack Breault, Tecumseh

It's hard to imagine how high the ceiling is for Breault for the next few years.  If he can do any better than he did this season for the Thunder- look out!

Breault was unreal from start to finish for Tecumseh.  Breault was 6-5 with a 2.56 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP.  In 98.1 innings pitched (1st) he struck out 107 batters (1st).  He also added a save and 7 complete games. Zack did such a great job this season that he was added by the Windsor Stars to play in the National Championships, and he did not disappoint.  He pitched 14 innings in the Nationals, including a 10 inning performance, as well as the final 4 innings of the Gold medal game.  With Breault in the fold, the Thunder appear to be in great hands.

Runners-up: Kyle Breitner, Etobicoke; Mike Alati, Thornhill

 

MOST IMPROVED

Chris Pittaway, Milton

Pittaway was the mid-season leader of this award, and he finished the season with very strong numbers.

The Red Sox' catcher hit .324 with 3 HR, 34 RBI (11th) and 15 doubles (5th).  He was near the leaderboard in hits and runs scored as well.  The most impressive thing about Pittaway's season was what he did (or didn't do) in 2012.  Last season he had just 8 hits in 53 at bats, for a .151 AVG.  He had no homeruns and drove in 12 runs.  Based on those numbers, Pittaway seemed unlikely to be a key contributor for Milton, but he had a very big impact. If he can continue to hit the way he did this season, the Red Sox will not have much to worry about from the catcher position for a few years.

Runners-up: Jay Woodford, Erindale; Mark Cheeseman, Markham

 

COACH OF THE YEAR

Bob Kulchyk, Mississauga Southwest Twins

This award was extremely easy in handing out this year.  The Twins accomplished a great deal this year.  They won the Eliminations and they won the Bronze medal at the Nationals.  In addition to that, they won the Hap Walters and came in second at the Lakeside tournament.  They tied Etobicoke for the second most wins in the province in 2013.  Without question, they are right there with the Windsor Stars in terms of being the best in the province.

Kulchyk has endured a lot off the field, battling an illness.  Despite what he has been going through off the field, Kulchyk has guided the Twins to the success they have had this season, and for the past couple of seasons for that matter.  Congratulations to Bob Kulchyk and the Mississauga SW Twins on a great season, and hopefully many more!

Runners-up: Nolan Revin, Thornhill; Steve Breitner, Etobicoke

 

FIRST TEAM

C John Suomi, Etobicoke

1B Brett Sanders, Etobicoke

2B Mark Capone, Etobicoke

3B Kevin Mailloux, Tecumseh

SS Jamie Smith, Mississauga

OF Sean Bignall, Mississauga; Kyle Moloney, Thornhill; Tim Sogan, Burlington

DH Chris Novia, Erindale

RHP Zack Breault, Tecumseh

LHP Steve Teno, Windsor

RP Dave Davidson, Niagara

 

SECOND TEAM

C Evan Baglieri, Niagara

1B Mitch Delaney, Tecumseh

2B Taylor Anderson, Niagara

3B Ryan Panas, Etobicoke

SS Kevin Greer, Milton

OF Adam Campbell, Leaside; Steve Correia, Pickering; Kris Klassen, Windsor

DH Dave Davidson, Niagara

RHP Kyle Breitner, Etobicoke

LHP Mitch Kramer, Tecumseh

RP Brandon Lindquist, Tecumseh

 

THIRD TEAM

C Bryan Rock, Leaside

1B Geoff Cullen, Erindale

2B Brandon Emmett, Mississauga

3B Tyler Hughes, Leaside

SS Davey Wallace, Leaside

OF Brian MacDonald, Thornhill; Daniel Murphy, Etobicoke; Travis Skelton, Leaside

DH Drew Roberts, East York

RHP Tim Sogan, Burlington

LHP Dane Little, Windsor

RP Adam Zorzit, Newmarket

 

First Team

C Anthony Pettica, Tecumseh .571, .649 OBP, .964 SLG, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 7 BB, 1 SO

1B Frank Jeney, Windsor .460, .521 OBP, .746 SLG, 4 HR, 21 RBI, 29 H, 6 2B, 23 R

2B Casey Power, Tecumseh .378, .867 SLG, 6 HR, 18 RBI

3B Kevin Mailloux, Tecumseh .490, .583 OBP, .714 SLG, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 8 2B, 10 BB, 3 SO, 2 SB

SS Phil Steer, Niagara .394, 0 HR, 16 RBI, 19 BB, 7 SO, 27 R, 19 SB

OF Sean Bignall, Mississauga .404, .723 SLG, 4 HR, 13 RBI, 4 SB

OF Cam Goddard, Windsor .396, .522 OBP, .679 SLG, 4 HR, 23 RBI, 14 BB, 5 K, 4 SB

OF Ricky Ferri, Niagara .493, 1 HR, 20 RBI, 36 H, 9 SB

DH Chris Novia, Erindale .391, .848 SLG, 6 HR, 13 RBI, 1 SB

RHP Brandon Lindquist, Tecumseh 3-1, 1.71 ERA, 0.48 WHIP, 21 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 24 K

LHP Steve Teno, Windsor 5-0, 3 SV, 0.71 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 38 IP, 26 H, 3 R, 3 ER 10 BB, 42 K

RP Matt Watson, Niagara 0-0, 2 SV, 1.64 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 11 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 10 BB, 12 K

 

Second Team

C Tyler Cattapan, Thornhill .400, .750 SLG, 4 HR, 13 RBI, 3 SB

1B Jerome Smith, Mississauga .354, 1 HR, 22 RBI, 6 SB

2B Mark Capone, Etobicoke .479, .571 OBP, 0 HR, 20 RBI, 35 H 27 R, 15 BB, 4 SO, 7 SB

3B Shawn Robinson, Ilderton .474, 0 HR, 10 RBI, 2 SB

SS Zack Dickson, Oakville .459, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 9 BB, 3 SO, 19 SB, 7 2B, 28 H, 24 R

OF Travis Skelton, Leaside .405, 0 HR, 10 RBI, 17 SB

OF Tim Sogan, Burlington

OF Kyle Moloney, Thornhill .318, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 15 BB, 7 SO, 9 SB

DH Dave Davidson, Niagara .298, 4 HR, 15 RBI

RHP Patrick Vecchiarelli, Pickering 4-1, 1 SV, 1.44 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 31.1 IP, 20 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 13 BB, 38 SO

LHP Cody Seremack, Tecumseh 2-1, 1.75 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 25.2 IP, 15 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 15 BB, 16 K

RP Jerome Werniuk, East York 0-0, 2 SV, 1.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 9 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 14 K

 

Third Team

C Mark Petrou, Newmarket .347, .633 SLG, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 3 3B

1B Ron Oneson, Strathroy

2B Don Smith, Milton .390, .524 OBP, 0 HR, 13 RBI, 20 BB, 12 SO, 11 SB

3B Chris Pittaway, Milton .345, 3 HR, 13 RBI, 8 BB, 3 SO

SS Kevin Greer, Milton .337, 3 HR, 18 RBI

OF Eric Cunningham, Tecumseh .344, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 7 BB, 3 SO, 4 SB

OF Anthony Vacca, Niagara .312, 0 HR, 18 RBI, 19 BB, 11 SO, 13 SB

OF Mitch Roy, Strathroy

DH AJ Iafrate, Etobicoke .462, .548 OBP, 0 HR, 11 RBI, 3 SB

RHP Andrew Hyde, Etobicoke 3-1. 1.61 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 28 IP, 13 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 20 BB, 39 K

LHP Daniel Veres, Niagara 4-0, 3.00 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 30 IP, 27 H, 12 R, 10 ER, 14 BB, 15 K

RP Tyler Clements, Pickering 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 7 K

 

MVP - Frank Jeney, Windsor Stars

With so much of Windsor's star power on the mound gone, the Stars needed some big contributions from some of their everyday players.  That is exactly what Jeney has done.  He has put up great numbers and he has been a consistent performer from the get go.  In 19 games this season, he has 10 multi-hit games, and has failed to reach base just once.  Along with his .460 average, he has 4 homeruns and 21 RBI.  With his big bat in the middle of the lineup, the Stars are off to a 17-3 start in 2014.

CY YOUNG - Steve Teno, Windsor Stars

The numbers speak for themselves for the dominant lefty.  He has come out of the bullpen to close out games and has started and pitched magnificently.  In 10 games pitched he has a 5-0 record and 3 saves.  In 38 innings pitched, Teno has allowed just 3 runs and has struck out 42 batters.  He has posted a 0.71 ERA and a WHIP of 0.95.  

MIP - Julian Richards, Oakville A's

2013 was not too kind to the former hard-throwing lefty.  Having been converted to a hitter for a few years now, Richards has been pretty good for the A's.  Last year though, Richards hit just .197 with 2 HR and 12 RBI.  He also struck out 22 times in just 61 at bats.  In 2014, he has hit to the tune of .348 with a .429 OBP.  He has 1 HR and has almost matched last year's RBI total with 11.

ROY - Phil Steer, Niagara Metros

Steer has been unreal for the Metros.  They have had a tonne of contributions from various players, but Steer has been one of their big standouts.  In 20 games, Steer has hit .394 with a .448 OBP.  Steer has managed to contribute in almost every offensive category.  He has 5 doubles, 19 walks, 13 stolen bases, 18 runs scored and 18 RBI.

COACH - Ron Smith, Windsor Stars

The Stars lost a lot of players from last year, and were not the number one pre season team for the first time in a very long time.  That distinction went to the Twins.  As is the case year in and year out; however, Smith has his team winning a tonne of games.  The Windsor pitching staffs of recent years have rightfully gotten a lot of adoration, but it is time to recognize Smith as a terrific baseball man who knows how to win.

 

POOL A

Etobicoke (Ky. Breitner) 4 vs. Thornhill (Anderson) 2

WAA (Renaud) 3 vs. Strathroy (Thompson) 6

Etobicoke (Perryman) 8 vs. WAA (Parker) 3

WAA (Gillis) 3 vs. Thornhill (Horgan) 10

Thornhill (Cameron) 2 vs. Strathroy (Ramsdale) 3

Strathroy (Annett) 1 vs. Etobicoke (Hyde) 3

 

ETOBICOKE - The Rangers have not done much outside of their league.  They were 1-2 in Vaughan and 2-1 in London but failed to advance.  They will be tested once again with a tough pool.  They need Gary Rose to get healthy and be able to contribute, because outside of Kyle Breitner and Andrew Hyde there is not a whole lot to like about the pitching staff.

STRATHROY - The only time they were tested this season was at the Vaughan tournament, and they responded with a finals appearance.  In their league they have been dominating weaker competition.  They will be put to the test in this tournament, but they have what it takes to do well.

THORNHILL - Dave Anderson and Chadwick Cameron are the best pitchers on the team, but after that they are very thin.  Coach Revin has to be creative in how he uses his guys after the top 2.  Offensively they are good enough to just simply outhit teams and win.

