After a heartbreaking loss in extra innings of the Ontario Finals last season, the Kendal Eagles Baseball Club will soon kick off their 42nd season. The home opener, Sunday May 6th, 2012, is much earlier than usual because the team has joined a new league. This winter, the Peterborough River Dogs decided to move to the Greater Toronto Baseball League, leaving the league with only two teams. The Birds had little choice after the collapse of the Eastern Ontario Baseball Association’s (EOBA) senior circuit. It is hard to believe that less than ten years ago the league boasted more than ten elite senior ball clubs. The Eagles will retain their EOBA affiliation and will play a home and home with the Peterborough Junior Club. By retaining their EOBA affiliation they reserve the right to compete in the All Ontario ‘AA’ Championships this fall in Niagara Falls.
The Boys in Blue will be joining the Ontario Senior Baseball Association (OSBA). It is a nineteen team league stretching across central Ontario, from Port Hope to Bolton. The OSBA was established in 2006. The Eagles will play in the Eastern Conference, which is subdivided into Eastern and Western divisions. The Birds division rivals will include: the Port Hope Flyers, who also made the shift from the EOBA; The Port Hope River Rats who were founded this spring; the Clarington Cubs, last year’s OSBA champions; and the Oshawa Athletics. The Western Division will consist of teams from Ajax, Brooklyn, Oshawa, Pickering, and Whitby. There will be no crossover play with the Western Conference during the regular season.
The Boys in Blue will open up at the Harvey Jackson Memorial Park with a doubleheader against the Brooklyn Dodgers on Sunday May 6th, 2012 at noon. Most weekend games this year will be seven inning doubleheaders. The Birds will travel to Peterborough on Wednesday May 16th, 2012 for a 7:30 start. The Eagles will return home for the traditional Victoria Day showdown with the Port Hope Flyers on Monday May 21st, 2012. The Flyers will be out for revenge after losing a best two out of three series to the Eagles. Having lost the series and a friendly bet, the Flyers reluctantly sported the Kendal jerseys for a most embarrassing team photo! Game time will be 1:00pm.

Sunday was a beautiful day for baseball in Kendal and the Eagle’s faithful were treated to a ‘doozy’ of a game. Mark Foster took the ball for the Eagles in his first start of the season. Foster threw four and two third innings allowing only 4 hits. However, he did walk five and hit four batsmen. He was relieved by Bryan Landry after hitting two batters in a row. Landry then promptly drilled the next two batters setting an Eagles record for consecutive bean balls! Fortunately the Birds offense was in full stride on this day and at the end of five they were still up by a score of 5-3. In the sixth inning Eagle’s rookie, Justin Wannamaker took the ball and got two quick outs. Then he ran into some control issues and the defense totally imploded, three walks and three errors later the Birds were down 9-5. The offense didn’t give up though and continued to pound out hits, fourteen on the day. With two out the Eagles were able to tie the game, on a strikeout of all things, as the third strike was in the dirt and then the throw from the catcher hit the runner on his way to first base. Then, ’Number Nine’ Johnny Line delivered a base knock to centerfield to win possibly the ugliest game in Eagles history. Cory Fenton had a great game behind the plate and chipped in at bat with a 2-3 performance, scoring two runs and picking up two RBI.
After allowing nineteen base runners in the first game, only six of which came via a hit, the birds looked to right their proverbial ship. They sent deceptive right-hander, Russ ‘Snuffy’ Hunt to the hill. Hunt was nothing short of brilliant over six strong innings giving up only one hit and a single walk. The Eagles offense stayed hot, banging out eight hits and building up a six run lead. The defence also held fast, committing no errors. It was a Jekyll and Hyde type doubleheader as the Birds had control of this game from start to finish. However, Hunt looked to tire late in the game as he gave up four hits and three runs in the seventh, but held on for his first victory of the season. The offense was led by Mark Foster, going 2-3, with a run scored and two RBI.
The Eagles next game will be on Wednesday May 30, 2012 in Kendal against the Port Hope River Rats, game time 7:30. Then back at the ‘Harv’ on Sunday June 03, 2012 for a doubleheader against the Pickering Pirates, a noon start. The Birds will complete a seven game home stand on Wednesday June 06, 12 against the Port Hope River Rats, a 7:30 start.

The Kendal Eagles are headed to Niagara Falls on labour Day weekend to compete in the "AA" Senior Men's Provincial Championships.
The Eagles open the tournament at 2:00pm on Friday vs the London Bulls.
Win or lose that game and the Eagles are guaranteed of an 8:00am game 2 on Saturady morning.