WAA - They started off the season half-decent, but they have slowly transformed into the Martingrove of the Windsor area.  They are not good enough to compete in the tough Can-Am league, but could likely sneak a few wins away from some teams around the province.  Unfortunately, this draw doesn't include any of those teams.

 

Things to Watch: Pitching matchups.  The Reds, Rangers and Royals are all very evenly matched and can beat eachother on any given day.  It will be interesting to see how the managers align their pitching matchups.  Cameron and Anderson for Thornhill will likely draw Etobicoke and Strathroy.  Kyle Breitner and Hyde of Etobicoke will likely draw Thornhill and Strathroy.  And Strathroy has a handful of guys to choose from to throw against Etobicoke and Thornhill.  The additions of Derek Howe and Jason Champ will likely figure to be big.

 

POOL B

Niagara (McKenna) 4 vs. Oakville (Gowing) 1

Ivy 2 vs. Newmarket (Heaslip) 3

Oakville (Fisher) 5 vs. Ivy 3

Ivy 2 vs. Niagara (Clark) 12

Niagara (Ayles) 6 vs. Newwmarket (Simon) 3

Newmarket (MacPherson) 4 vs. Oakville (Walton) 7

 

NIAGARA - The Metros are the class of this pool.  They already have a tournament win in 2014, and they will look to duplicate that at the Hap.  They used to be a team with some very good pitchers and some okay bats, but they are an extremely dangerous offensive team all of a sudden.  

NEWMARKET - The Hawks started off the season terribly but have put together a nice run to become a sort of relevent team once again.  They have not received any contributions from Adam Zorzit, Adam Kallio or PA Di Lulio.  If the three of them are not on the roster or are hurt, this team is nowhere near as good as their teams from past years, and they will be in some trouble against better teams.

OAKVILLE - This team has struggled mightily for the better part of a month now.  On the surface it seems hard to imagine, because they are a very talented team.  But one glance at their pitching numbers explains the struggles.  There is not much going on in that department for this team.

IVY - They are the number 2 team in the North Dufferin league (next to Bolton) and are testing themselves outside of their league.  They cannot be taken lightly, as they have Brad Grieveson on the hill who can shut down anyone.  They also have Todd Gowan at the plate, who has hit 8 homeruns this season.

 

Things to Watch: Niagara letdown?  The Metros have enjoyed some big success this season and it is important for them not to get complacent.  They won Vaughan and are destroying COBA, but must not look past these teams.  If they approach one game at a time, they should easily win this division.  But if they don't, they will be disappointed.

 

POOL C

Mississauga SW (Petruska) 2 vs. Burlington (Sogan) 1

Ilderton (Ambrose) 2 vs. East York (Gallo) 5

Mississauga SW (Porter) 3 vs. Ilderton (Townshend) 2

Burlington (Cooney) 8 vs. Ilderton (Mann) 2

Burlington (Woodjetts) 4 vs. East York (Malone) 5

East York (Sikorski) 4 vs. Mississauga SW (Hurley) 2

 

MISSISSAUGA SOUTHWEST - They are always a force in every tournament.  That is not by fluke.  They have as much pitching depth as anybody, and they can hit and run as well.  They will be looking to make a statement heading into the Eliminations, and this is a wonderful opportunity to do so.

EAST YORK - Their game against Mississauga has a chance to be the game of the tournament if it means something.  They have some very very good shutdown pitchers and they are a statement weekend away from really being at the top. This is as good a weekend as any to do that.

BURLINGTON - Not too sure what team is gonna show up.  If the games were played on paper, you might as well flip a coin in all of their games, because they truly are good enough to beat anyone.  But the games are played on the field, and they generally struggle there when it counts.

ILDERTON - Schedule makers around the province must really not like these guys.  After a dreaded London schedule, they get this!  In another pool they may have been able to make some noise, but in this one they are destined for 1-2 at best.

 

Things to Watch:  Mississauga SW vs. East York.  This matchup may have lost some lustre as the Twins come into the tournament reeling, and the Bulldogs have been ordinary as of late.  They should still provide an exciting game, in which any team truly can win.

 

POOL D

Erindale (Laurin) 7 vs. Burlington JR 5

Lakeside (MacLeod) 0 vs. Pickering (Vecchiarelli) 4

Erindale (Bala) 5 vs. Lakeside (Tetreau) 3

Lakeside (Gates) 4 vs. Burlington JR 3

Burlington JR 5 vs. Pickering (Binns) 6

Erindale (Morely) 4 vs. Pickering (Cheeseman) 2

 

PICKERING - The top team in this pool is a toss-up between the Red Sox and the Cardinals, but Pickering has had the better overall resume.  They can be sneaky good and have made a couple of deep runs in tournaments already.  As is the case with many teams nowadays, they don't have much to offer pitching-wise after their top 2 guys (Patrick Vecchiarelli and Mark Cheeseman).

ERINDALE - They will have the benefit of playing their round-robin games at their home field, where anything can happen. They will be a tough out for anyone.  From game to game, anyone's guess is as good as mine for what team will show up.

LAKESIDE - 2014 has been downright brutal for this team.  They lost some important pieces to the Royals, but their struggles should not be this bad.  They still have a decent enough roster to compete better than they have.

BURLINGTON JR - 

 

Things to Watch: Chris Novia and Patrick Vecchiarelli.  Novia is the undisputed heavyweight hitter in the province and Vecchiarelli has a chance to get into the conversation for best pitcher in the province with a good start.  Both players are extremely valuable to their teams, and that will be on full display this weekend.

 

POOL E

Brampton (Ferreira) 5 vs. Milton (Volpato) 4

Windsor (J. Myers) 7 vs. Bolton 2

Milton (Wilson) 3 vs. Windsor (Lauzon) 4

Windsor (Little) 6 vs. Brampton (Sloan) 2

Brampton (Hough) 10 vs. Bolton 6

Bolton 2 vs. Milton (Zettle) 5

 

WINDSOR - Round-robin play should be a cake-walk for them, but nothing is guaranteed.  They will be looking to show that London was just an aberration, and they will want to make a deep run at the Hap.

MILTON - They hit just enough to win, and pitch just enough to win.  They are about as average as they come in Senior baseball (not necessarily a bad thing).  There aren't many teams who are glaringly better than them, and there aren't many teams that are far worse than them.  One thing is for sure though: they will compete for all 21 or 27 outs.

BRAMPTON - Their pitching staff might be the best they have had in quite some time, but their offence might be the worst they have had in quite some time. They have generally been a pretty decent tournament team over the last few years.  At this point, they are what they are, and their results either way shouldn't really surprise anyone.

BOLTON - They are first in their North Dufferin league but have struggled in the GTBL. 

 

Things to Watch: Windsor Stars.  The Stars are as vulnerable as they have ever been in recent memory.  How they will perform and which pitchers they have will be a mystery, but they are still the team to watch in this division and in the tournament.

 

QF 1. 1st Pool D - Erindale (Lucas) 3 vs. WC 1 - Strathroy (Grasby) 5

QF 2: 1st Pool B - Niagara (Strong) 4 vs. WC 2 - Mississauga (Paish) 5

QF 3: 1st Pool C - East York (Werniuk) 8 vs. 1st Pool A - Etobicoke (Ke. Breitner) 3

QF 4: 1st Pool E - Windsor (Rustulka) 9 vs. WC 3 - Pickering (Clements) 3

 

SF 1: QF 1 - Strathroy (Brennan) 2 vs. QF 3 - East York (Smith) 3

SF 2: QF 2 - Mississauga (Trudell) 0 vs. QF 4 - Windsor (Teno) 3

 

F: SF 1 - East York (Kivi) 2 vs. SF 2 - Windsor (Czerwieniec) 10

The Tecumseh Thunder  were all over Mississauga SW in the finals.  The defending champions seemed to have saved their best for the semis and a huge letdown was probably inevitable.  Tecumseh won 7-1.  They were clearly the best team in Ontario both on paper and between the lines.  Going to the Nationals for the third time is not too bad of a consolation for the Twins, who were down and out twice against Leaside.  It was a heck of a run for Leaside, who could and should have had two Nationals appearances in the last six years but have nothing to show for it.

 

Leafs, Twins and Thunder Will Be Playing on Monday

Each of COBA, the GTBL and Can-Am leagues will have a representative playing on Monday at the 2014 elims.

The Leaside Leafs beat league rival Pickering 4-3 to book a ticket into Monday and Mississauga Southwest beat Strathroy 6-2 to make it.  Tecumseh was already into the Monday round after receiving a bye on Sunday night as the lone undefeated team.

The Leafs have not yet received a bye and will get a bye into the next round; thus, forcing the Twins to play the Thunder.  The Twins' lone loss this weekend was at the hands of this same Tecumseh team.  The Twins held a 5-2 lead mid-way through the game but the first-ranked Thunder erupted for 7 unanswered runs to win 9-5.  In fact, Tecumseh also handed Leaside it's only loss.  Mississauga was able to get by Tecumseh in last year's final, and I'm sure the Thunder have not forgotten. 

If the Thunder beat the Twins, then Leaside will be forced to beat Tecumseh twice in the finals.  Even if they don't, they will still have done enough to book a trip to Nova Scotia for the Nationals.  No GTBL team other than the now defunct Oshawa Royals has made it to the Nationals since East York in 2006.  The Leafs made the elims finals in 2009, but were beaten twice by Windsor.  That year there was only one representative from Ontario for the Nationals.  If Mississauga can upset Tecumseh, then Leaside will play one of the two teams in a semi-final, with the other getting an automatic bye to the finals.

The Twins have gone through a tough schedule to get to this point.  They have beaten Niagara, Burlington, Newmarket and Strathroy.  As mentioned, their lone loss was to the Thunder.  Tecumseh has also had a couple of tough opponents.  They have beaten Milton, Newmarket, Strathroy and both of their Monday counterparts.  The Leafs have had a bit of an easier time, but they did not have the luxury of a bye.  They beat Sarnia, Burlington, Bolton, East York and Pickering.

Monday promises to exhibit some good baseball.  Good luck to all three teams.

 

Road to Monday

 

Leaside Leafs

Vs. Sarnia - win 13-5 (WP- Ryan Donnelly)

Vs. Tecumseh - loss 7-2 (LP- Jorge Frugoni)

Vs. Burlington - win 8-2 (WP- Jordan Anderson)

Vs. Bolton - win 8-2 (WP- Chris Goodale)

Vs. East York - win 7-3 (WP- Sean Kavanaugh)

Vs. Pickering - win 4-3 (WP- Josh Howsam)

* Andrew Morales has not been available all weekend and will be there for Monday to give the Leafs an edge.  Morales has been the team's top performer this year.

 

Mississauga Southwest Twins

Vs. Niagara - win 3-0 (WP- Billy Hurley)

Vs. Burlington  - win 7-2 (WP- Jordan Petruska)

Vs. Tecumseh - loss 9-5

BYE

Vs. Newmarket - win 7-1

Vs. Strathroy - win 6-2

* After starting out the weekend 0 for 2, former Maine standout and Orioles' farmhand Troy Black has destroyed Senior pitching.  He has hits in 10 of his last 11 at bats and is 10 for 13 with a homerun and two doubles.

 

Tecumseh Thunder

Vs. Milton - win 10-0 (WP- Mitch Kramer)

Vs. Leaside - win 7-2 (WP- Kyle Trudell)

Vs. Mississauga - win 9-5 (WP- Zack Breault)

Vs. Newmarket - win 2-1 (WP-Eric Carducci)

Vs. Strathroy - win 4-0 (WP- Brandon Lindquist)

BYE

* Brandon Lindquist pitched a 3-hit complete game shutout against Strathroy.  The performance got the Thunder the win and a bye into Monday.  Not bad for a guy who started the fifth game for the Thunder.

Year in and year out there are more than 20 teams who start the season with high aspirations and beliefs that this is the year!  All teams that enter the senior "AAA" eliminations, legitimately believe they have what it takes.  They think they have enough pitching, good hitting and solid defence.  They think if they catch the right breaks or get the right draw, they can make a run and go to the Nationals.  The fact is, that couldn't be further from the truth.

The senior eliminations might be the toughest amateur baseball tournament to win in all of Canada.  The senior loop always has more entrants than any other level in Ontario, and the process of representing Ontario at the Nationals is far more rigorous than gaining a berth in any other province.  Although the level of competition might be tougher at the Nationals, getting there is a bit more difficult than actually competing there.  With such a perceived crapshoot with so many teams involved, one might be inclined to think that anyone can win.  The senior eliminations have shown year after year that not anyone can win, and quite frankly- your team is just not good enough.

For many years, the Windsor Stars had a stranglehold on going to the Nationals.  Despite teams thinking they could beat them, they just never could.  One Nationals spot was all but guaranteed for the Stars, and everyone was playing for second place.  To most, that was good enough.  With a change in the Nationals' structure, Ontario has had two representatives in all but two years since 2006.  You no longer had to beat Windsor to go, you just had to get there.  

In rare situations, a team has come out of nowhere to be that second team.  In 2010, Ilderton was the team to come out of nowhere and surprise people.  They had not really done anything before that, and have not done much since.  I suppose they are the anomaly in the eliminations jigsaw.  Outside of them, there hasn't really been a surprise team.  Oshawa joined Windsor for a bit as a team that was loaded and could be counted on to be there in the end.  They had their stretch of successful eliminations appearances and suddenly folded.  They left the door open for a team to play second fiddle to Windsor.  

The Mississauga Southwest Twins have done that and then some.  They joined the senior "A" ranks in 2009.  They had a subpar first season, and have evolved as a dominant team since then.  Despite many teams thinking they are better than them, or that they can compete with them- it is just not true.  The Twins now have three Nationals appearances in the last four years.  If their players decide to keep the team in tact and continue to play, then your team is just out of luck.  When the games mean a lot, and the stakes are high, this team is simply too good to beat.  They were a heartbreak away from having a shot at Canadian gold last year, but settled for third best in Canada instead.  They have lost some players, but have replaced them with players just as good or better.  They play well together, and they do what it takes to win.

The Tecumseh Thunder have been a force as well.  They made deep runs a few years ago, and have made the finals two years in a row now.  They have played on Monday four times in the past seven years.  With the team they have now, they are probably going to continue playing on Monday.  Sure, they went outside of their program and added players from the Windsor teams, but their junior team is still producing some unbelievable talent.  The Tecumseh juniors would probably beat your senior team.  Players in other leagues jump from team to team all the time, so why can't they? 

These two teams will probably have a tight grip on the eliminations for a few years, just like the Stars and Oshawa Royals did.  There might be a team to come from the shadows and shock the world, but results show it is not likely.  While teams will continue to try to stockpile players and talent and think they have the winning formula, they really need to think again.  Winning the eliminations and going to the Nationals is just not a realistic aspiration.  Maybe success needs to be measured differently for the rest of the teams;  because if what teams play for is to win the eliminations, then almost every team in the province has been a huge disappointment every year.  Next year they will be disappointments again, and the year after that as well.  Teams seem to measure their rosters against past editions of their teams, or against teams in their league.  They need to think bigger and better though, because one look at the Twins and Thunder rosters, and any honest person will see that there is a huge discrepancy between them and everyone else.  Other teams might be just as good or even better in one aspect of the game, but as a whole they are not even close.  So many teams have a couple of good pitchers and think that they have a good pitching staff.  Maybe their pitching staff might be good enough to win a league playoff that nobody cares about (remember, the eliminations are what it's all about, right?), but it is not good enough to be able to throw a good pitcher out there on Sunday night at the eliminations.  Heck, it might not even be good enough for Sunday morning.  When Tecumseh is throwing Brandon Lindquist in their fifth game, and Mississauga SW is throwing Kyle Porter in their sixth game, and you are throwing fill in the blank in your third or fourth game- your staff is probably not as good as you think.

Some teams can be counted on to make good runs.  The Pickering's and Newmarket's of the world are solid choices to make a little noise, but there comes a point where they have to turn to a pitcher who is just not capable of matching up against the elite teams.  There eventually will come a spot in their lineup where a guy cannot be counted on to get the big hit.  In all fairness, the Hawks suffered a tough defeat last year to Tecumseh in the semi-finals, and should have beaten the Thunder to make it to the undefeated game this year.  That doesn't change the fact that the Thunder still have a better team.  Then there are teams like Etobicoke, Niagara and Thornhill, who rack up some godly league records and then it means nothing in the end.  It might lead to a league playoff championship, but teams have checked out after they make the drive back down the 401 after losing at the eliminations.  If teams want to view winning the league championship as a decent consolation then by all means go ahead.  But if teams want to spin it to seem like winning the league playoffs is a successful season, then they are lying to themselves.  The Rangers and Metros are too good to accept league championships as successful campaigns.  There are other teams who are on the cusp.  The Strathroy Royals went to the Nationals in 2012, and were unlucky in drawing Mississauga SW on Sunday night.  Who knows, if they drew Leaside or Pickering instead, they could have been heading back.  Speaking of the Leafs, they have played on Monday three times in the last eight years.  They just seem to not be able to get over the hump.

Next year we could see any final.  It could be East York vs. Burlington, Lakeside vs. Erindale, Brampton vs. Sarnia, etc.  But chances are it will be Tecumseh vs. Mississauga SW, or maybe Windsor vs. Strathroy, with a couple of others who will be lucky to be in the mix.  And despite what every other team might think, they have no shot to make it with their current rosters.  That's just the plain and simple truth.

 

 

Game One: Thornhill Reds vs. Vaughan Vikings

The Thornhill Reds have a favourable draw to start things off by getting Vaughan in game one.  Not to say that this is an easy win for Thornill, but there are many other teams I am sure they would rather not play.  It is important for them to get off to a good start, as they have the potential to gain steam early and be poised to make a deep run.  Thornhill has been consistent all season long, and have been going strong from the outset.  C Tyler Cattapan has developed into one of the top two or three catchers in Senior baseball, and it can legitimately be argued that he is in fact the best.  He is not the only big bat the Reds possess.  Free agent addition OF Kyle Moloney has been steady at the dish and on the basepaths.  He has come on strong in recent weeks, and the team is hoping he can carry that into the Elims.  OF Brian MacDonald is also a big bat for this team, but he has had a subpar season for his standards.  If he can get it going this team can be a force.  The Reds are one of the better fielding teams with Argenis Paz, Paul Wilson and Jeremiah Groulx manning the infield.  Groulx is not too shabby with the bat either.  Their pitching is good whenever Dave Anderson and Chadwick Cameron toe the rubber, but they are going to need huge weekends from guys like Phil Owen and Brad Crone.  Both of them have shown that they are very capable pitchers, but have been rather inconsistent this season.  If the Reds can rely on them to provide quality starts, then they have the potential to win.  Groulx and Moloney can also pitch if they need to.  Last year they made it to the fifth round, where they lost to the eventual champion Mississauga SW.  In fact both of their losses last year were to Mississauga SW.  They had wins against WAA, Leaside and Bolton.

Kyle Moloney: .351, 5 HR, 28 RBI, 8 2B, 22 BB, 17 SB, 29 R, .500 OBP

Dave Anderson: 6-0, 2.82 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 38.1 IP, 27 H, 17 R, 12 ER, 13 BB, 33 K

The Vaughan Vikings have a lot of guts.  They can easily enter other tournaments this weekend, but they believe they can compete with the big boys and win, so they are back again this year. They had a good draw to make some noise last year, but they lost to Milton, beat the Redbirds and then lost to Sarnia.  Beating Thornhill is going to be a daunting task, but what better game to play them than the first?  The Vikings are able to match the Reds by throwing whoever their best arm is.  That would be either Daniel Pelley or Matthew Laise.  The two pitchers did get knocked around at the Vaughan tournament by Strathroy and Leaside respectively, so they must be ready to make adjustments if they want to have the same success that they have had in the OSBA this year.  The Vikings sport an outstanding record in league play, but showed they have a long way to go in their losses to Strathroy and Leaside.

Mike Watson: .355, 3 RBI, 2 2B, 1 3B, 7 BB, 13 SB, 14 R, 13 GP, .500 OBP (OSBA only)

Daniel Pelley: 4-0, 0.78 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 23 IP, 12 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 9 BB, 30 K (OSBA only)

Prediction: Thornhill (Horgan) 5 vs. Vaughan (Pelley) 3

 

Game Two: Windsor Stars vs. Martingrove White Sox

This game almost seems like it will not be fair.  This is probably the best team in Senior baseball against the worst team in recent memory.  

The Windsor Stars will not be forced to use much in terms of pitching.  In essence, that could also backfire on them as well, because they can't just throw their best in this game and then bring him back on Monday.  In theory, they can still throw their best in game two and still bring him back Monday potentially, but that extra day's rest would have been huge.  The Stars never seem to care about who they are playing and when they are playing them.  They are always geared towards winning the entire tournament, and not just one particular game.  Steve Teno, Dane Little and Mike Czerwieniec are three of the best lefties in all of Senior baseball.  Matt Rustulka, Jason Lauzon and Adam Myers are no slouches from the right side.  That is six legitimate pitchers they still have, after losing Steve Carter, John Picco and Brad Boussey.  Any of the three might be available to play during the Elims but how effective they would be is unknown.  All in all, the amount of talent the Windsor area has produced is incredible.  This is one of the better offensive teams Windsor has had, despite losing Tom Grubb.  IF Frank Jeney and OF Cam Goddard have had MVP-calibre seasons.  They have filled in the huge hole left by Grubb's departure.  OF Kris Klassen and SS Jason Chapieski are accomplished hitters as well.  It would be safe to assume that the Stars will be in the mix come Sunday night.

Frank Jeney: .423, 4 HR, 26 RBI, 41 H, 8 2B, 29 R

Steve Teno: 6-1, 1.38 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 52 IP, 41 H, 11 R, 8 ER, 14 BB, 56 K

The Martingrove White Sox were leaning towards folding in the offseason and they probably should have.  All they have done all season is allow teams to pad their individual stats and win totals against them.  I am not sure if any team has ever gone winless, but this team came very close.  They won their first game of the season against some team in the Niagara Falls Expos tournament.  They are yet to win a game in the GTBL and they probably won't accomplish that feat.  

Chris Andrews: .246, 2 HR, 9 RBI

Mike Bannon: 0-1, 6.17 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, 11.2 IP, 14 H, 13 R, 8 ER, 7 BB, 7 K

Prediction: Windsor (J. Myers) 13 vs. Martingrove (Frydman) 1

 

Game Three: Erindale Cardinals vs. Strathroy Royals

This figures to be a pretty good matchup.  

The Erindale Cardinals are always a dangerous team and are usually better than their record indicates.  They are not getting any younger and the window of opportunity for this team seems to be closing with every at bat.  1B Geoff Cullen has been incredible.  When he is done playing, he will go down as one of the best players in the history of Senior baseball, if not the best.  How many years he has left is anyone's guess, but everyone should enjoy watching him hit while they still have the chance.  DH Chris Novia has surpassed everyone as the premiere slugger in the province.  Last year he slugged an incredible 19 homeruns and drove in 57 runs.  In 2012 he had 15 homeruns and 45 RBI.  And in 2011 he had 12 homeruns and 39 RBI.  This year he is at the top of the homerun charts once again, and he will be heading into the Elims weekend on fire.  2B Frank Coccia has also had an unbelievable career, but he is not getting any younger either.  Their pitchers don't have the most desirable conditions to pitch in and they do what they can.  In the spacious Windsor area parks (Lacasse Park in Tecumseh not included), there is no excuse for the pitchers.  Kevin Lucas and Dan Estey have had pretty good seasons, but Ian Bala has had the best season on the hill on the team.  If John DeWolfe is healthy enough to make a start, that will be a massive addition to the team. Cullen is usually good for a game at the Elims as well.  Last year, the Cardinals made it to the undefeated game, but promptly lost their next two games to make an exit.  They gave up 18 runs over their last two games to East York and Newmarket, and must get better pitching contributions from the back end of their rotation.

Chris Novia: .421, 13 HR, 31 RBI, 23 R, 23 GP

Ian Bala: 3-1, 3.64 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 42 IP, 46 H, 23 R, 17 ER, 12 BB, 23 K

The Strathroy Royals have emerged as a premiere team once again.  They made it to the Nationals just two summers ago, and they are looking to earn a berth once again.  This might just be the most talented team they have ever had.  They have destroyed SWBL competition.  They lost their first 2 games and have reeled of 16 straight wins.   They also made it to the finals at the Vaughan tournament.  They have added depth in their pitching, and on offence, and have not lost many pieces from their Nationals qualifying team.  Offensively, guys like IF Taylor Castrillo, 1B Ron Oneson, OF Mitch Roy and OF Matt Brennan have been key contirbutors all season long.  Their pitching staff is arguably the best or deepest in Ontario.  Matt Grasby, Tyler Annett and Brennan are a trio of hard throwing righties who have the capability of shutting any team down.  They have also added Derek Howe and Jason Champ to the fold and have become that much more dangerous.  The addition of lefty Robert Ramsdale from Brantford of the IBL has also proved to be a huge addition, and he has arguably been their best pitcher.  Last year, the Royals were very unimpressive.  They beat the Redbirds and Milton, then lost to this Cardinals team and Mississauga.

Prediction: Erindale (Bala) 3 vs. Strathroy (Ramsdale) 4

 

Game Four: Mississauga SW Twins vs. Niagara Metros

It's too bad that one of these teams will be guaranteed to face elimination in their second game.  

The Mississauga Southwest Twins are the defending champions and also won the bronze medal at the National championships.  They were a heart-breaking loss to the Stars away from having a chance at the gold.  Long story short: they are good.  They have struggled somewhat this season, but this team really seems to step it up when the games mean the most.  Health seems to be somewhat of an issue for their pitching staff.  Adam Paish has not pitched much this season and last year's Ontario All-Star Michael Cardinale has not pitched at all.  Paish will be needed for them to make a run again.  In addition to Paish, they have a lot of other guys who can get it done.  Billy Hurley has emerged as an ace for the team.  Jordan Petruska has proven that he steps up huge in big games.  Kyle Porter and Kyle Trudell were two very big additions, and without them the pitching staff just wouldn't have the depth of year's past.  James Byrnes has been very versatile for this team over the years.  He has pitched out of the pen and started, and has been good at both.  OF Sean Bignall has had a really good season.  The former NCAA division 1 slugger leads the team in round-trippers.  SS Jamie Smith is one of the top players at his position in Senior baseball.  He can get it done offensively, on the basepaths and in the field.  His brother, 1B Jerome Smith has developed into a huge run producer for this team over the last two seasons.  The team will need 2B Brendan Emmett to regain his past form and have a big weekend.  Former Orioles signee Tim Black will really help the team out as well.  Last year, they had a very difficult draw and were still able to get the job done.  They beat Glanbrook, Strathroy, Sarnia, East York, Tecumseh and Thornhill twice.

Sean Bignall: .404, 4 HR, 13 RBI, 4 SB, .491 OBP

Billy Hurley: 0-2, 1 SV, 3.18 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 28.1 IP, 23 H, 17 R, 10 ER, 11 BB, 39 K

The Niagara Metros have had one of the best seasons in their team's history.  They have a tournament title under their belts, and have dominated in COBA play.  They have had a tough time fending off the Twins this year, but they handed the Twins their only loss at last year's Elims.  They have a roster built to win it all, and they want to improve on last year's finish. They started out strong by winning their first three games last year, but they scored only two runs in their next two games (both losses to Erindale and Newmarket).  That should not be a problem for the 2014 Metros, as they have been the best offensive team in the province this year.  Guys like IF Phil Steer, OF Ricky Ferri, DH Dave Davidson, and C/IF Evan Baglieri have been their best hitters.  IF Jonathan Paul, IF Jordan Grant and OF Anthony Vacca have also been good.  If 3B Taylor Anderson starts to hit, then they literally have 9 guys who are hitting at all times.  Pitching wise, Paul McKenna and Geoff Strong are the two horses on the team.  Justin Ayles and Daniel Veres are not too far behind, and the pair have had extremely good seasons.  Matt Watson is a shutdown guy late in games, and has been nearly unhittable.  Pitching should not be an issue for this team.

Ricky Ferri: .469, 1 HR, 27 RBI, 11 SB, 24 R, 45 H, .523 OBP

Daniel Veres: 6-0, 2.41 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 41 IP, 35 H, 13 R, 11 ER, 17 BB, 24 K

Prediction: Mississauga SW (Hurley) 3 vs. Niagara (McKenna) 6

 

Game Five: Burlington Brants vs. Etobicoke Rangers

This features one of two all COBA matchups in the first round.  And just like the other matchup, this one should be a good one.

The Glanbrook Grizzlies had been a team with lots of talent, little depth and tough luck over the years.  The Burlington Brants were a team that had some very good pieces, but not enough talent across all positions.  Logically and geographically, a merge of the two teams made a lot of sense.  This was supposed to be the year this squad got over the hump, but a tonne of top notch teams have emerged across the province.  It has made a lot of people forget about the Brants, and rightfully so.  But if anyone does not approach this team like it is a very good team, they will leave the game with a loss.  This team has a tonne of pitching, including Tim Sogan, Trevor Woodjetts, Chris Cooney, Mike Grilli, Andrew Page, Atsushi Urata and Cam McKnight. While all these guys are good, the question is are they good enough?  The team is hoping the best days are not behind these guys.  Offensively, they don't have a tonne of punch, but they are still pretty decent.  Sogan, DH Corrie Morrison, 1B Rob Spiak and OF Justin Czorny have been good Senior baseball players.  If 1B Chris Piano, OF Paul Saville and IF Lou Proietti are available, an ordinary offence all of a sudden becomes a good one.  Glanbrook went 2 and out last year with losses to Mississauga and WAA.  Burlington beat Martingrove last year before losing to Newmarket and Etobicoke.  It will not be easy again for this team this year, as they get another brutal draw.

Without a doubt, the Etobicoke Rangers are one of the best top three or four teams in the province, and they have as good a chance as any team to win it all.  They have been able to keep the core of this team together for quite some time now.  Guys like slugging 1B Brett Sanders and 3B Ryan Panas have played together since their younger days.  Over the last few seasons now, they have played with another group of guys who have played together for a long time and been very successful.  2B Mark Capone and DH AJ Iafrate have been in the fold for a long time in Etobicoke, and they are itching for some sort of success.  The Rangers have had a lot of good teams over the years, but none have been good enough to do anything noteworthy.  They have some league regular season titles, but outside of that have not been able to do much other than a Vaughan tournament win last year.  This team seems like it is poised to get over the top with additions like C/OF John Suomi and LHP Gary Rose.  If Rose can provide a start at the Elims, then this team all of a sudden has three top notch starters in Kyle Breitner, Andrew Hyde and Rose.  Rose has been battling injuries over the last few years.  Kevin Breitner has also had a decent season for the Rangers.  He must be on top of his game, along with Andrew Perryman, Bryan Vardzel and Alex Dannett.  This team has got to feel that if they can beat Windsor (as they did earlier this year), then they can beat anybody.  The Rangers made it to the fifth round last year, before losing a heartbreaker to Tecumseh.

Mark Capone: .436, 23 RBI, 41 H, 28 R, 16 BB, 8 SB, .518 OBP

Kyle Breitner: 4-0, 2.50 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 36 IP, 29 H, 13 R, 10 ER, 17 BB, 36 K

Prediction: Burlington (Sogan) 1 vs. Etobicoke (Ky. Breitner) 2

 

Game Six: Milton Red Sox vs. Tecumseh Thunder

The Milton Red Sox started off poorly to start the season, but they have come on to have a pretty good season.  They have been very streaky and they are hoping they are on a ood streak heading into the Elims.  Ian Zettle, Tyler Wilson and Justin Volpato are three very solid pitchers.  Zettle and Wilson have been doing it year in and year out.  The return of pitcher Liam Tennant provides another solid arm that they can utilize if they get far enough. Jeremy McDonald has also had a solid rookie season.  Offensively, Milton has been hitting a lot of homeruns.  In fact, they lead the province in that category.  SS Kevin Greer is the team's best all around player.  3B/C Chris Pittaway is not far behind.  Matt Lahn has also put up good power numbers in his rookie year.  He is near the top of the leaderboard in both homeruns and RBI.  2B Don Smith and OF James Bruce are big speed threats for the Red Sox.  Last year, Milton beat Vaughan, but then lost to Strathroy and Oakville.

Kevin Greer: .342, 5 HR, 27 RBI, 39 H, 8 2B

Tyler Wilson: 4-3, 3.04 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 47.1 IP, 40 H, 22 R, 16 ER, 19 BB, 16 K

The Tecumseh Thunder made some big noise in the off season.  They added IF Kevin Mailloux and IF Mitch Delaney.  Mailloux is a former Ontario MVP and Delaney is a former IBL slugger.  Both were expected to solidify the middle of the lineup and that is exactly what they have done.  They also made some other key additions like IF/P Barry Keith, C Matt Varacalli and LHP Cody Seremack.  The three have been solid all season for the Thunder.  Seremack has helped make a good pitching staff even better.  Zack Breault, Mitch Kramer and Brandon Lindquist are the top three guys on the team, but Seremack and Matt Stezycki have been great as well.  Rob Blunck has been spectacular this season, and Keith and Eric Carducci are capable pitchers as well.  Last year the Thunder made it to the finals, but lost 3-2 to Mississauga.  They lost their first game to Bolton but reeled off wins against Lakeside, Peterborough, Etobicoke, East York and Newmarket to get to the finals.  The Thunder are definitely one of the favourites to win it all this season.

Mitch Delaney: .344, 5 HR, 31 RBI, 8 2B, 1 3B, 28 R, 21 BB

Mitch Kramer: 4-0, 1.13 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 24 IP, 12 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 6 BB, 32 K

Prediction: Milton (Zettle) 2 vs. Tecumseh (Breault) 5

 

Game Seven: Leaside Leafs vs. Sarnia Braves

The Leaside Leafs are loaded offensively.  They have made some big additions over the years and have been solid 1-9 in the order.  OF Travis Skelton has been a sparkplug for this team since coming over from Thornhill.  Former UBC standout SS Davey Wallace has not only been incredible for the Leafs, but he has managed to do some recruiting as well.  3B Tyler Hughes, OF Adam Campbell and LHP Jordan Anderson are all UBC grads who have joined Wallace at Talbot Park.  They are not just ordinary additions either.  Campbell and Hughes are two of the best hitters in the GTBL.  Jorge Frugoni has been the best pitcher on the team and quite arguably the GTBL over the last 5-6 seasons.  He is not very overpowering, but he pounds the corners with fastballs and applies pressure on hitters.  Jorge needs some help though.  It will be interesting to see if Anderson can provide a start after joining the team late in the year.  Andrew Morales, Chris Goodale, Ryan Donnelly and Scott Donnelly will also be counted on to provide some innings.  Morales has been very good this year.  He is a former OUA pitcher of the year, so he is definitely capable of getting it done.  If this pitching staff was healthy, they would have had Goodale and Josh Howsam as anchors of the staff, but they are hurting.  Goodale has been able to make a couple of starts, but he is a flamethrower who can mow teams down when he is right.  And he is clearly not right.  Howsam was once one of the best pitchers in Senior baseball, but injuries have made him rather ineffective for quite some time.  The team must work with what they have and it may not be good enough.  Last year they beat Ilderton, but then lost to Niagara and Thornhill.  

Travis Skelton: .418, 15 RBI, 20 SB, 22 R (GTBL only)

Jorge Frugoni: 3-0, 1.38 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 26 IP, 18 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 7 BB, 12 K (GTBL only)

The Sarnia Braves have a tough go at it in their first game.  They have already lost to the Leafs this season, and will be in tough again. The Braves have the benefit of being tested game in and game out in the tough Can-Am league.  The Leafs will not be showing them something they haven't seen before.  That is about the only thing the Braves can bank on in this contest.  That, plus the fact that they can throw ace Nick Baljeu at Leaside.  Baljeu has been a very solid pitcher for Sarnia and is capable of hanging a loss on the Leafs.  Sarnia was a pleasant surprise last year.  They lost to Erindale in the first round, but were able to get wins against Markham, Vaughan and WAA.  They ran out of steam in a loss to Mississauga on Sunday night.

Prediction: Leaside (Morales) 4 vs. Sarnia (Baljeu) 2

 

Game Eight: Bolton Brewers vs. Pickering Red Sox

The Bolton Brewers made some noise last year for a brief moment.  They beat Tecumseh in the first round and earned themselves a bye into round 3.  The draw was not favourable for them, as they lost to East York and Thornhill in successive games and made an exit.  They have some talent on their team, and have been dominating the North Dufferin league for quite some time.  They have been competitive in the GTBL but have lost some close games and can't seem to get over the hump.  Their tournament performances this year have also been sketchy.  Sheldon Gowan and Matt Blacklaws can pitch for any team in the province.  Both are tough pitchers.  Tecumseh found that out first hand last year with Blacklaws.  Gowan was a huge addition for the team in the offseason, and he is a big strikeout pitcher.  SS Brett Chater is the team's best hitter.  2B Mike Wallace has also had a good season.

Brett Chater: .493, 2 HR, 35 H, 26 R, 7 2B (NDBL only)

Sheldon Gowen: 3-0, 0.50 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 18 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, 9 BB, 32 K (NDBL only)

It's hard to figure out what type of team the Red Sox are.  They have been wildly inconsistent in this tournament over the last few years.  They have gotten a lot younger recently, and have made some key offseason acquisitions.  IF Denis Hucal and OF Steve Correia came over from Martingrove.  The pair have been good hitters for a long time.  OF Peter Ricciardi has also had some success this season.  RHP Patrick Vecchiarelli also came over from the White Sox, and he is the team's ace.  He has been good for a while, and now everyone is getting to see that now that he has left Martingrove.  RHP Mark Cheeseman has regained his form from past seasons.  After that, the team will be hard-pressed to find someone to provide them with an effective start.  Brad Binns had a really good season in 2011, but has not been effective since.  Last year the team was a huge disappointment at the Elims.  They lost to Oakville and Sarnia with two really good pitchers on the hill who they have lost (Steve Anderson and Kyle Lawrence).  The team must now find a way to win with a weaker pitching staff.  That being said, they seem to step up in tournament play and cannot be counted out.

Peter Ricciardi: .364, 16 RBI, 12 BB, 14 SB, 36 H

Patrick Vecchiarelli: 5-1, 1 SV, 1.29 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 48.2 IP, 33 H, 10 R, 7 ER, 17 BB, 53 K

Prediction: Bolton (Gowan) 1 vs. Pickering (Vecchiarelli) 3

 

Game Nine: Oakville A's vs. East York Bulldogs

The Oakville A's has been a really big disappointment in 2014.  After a successful start to the season they have been reeling.  Offence is not an issue for this team.  Guys like SS Zack Dickson, OF Matt Bekar and OF Jeff Jarockis are top-notch players.  3B Andrew Kotulak and 2B Curtis Braun are no slouches either.  C Kyle Westwater has also made an impressive debut in Senior baseball.  Without question, the problem for this team is pitching.  They have lost some very good pitchers over the last couple of years, and the staff has suffered.  Overall, they have been awful.  Marc Walton is the team's best pitcher, but he does not have much help.  Kyle Fisher and Josh Spagnoletti were dynamite last year, but have been getting lit up this year.  If they can find a way to regain that form, then Oakville has a shot to surprise some teams.  Without that they are as good as done.  The A's alternated wins and losses last year.  They beat Markham and Milton and lost to Erindale and Etobicoke.

Zack Dickson: .437, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 28 H, 29 R, 11 2B, 13 BB, 21 SB

Marc Walton: 0-4, 3.90 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 30 IP, 37 H, 20 R, 13 ER, 9 BB, 16 K

The East York Bulldogs came on at the end of last year to make some noise.  They put together a solid run and found their way into Monday morning.  They fell just short of a finals appearance, losing to Mississauga in the semi-finals.  They beat Etobicoke, Bolton, Newmarket and Erindale, and lost to the two finalists: Mississauga and Tecumseh.  They made their run with pitching and defence.  They lost one of their big three from last year in Dustin Lawson, but they replaced him with a couple of ex-pros: Jeff Gibbs and Jerome Werniuk.  The pair have pitched mostly out of the pen this year, but I'm sure they can give the team a start each at the Elims.  Mark Sikorski and Jake Gallo are also two shutdown pitchers.  Sikorski has arguably been the best pitcher in Senior baseball this year.  He has a no-hitter this season as well.  Gallo has not pitched in a while, and his health might once again be a concern.  They also have effective guys like Pat Smith and Jack Malone.  That gives them six legitimate arms, with a couple of other guys who are also solid as well.  The team made a splash on the offensive side of things as well, adding the big bat of 1B Drew Roberts.  Gibbs and Malone are also effective hitters as well.  IF Jesse Bartle was a big addition in the middle of the infield.  All in all, this team does not have many weaknesses.  I'm sure another power bat wouldn't hurt, but they have just enough hitting to get it done.

Jack Malone: .483, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 8 SB, 29 AB (GTBL only)

Mark Sikorski: 4-0, 0.93 ERA, 29 IP, 14 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 9 BB, 31 K

Prediction: Oakville (Walton) 1 vs. East York 4 (Sikorski)

 

Game Ten: Brampton Royals vs. Lakeside Lizards

The Brampton Royals made a quick exit last year, losing both of their games to Niagara and Ilderton.  They are hoping to improve on that disappointment this year.  They have gotten a lot younger, and are probably better equipped to make a run with this version of the team.  LHP Zach Sloan has been effective this year, after gaining some experience pitching for Canisius University.  RHP Joe Ferreira has also been decent.  RHP Steve Hough is a lot better pitcher than his stats have indicated, and simply put he needs to find a way to be better.  His stuff is too good to be giving up runs at the rate he does.  LHP Mike Burke and RHP Joey Nonis have been around for a while, and both of them are very effective pitchers.  Offensively, 1B Victor Speciale is one of the best around.  His power has been non-existent this year, but he has still been hitting the ball well. C Marco DiRoma and OF Andrew Thomson are both very good hitters as well.  Yannick Rickli has made a solid Senior baseball debut.  The team has lost a lot of pop, but they are a scrappy bunch.

Victor Speciale: .408, 1 HR, 22 RBI, 14 BB

Joey Nonis: 2-1, 3.27 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 33 IP, 31 H, 20 R, 12 ER, 4 BB, 17 K

The Lakeside Lizards lost a couple of guys from last year, but they have come out this year and just not competed.  They have struggled mightily in league play, and they have been even worse in tournaments.  They have always been a team you can count on to be a tough team to play against.  That has not been the case this year though.  Last year they got a tough draw and lost to both Etobicoke and Tecumseh.  This year things are a bit easier for them, but they are in no position to be taking any opponent lightly.

Prediction: Brampton (Sloan) 7 vs. Lakeside (MacLeod) 4

 

Game Eleven: Newmarket Hawks vs. Windsor A's

The Newmarket Hawks have always been a team that people look past for whatever reason, but come Sunday night they are always in the mix at the Elims.  This year, things will be a lot more difficult. They have lost a lot of key players.  A rotation of Victor Simon, David MacPherson and Brent Heaslip is simply not going to cut it. Adam Kallio and PA Di Lulio have provided a lot of solid outings for the Hawks, and they are nowhere to be found this year.  Adam Zorzit is also a player that can hit and pitch, but he has not played (yet) this year.  Last year they made it to the semi-finals and they lost by a run to Tecumseh.  They beat Peterborough, Burlington, Niagara and Erindale, and they lost to the Thunder and East York.  If they don't have all of their key players for Elims weekend, tis year's team is not going to be around later in the tournament.  A favourable draw helps, but they still have to win the games.

Mark Petrou: .365, 1 HR, 14 RBI, 5 2B, 2 3B

Mark West: 0-0, 2.57 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 6 BB, 12 K

You cannot blame WAA for having immense struggles this year.  They had a whole lot of their key players taken away from them.  Frank Jeney, James Drew and Mike Ferrato are now key fixtures in the Windsor Stars' lineup.  Dale Kryway, Barry Keith and Cody Seremack have been helping Tecumseh win games.  And Kyle Trudell is now a member of the Mississauga Twins.  That is seven very good players, and any team would be hard-pressed to be able to even attempt to replace players of that magnitude.  The result of the losses has shown in the standings, and the A's have simply been struggling all year long.  They always seem to manage to do well this time of year, regardless of who they have on their team, but it is hard to imagine that they will be able to compete after being gutted of their talent.

Kelly Wasylyk: .311, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 3 3B

Chris Renaud: 2-6, 4.04 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 49 IP, 59 H, 36 R, 22 ER, 16 BB, 33 K

Prediction: Newmarket (MacPherson) 4 vs. WAA (Renaud) 3

 

BYE TEAM: Ilderton Red Army

The Ilderton Red Army have done well in league play, but have been getting beat up on outside of their league.  They managed to win the consolation finals in Tillsonburg, but went 0-3 in Lakeside and winless at the Hap.  John Ambrose had a good start to the season but has been getting hit around since.  LHP Jordan Townshend seems to be the only reliable arm they have, and even he hasn't been his usual self.  1B Rob Wakefield, 2B Mike Gough, 3B Shawn Robinson and OF Craig Orton have been solid all season long.  Robinson was a really underrated off-season acquisition as he has made his way over from the IBL.  Last year they lost to Leaside, beat Brampton and then lost to WAA.  They are going to be hard-pressed to make a run this year.

Rob Wakefield: .325, 2 HR, 28 RBI, 8 2B, 18 BB, 4 SB, 25 R

Jordan Townshend: 2-3, 4.86 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 37 IP, 31 H, 25 R, 20 ER, 18 BB, 49 K

 

ROUND 2

12. Martingrove (Gott) 2 vs. Erindale (Cullen) 12

13. Mississauga SW (Petruska) 5 vs. Burlington (Woodjetts) 2

14. Milton (Wilson) 6 vs. Sarnia 3

15. Bolton (White) 4 vs. Oakville (Gowing) 3

16. Lakeside (Tetreu) 3 vs. WAA (Parker) 4

17. Ilderton (Townshend) 2 vs. Thornhill (Anderson) 3

18. Windsor (Teno) 2 vs. Strathroy (Brennan) 1

19. Niagara (Strong) 4 vs. Etobicoke (Hyde) 5

20. Tecumseh (Kramer) 3 vs. Leaside (Frugoni) 1

21. Pickering (Cheeseman) 4 vs. East York (Malone) 6

22. Brampton (Ferreira) 3 vs. Newmarket (Simon) 2

 

ROUND 3

23. Vaughan (Laise) 3 vs. Erindale (Lucas) 7

24. Mississauga SW (Paish) 6 vs. Milton (Volpato) 2

25. Bolton (Warden) 3 vs. WAA (Gillis) 5

26. Ilderton (Ambrose) 1 vs. Strathroy (Annett) 5

27. Niagara (Ayles) 8 vs. Leaside (R. Donnelly) 4

28. Pickering (Binns) 2 vs. Newmarket (Bruce) 5

29. Thornhill (Cameron) 2 vs. Windsor (Little) 4

30. Etobicoke (Rose) 3 vs. Tecumseh (Lindquist) 5

31. East York (Gallo) 5 vs. Brampton (Burke) 1

 

ROUND 4

32. Erindale (Laurin) 2 vs. Mississauga SW (Porter) 5

33. WAA (Walker) 1 vs. Strathroy (Howe) 6

34. Niagara (Veres) 7 vs. Newmarket (Heaslip) 3

35. Thornhill (Owen)/Etobicoke (Ke. Breitner) W vs. Brampton (Nonis) L

36. Windsor (Rustulka)/Tecumseh (Seremack) W vs. East York (Gibbs) L

 

ROUND 5

NA

 

ROUND 6

Final 5 teams:

Mississauga Southwest Twins

Etobicoke Rangers

Thornhill Reds

Windsor Stars

Tecumseh Thunder

 

Final 3 teams:

Mississauga SW Twins

Etobicoke Rangers

Tecumseh Thunder

 

Finals:

Tecumseh Thunder OVER Mississauga SW Twins

 

 

ROUND ONE

1. Thornhill 5 (WP- Dave Anderson) vs. Vaughan 4 (LP- Peter Westlake, HR- Matthew Laise)

- Reds squeeze by Vaughan and must not look past Ilderton.

2. Windsor 5 (WP- Matt Rustulka) vs. Martingrove 0 (LP- Adam Frydman)

- Stars were up 1-0 in the fifth but pulled away late.

3. Strathroy 15 (WP- Tyler Annett) vs. Erindale 7 (LP- Mike Morely, HR- Jon Amendola)

- Uncharacteristic score for a Royals game but they get it done.

4. Mississauga SW 3 (WP- Billy Hurley, HR- Sean Bignall, Jerome Smith) vs. Niagara 0 (LP- Daniel Veres)

- Twins show they are built for this weekend.  Bignall and Smith went back to back to account for the only runs.

5. Burlington 2 (WP- Trevor Woodjetts) vs. Etobicoke 1 (LP- Andrew Hyde)

- Brants surprise Etobicoke who now has it's back against the wall.

6. Milton 0 (LP- Tyler Wilson) vs. Tecumseh 10 (WP- Mitch Kramer, HR- Casey Power, Anthony Peticca)

- Thunder destroy Milton and show why they are the number one team.

7. Sarnia 5 (LP- Wade Babula) vs. Leaside 13 (WP- Ryan Donnelly, HR- Travis Skelton, Adam Morton)

- Leafs win as expected.

8. Bolton 14 (WP- Trent Barwick) vs. Pickering 11 (LP- Corey Jeffery)

- Bolton comes from behind then holds off Pickering threat.

9. Oakville 3 (LP- Marc Walton) vs. East York 4 (WP- Myles Swartz, HR- Jack Malone, Jesse Bartle) (8 innings)

- A's put up a fight but it's not good enough.

10. Brampton 12 (WP- Joe Ferreira, HR- Victor Speciale) vs. Lakeside 4 (LP- Alex MacLeod)

- The Royals bring the bats with them in game one.

11. Newmarket 7 (WP- Victor Simon) vs. WAA 0 (LP- Chris Renaud)

- Hawks make short, quick work of A's.

 

ROUND TWO

12. Martingrove 0 (LP- Mike Bannon) vs. Erindale 18 (WP- Andrew Mullin)

- Cardinals blow doors off of Martingrove and are positioned for a run. They get Vaughan next.

13. Niagara 3 (WP- Paul McKenna, HR- Dave Davidson) vs. Etobicoke 1 (LP- Gary Rose)

- Based on their draw, a two and out was a real possibility for Etobicoke, but it is still a huge surprise and big disappointment I'm sure.

14. Milton 0 (LP- Justin Volpato) vs. Sarnia 10 (Nick Baljeu)

- Red Sox lose both their games by a combined 20-0 score.

15. Pickering 7 (WP- Patrick Vecchiarelli) vs. Oakville 1

- Disappointing season continues for Oakville.  Not sure what's going on over there but they definitely should have been better than this.

16. Lakeside 4 (LP- Kevin Furtney) vs. WAA 7 (WP- Jeff Parker)

- A's win battle of bottom-feeders.

17. Ilderton 4 (WP- Jordan Townshend) vs. Thornhill 2 (LP- Brad Crone)

- Red Army pull off stunner, but with Townshend throwing, nothing is really an upset.

18. Windsor 3 (LP- Adam Myers) vs. Strathroy 4 (WP- Derek Howe) (11 innings)

- Royals win big one.  They take on league-mate Ilderton next.

19. Mississauga SW 7 (WP- Jordan Petruska, HR- Troy Black) vs. Burlington 1 (LP- Tim Sogan)

- Twins win to set up rematch of last year's final with Tecumseh.

20. Tecumseh 7 (WP- Kyle Trudell, SV- Eric Carducci) vs. Leaside 2 (LP- Jorge Frugoni)

- Leafs continue to show they are not as good as the best teams.

21. Bolton 4 (LP- Trent Barwick) vs. East York 5 (WP- Mark Sikorski, HR- Robin Fox-Pappas) (10 innings)

- It's taken EY extra innings in both of their games against weaker opponents.  A win is a win at this point of the year.

22. Brampton 3 (LP- Ryan Thompson) vs. Newmarket 10 (WP- Alex Bruce)

- There is still something about this Hawks team come this time of the year.

 

ROUND THREE

23. Vaughan 0 (LP- Daniel Pelley) vs. Erindale 7 (WP- Dan Estey)

- Vikings simply outmatched in this one.

24. Niagara 6 (WP- Geoff Strong, HR- Anthony Vacca) vs. Sarnia 2 (LP- Anthony Shepherd)

- Easy win for Niagara, who has a chance to go on a roll now.

25. Pickering 9 (WP- Peter Nash) vs. WAA 1 (LP- Jared Ferencik)

- Red Sox rebound from opening day defeat to move in to Sunday.

26. Thornhill 1 (WP- Chadwick Cameron, HR- Brian MacDonald) vs. Windsor 0 (LP- Steve Teno)

- With the way both teams had been playing lately, the better team definitely won.

27. Burlington 2 (LP- Chris Cooney) vs. Leaside 8 (WP- Jordan Anderson)

- Seems like the same ol' story once again for Burlington.  The Leafs advance in to Sunday.

28. Bolton 1 (WP- Zack Ridell) vs. Brampton 0 (LP- Zach Sloan)

- One run is all the Brewers needed to crawl past Brampton.

29. Ilderton 3 (LP- John Ambrose) vs. Strathroy 8 (WP- Craig Steadman)

- The Royals continue their success against SWBL competition.

30. Mississauga SW 5 vs. Tecumseh 9 (WP- Zack Breault, HR- Kevin Mailloux)

- Thunder exact revenge on Twins from last year's final.  Breault gave up 5 first inning runs but shut them down after that, allowing the offence to put up some runs.

31. East York 3 (LP- Patrick Smith) vs. Newmarket 7 (WP- Brent Heaslip)

- Doesn't matter who they have on the team, they just get it done.  Got to give it up to the coaching staff.  Still lots of work to do though.

 

ROUND FOUR

32. Erindale 3 (LP- Kevin Lucas) vs. Niagara 6 (WP- Brandon Beattie)

- The Metros got by the Cards and now have a match with Pickering to determine who goes to the final 5.

33. Pickering 5 (WP- Brad Binns) vs. Thornhill 4 (LP- Phil Owen)

- Red Sox prove to be a thorn in Reds' side, with yet another big tournament win against them.  Heartbreaking loss for the Reds, who held a 4-2 lead heading into the bottom of the 7th.

34. Leaside 8 (WP- Chris Goodale) vs. Bolton 2 (LP- Darryl Bond)

- No surprise here.  Leafs meet EY for GTBL supremacy.

35. Ilderton 1 (LP- Jamie Mann) vs. East York 12 (WP- Jake Gallo)

- Gallo cruises in mercy-shortened game.

36. Tecumseh 2 (WP- Eric Carducci, HR- Jason Marentette) vs. Newmarket 1 (LP- Mark West) (8 innings)

- Another gutsy performance by Simon.  Tecumseh was down 1-0 in the 7th.  A pinch-hit homerun by Jason Marentette tied it, and a walk in extras won it.  Tough loss for the Hawks.  Thunder go to the undefeated game vs. Strathroy.

 

ROUND FIVE

37. Niagara 3 (LP- Brandon Beattie) vs. Pickering 6 (WP- Brad Binns)

- After an opening round loss, it was hard to envision Pickering making it this far.  They get a huge win and vault into the final five.  Some teams just get it done when the stakes are the highest.  Yet another disappointing season for Niagara.

38. Leaside 7 (WP- Sean Kavanaugh) vs. East York 3 (LP- Myles Swartz)

- A disappointing finish for East York.  The Leafs turned to their top reliever to get past EY.  Will be interesting to see where they turn now. As long as they are in the mix they have a shot. They will have an edge in hitting over their next opponent.

39. Mississauga 7 (WP- Kyle Trudell, HR- John Broll (2)) vs. Newmarket 1 (LP- Ryan Fedrigo, HR- Mark Petrou)

- Surprise! Surprise! The Twins are in to Sunday night.

40. Strathroy 0 vs. Tecumseh 4 (WP- Brandon Lindquist)

- Thunder win again and get a bye into Monday morning.

 

ROUND SIX

41. Mississauga SW Twins 6 vs. Strathroy Royals 2

- The Twins jumped out to an early lead then pulled away after Strathroy cut it to 3-2.  

42. Leaside Leafs 4 (WP- Josh Howsam) vs. Pickering Red Sox 3 (LP- Christian Chavez)

- Howsam turned back the clock and gave the Leafs a big performance.  There was once a time where Sunday night would have likely been Howsam's second start of the weekend, but the Leafs made it to this point without needing their former ace.

 

ROUND SEVEN

43. Tecumseh Thunder 0 (LP- Mitch Kramer) vs. Mississauga SW Twins 3 (WP- Billy Hurley)

- It doesn't matter how they do in the regular season.  The pre-season number one team just gets it done in tournaments.

 

ROUND EIGHT

44. Leaside Leafs 4 (LP- Jorge Frugoni) vs. Mississauga SW Twins 5 (WP- James Byrnes) (9 innings)

- The Leafs led 3-1 in the bottom of the 7th and 4-3 in the bottom of the 9th but gave up the lead both times.  Tough way to end the weekend.

 

ROUND NINE

45. Tecumseh Thunder 7 (WP- Zack Breault) vs. Mississauga SW Twins 1 (LP- James Byrnes)

- The Twins suffere from a hangover and didn't put forth their best effort. This was a rematch of last year's final and this one yielded a different result. 

 

1. Tecumseh Thunder

- They were the odds-on favourites to win it all, and that is what they did.  They are the best team in the province.  The Twins are a very close second, but this Tecumseh team was just absolutely stacked this year.

2. Mississauga SW Twins

- The defending champs fell just short of the gold, but that doesn't diminish how good they are as a team.  With a core group of guys still young enough to put together a few good years together, this team will continue to dominate the province.

3. Leaside Leafs

- What a tough way for them to end their quest for a Nationals berth.  Most of their key players are north of 30 and they do not have much time left to make noise.  This could have been the year for them but they will be forced to try to do it again next year instead.

4. Pickering Red Sox

- The Red Sox are a tough tournament team, and know how to win tough games.  They fell just short of a Monday berth, and are a pitcher or two away from being right back again next year.

4. Strathroy Royals

- It was a decent weekend for the Royals but I'm sure they are mightily disappointed.  They had the team and the depth to win it all, but unfortunately drew a better Mississauga team on Sunday night.

6. East York Bulldogs

- They were loaded enough to be able to win, but something just seemed off with how they had played lately.  The consistency was just not there.  If they don't retain all of their big additions for next year, then they will fade back into obscurity.  If they bring everyone back they will once again have a shot.

6. Newmarket Hawks

- There are a handful of teams who know how to win at this time of the year, and they are one of them.  They just didn't have enough depth this year.  With last year's pitching staff they probably would have been playing on Monday.

6. Niagara Metros

- This was looking like it was going to be the year for the Metros, but they once again disappointed.  Seems like you can expect them to win a couple of games in this tournament year in and year out, and that's about it.

9. Bolton Brewers

- The Brewers were able to pull off a couple of wins, and that is probably the best result they could have realistically expected.  They are world-beaters in the North Dufferin league, but they are average at best outside of it.  That being said, they do have some decent pieces and are an acquisition or two away from being pretty good.

9. Erindale Cardinals

- The window of opportunity for this team is probably very small now, if not closed already.  They can be counted on to compete with any team, but when all is said and done that is all they can be counted on for.

9. Thornhill Reds

- They exited the tournament in a horrible way, but how much further they could have gone was in question with the pitching they had left.

12. Ilderton Red Sox

- With Townshend pitching they can beat any team out there.  Without Townshend pitching, they can lose to any team out there.  Playing Strathroy and East York didn't help because they are not at that level.

13. Brampton Royals

- Losing 1-0 to Bolton has got to sting for this team.  They have some decent pieces and should continue to improve, especially if they can get some players from their good junior team.

13. Burlington Brants

- The weekend started off great with a win against Etobicoke, but they lost their next two to go home early again.  It seems as though this is the type of result this team will continue to get.

13. Sarnia Braves

- They are not all that bad and have some decent players, but they are just not good enough.

13. WAA

- They lost so many players and just didn't have enough talent this season.  It will be interesting to see how they do going forward in terms of getting talent and keeping it.

13. Windsor Stars

- They lost both of their games by one run each.  If they beat Thornhill they probably could have made a run, but they didn't.  Lets see how they re-tool in the off-season, because this type of result is not something they are accustomed to.

18. Vaughan Vikings

- They need to re-consider playing in the "A" Eliminations, unless they can add some more pieces.  With the current roster, they are not good enough or deep enough to compete at this level.

19. Etobicoke Rangers

- There's nothing to be ashamed about losing to Burlington and Niagara, but there were high hopes for Etobicoke and a two and out was unacceptable.  Not having Brett Sanders definitely hurt, but they should have been able to put up more than 2 runs.  Their best pitcher never started a game.

19. Lakeside Lizards

- Not much to write about this team, other than they went from a team that was a tough opponent to a team that didn't compete.  A lot of their games were not even close, both all season and this weekend.

19. Martingrove White Sox

- They never put up a run this weekend, and really need to re-consider whether they should have a team next season.

19. Milton Red Sox

- A two and out is not all that surprising, but with the amount of homeruns they have been hitting this year, it's hard to believe they couldn't put up a run in two games.  Their best pitchers are getting old, and probably don't have many innings left in them.

19. Oakville A's

- Their disappointing season continued this weekend.  They should not have been this bad this year.  They seem to have checked out a ong time ago.

 

 

Tecumseh Thunder (Ontario)

 

Head Coach: Jamie Kell

Coaches: Marty Deschamps, Dave Girard, Terry Murphy, Ron Rousse

 

C Anthony Peticca, Matt Varacalli

1B Mitch Delaney, Barry Keith

2B Kevin Mailloux

3B Casey Power

SS Brandon Gignac*, Bill Gillen

OF Eric Cunningham, Dale Kryway, Curtis Lambkin, Jason Marentette, Ken Price

RHP Zack Breault, Kyle Breitner*, Eric Carducci, Brandon Lindquist, Matt Stezycki, Kyle Trudell

LHP Mitch Kramer, Cody Seremack

 

*additions: Kyle Breitner, RHP (Etobicoke); Brandon Gignac, SS (Thunder Juniors)

 

The Thunder boast the same powerful lineup they have played with all season.  Kevin Mailloux, Mitch Delaney and Casey Power provide most of the power in the middle of the lineup.  Eric Cunningham and Curtis Lambkin have been terrific table setters all season long.  Dale Kryway and Barry Keith have made steady contributions at the bottom of the lineup.  

The pitching staff has Zack Breault, Mitch Kramer, Brandon Lindquist and Cody Seremack.  Add Kyle Breitner from Etobicoke, and that is five quality starters.  Matt Stezycki, Kyle Trudell and Eric Carducci will be sure to provide some solid work out of the 'pen.

 

Mississauga SW Twins (Ontario 2)

 

Head Coach: Mike Smith (Bob Kulchyk will not be accompanying the team for health reasons)

Coach: David Paish

 

C John Broll, Anthony Fantauzzi, Ed Largy

1B Jerome Smith

2B Mike Cantwell, Michael Cardinale, Brendan Emmett

SS Troy Black, Jamie Smith

OF Sean Bignall, Ian Campbell, Chris Piccini

RHP Adam Banski, Billy Hurley, Paul McKenna*, Adam Paish, Jordan Petruska, Kyle Porter, Tim Sogan*

LHP James Byrnes, Matt Piccini

 

*additions: Paul McKenna (Niagara), Tim Sogan (Burlington)

 

The Twins added two COBA players who will help make their pitching staff even better.  Billy Hurley, Paul McKenna, Tim Sogan, Adam Paish and Jordan Petruska headline the pitching staff.  Kyle Porter, Adam Banski and James Byrnes will also be counted on to make key contributions.

Jerome Smith and Sean Bignall provide most of the power for this team.  They also have a trio of catchers who fly under the radar but all of them can hit.  Jamie Smith and Brendan Emmett are the table setters for the lineup.  Troy Black will also be counted on to provide depth.  Sogan can also help out in the outfield, where the Twins lack depth.

 

 

ONTARIO (Tecumseh Thunder)

 

Game 1: vs. New Brunswick Win 2-0 (WP- Mitch Kramer)

- Kramer tossed a 3 hit complete game shutout, with no walks and 3 strikeouts

- Curtis Lambkin was 3 for 3 with a stolen base

 

Game 2: vs. Alberta Loss 5-1 (LP- Zack Breault)

- The Thunder held a 1-0 lead in the top of the 4th but Alberta scored 3 in the frame and added 2 in the 7th

- Curtis Lambkin accounted for the lone run on a solo homerun

 

Game 3: vs. St. John's Win 2-0 (WP- Kyle Breitner)

- Breitner proved to be a big pickup as he scattered 3 hits and 6 walks while pitching a shutout

- Curtis Lambkin homered in the first and both of Tecumseh's runs were scored in the opening innings

 

Game 4: vs. New Brunswick Win 19-6 (WP- Brandon Lindquist)

- The Thunder had 17 hits and 7 walks in 6 innings

- Mitch Delaney (1 HR, 5 RBI) and Eric Cunningham (4 RBI) had 3 hits each

- Casey Power homered in addition to Delaney

 

Semi-Finals: vs. Ontario 2 Win 10-2 (WP- Mitch Kramer)

- Kramer gave up 2 runs over 6 innings of work

- Kevin Mailloux had 3 hits and 4 RBI

- Curtis Lambkin was 2 for 2 with 2 walks and 3 runs scored

 

Gold Medal Game: vs. British Columbia Loss 3-0 (LP- Zack Breault)

- The Thunder couldn't muster any offence and fell just short of winning National gold

 

 

ONTARIO 2 (Mississauga SW Twins)

 

Game 1: vs. British Columbia Loss 7-3 (LP- Billy Hurley)

- All 10 runs were scored in the 6th inning in this game.  BC scored 7 in the top of the 6th and the Twins scored 3 in the bottom half

- Troy Black was 3 for 3

 

Game 2: vs. Newfoundland Win 14-2 (WP- James Byrnes)

- This game was cut short after 5 innings and 15 hits by the Twins

- Sean Bignall homered twice and drove in 7 runs

- Jerome and Jamie Smith had 3 hits each, one of Jamie's was a homerun

 

Game 3: vs. Nova Scotia Win 2-1 (WP- Paul McKenna)

- McKenna allowed a run in the 7th and that was all, as he pitched a complete game 4 hitter.  He did not walk a batter and struck out 6.

- Troy Black tripled in a run

 

Game 4: vs. Manitoba Win 5-4 (WP- Adam Banski)

- The never-say-die Twins tied the game in the bottom of the 7th and then won it in the 8th to advance to the playoff round

 

Quarter-Finals: vs. Alberta Win 7-1 (WP- Jordan Petruska)

- Petruska, who is a proven big-game pitcher, dealt 7 innings of 2 run ball, allowing just 1 unearned run

- The win set up an all Ontario semi-final for the second year in a row

 

Semi-Finals: vs. Ontario Loss 10-2 (LP- Tim Sogan)

- Sogan lasted just 2 innings, giving up 5 runs

- Jamie Smith had 3 hits, drove in a run, and scored a run

 

Bronze Medal Game: vs. New Brunswick Win 11-0 (WP- Paul McKenna)

- The Twins needed just 5 innings to win their second Bronze medal in a row

- McKenna pitched 4 innings of 1 run ball

- Jerome Smith and Sean Bignall each had 3 hits

 

 

 

 

The Tecumseh Thunder had to settle for a silver medal at the Canadian Men's Senior Nationals.  The Thunder ran into a tough pitcher in Shane Kraemer of BC (who beat both Ontario teams at the tournament).  Kraemer pitched a complete game, allowing 2 hits and 2 walks, striking out 13. Zack Breault started and pitched all 7 innings for Tecumseh.  He struck out 12 of his own but fell victim to 1 two out run in the 2nd and two two out runs in the 5th.  He allowed 8 hits and 2 walks.  

The Thunder were 3-1 in round robin play, earning a first place finish in their pool and a bye into the semi-finals.  In the semis, they beat their Ontario 2 counterparts from Mississauga SW by a score of 10-2.  

The Thunder made an impressive run nonetheless, and a silver medal at the Nationals is nothing to be ashamed of for 2014.  Congratulations to Jamie Kell and his coach staff (Matty Deschamps, Dave Girard and Terry Murphy) on having a terrific season and being the best team in the province of Ontario for 2014.

 

Curtis Lambkin: 9/17, 1 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 5 BB, 7 R, 1 SB

Kyle Breitner: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 6 BB, 5 K

Mitch Kramer: 2-0, 1.07 ERA, 13 IP, 10H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K

 

 

 

 

The Mississauga SW Twins are racking up the accomplishments.  The young team won it's second bronze medal in as many years at the Nationals.  All in all, they finished the tournament with a 5-2 record.  Both of their losses were to the two teams playing in the gold medal game (BC and Tecumseh).  The Tecumseh loss came earlier in the day in the semi-finals.  The Twins struggled early on this seasons but turned it on as the season progressed and showed up to play at the biggest times of the year.  They finish the year with a very impressive 32-16 record and the undisputed number two spot in the rankings.  Congratulations to Bob Kulchyk, Mike Smith, David Paish and the Mississauga SW Twins on an incredible year.

 

Sean Bignall: .435 AVG, 10/23, 2 2B, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 7 R, 3 SB

Brendan Emmett: .421, 8/19, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 8 R, 6 BB, 2 SB

Paul McKenna: 2-0, 0.63 ERA, 11 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K

Jordan Petruska: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 7 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

 

The 2014 regular season is complete in the IBL.  Here is a list of stats for some former senior players who played in the IBL this summer.

 

Kyle Bolton, Burlington 1-1, 4.28 ERA, 21 IP, 17 K

Adam Echlin, Kitchener 1-1, 7.85 ERA, 18.1 IP, 9 K

Tyler Fata, Burlington .250, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 1 BB, 25 SO

Daniel Jagdeo, Hamilton .189, 1 HR, 15 RBI, 23 BB, 29 SO

Brett Lawson, Barrie 4-2, 5.03 ERA, 39.1 IP, 30 K

Chris Kemlo, Barrie 2-0, 2.02 ERA, 26.2 IP, 20 K

Paul LaMantia, London .340, 1 HR, 26 RBI, 15 BB, 26 SO

Jeff MacLeod, Burlington .342, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 9 BB, 15 SO

Matt McGovern, Kitchener 1-0, 3.85 ERA, 16.1 IP, 7 K

Tyler Plumpton, Barrie .273, 0 HR, 13 RBI, 5 BB, 5 SO

 

With the opening pitch of the OUA season just around the corner, here is a look at how Senior players fared in college/university baseball last season, both in Canada as well as in the USA.

 

Chris Anderi, Niagara (Brock University) .259, 0 HR, 9 RBI, 7 SB

Taylor Anderson, Niagara (Gannon University) .279, 0 HR, 14 RBI, 8 SB

Kyle Angelow, Etobicoke (McMaster University) 2-6, 5.78 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, 46.2 IP, 28 K

Nick Anton, Brampton (Brock University) .158, 1 HR, 5 RBI

Justin Ayles, Niagara (Brock University) 4-1, 1 SV, 1.75 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 41 IP, 37 K

Kravice Batts, East York (University of Toronto) .321, 0 HR, 10 RBI, 9 SB

Dan Beaver, Oakville (Notre Dame of Ohio) .295, 0 HR, 20 RBI, 13 SB

Brandon Beattie, Niagara (Waterloo) 3-3, 4.50 ERA, 1.76 WHIP, 34 IP, 17 K

Troy Black, Mississauga SW (University of Maine) .326, 2 HR, 27 RBI, 15 SB

Kyle Breitner, Etobicoke (St. Clair College) 9-0, 0.84 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 66.1 IP, 88 K

Lukas Burch, Niagara (Queen's University) 0-1, 9.81 ERA, 2.45 WHIP, 11 IP, 9 K

Matt Cambria, Etobicoke (Post University) 2-5, 2.37 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 60.2 IP, 19 K

Tyler Cattapan, Thornhill (Point Park University) .282, 0 HR, 34 RBI, 1 SB

Adam Chong, Milton (Laurier University) .200, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2 SB

Brent Cleland, Etobicoke (University of Buffalo) 1-0, 5.00 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 27 IP, 27 K

Joel Cooper, Windsor (Madonna University)

Eric Cunningham, Tecumseh (Wayne State University) .295, 4 HR, 43 RBI, 6 SB

Chase Dobbie, Oakville (Madonna University) .115, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 5 SB

Ryan Donnelly, Leaside (University of Toronto) 2-3, 6.82 ERA, 2.08 WHIP, 30.1 IP, 7 K

Joe Ferreira, Brampton (Mayville State College) .407, 1 HR, 5 RBI. 0-0, 2 SV, 4.11 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 15.1 IP, 6 K

Ricky Ferri, Niagara (Brock University) .304, 0 HR, 22 RBI, 11 SB

Brandon Gignac, Tecumseh (Alderson Broaddus College) .244, 0 HR, 17 RBI, 12 SB

Jordan Grant, Niagara (Brock University) .257, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 3 SB

Graham Holland, Leaside (University of Western Ontario) .313, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 11 SB

Josh Kennedy, Oakville (Lakehead University) 

Mitch Kramer, Tecumseh (St. Clair College) 5-2, 2.63 ERA, 1.34 ERA, 37.1 IP, 40 K

Kevin Lagerquist, Brampton (University of Guelph) 2-0, 3 SV, 0.93 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 9.2 IP, 8 K

Ed Largy, Mississauga SW (Robert Morris University Chicago)

Zach Laurin, Erindale (Porterville College)

Kevin Lucas, Erindale (Niagara University) 1-1, 7.04 ERA, 1,83 WHIP, 15.1 IP, 12 K

Alex Mann, Oakville (Queen's University) 0-0, 1.35 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 6.2 IP, 5 K

Jeremy McDonald, Milton (Queen's University) 3-4, 3.37 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 32 IP, 32 K

Paul McKenna, Niagara (Brock University) 5-0, 1.80 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 35 IP, 31 K

Chris Mireault, Strathroy (University of Western Ontario) .254, 0 HR, 9 RBI, 7 SB

Mike Morley, Erindale (University of West Alabama) 1-0, 2.57 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 14 IP, 2 K

Peter Nash, Pickering (University of Toronto) 2-1, 5.81 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 21.2 IP, 13 K

Justin Newbold, Milton (Laurier University) 0-0, 6.75 ERA, 2.25 WHIP, 2.2 IP, 1 K

Will Nicholson, Niagara (Brock University) .268, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 4 SB

Phil Owen, Thornhill (Brock University) 1-0, 5 SV, 1.42 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 12.2 IP, 14 K

Adam Paish, Mississauga SW (University of Western Ontario) 4-2, 2.38 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 49 IP, 29 K

Aaron Palmer, Erindale (Concordia University Ann Arbor) .373 AVG

Jordan Petruska, Mississauga SW (Laurier University) 5-1, 1.94 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 37 IP, 44 K

Casey Power, Tecumseh (University of Wisconsin-Whitewater) .345, 5 HR, 52 RBI, 9 SB

Peter Ricciardi, Pickering (University of Guelph) .364, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 11 SB

Zach Sloan, Brampton (Canisius College) 0-0, 3.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 3.0 IP, 2 K

Phil Steer, Niagara (Brock University) .371, 0 HR, 12 RBI, 19 SB

Sean Sutton, Thornhill (Gannon College) .262, 1 HR, 14 RBI, 9 SB

Bryan Vardzel, Etobicoke (Ryerson University) 1-5, 4.15 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 47.2 IP, 30 K

Daniel Veres, Niagara (Brock University) 1-2, 6.54 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 11 IP, 11 K

Matt Watson, Niagara (Brock University) 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.60 WHIP, 3.1 IP, 5 K

Simon Weisz, East York (University of Western Ontario) .339, 0 HR, 11 RBI, 15 SB

Kyle Westwater, Oakville (University of Guelph) .277, 0 HR, 10 RBI, 3 SB

Chris Willins, Erindale (Alderson Broaddus College) .200, 5 AB

Jacob Zilli, Erindale (Queen's University) .272, 0 HR, 14 RBI, 1 SB