MAY 9, 2024

Fine Wines Report – Dave Adams

Following last week's beat-down double defeat, the question facing the Fine Wines was: would the team play like a beautiful bottle of Dom Perignon, or would the result resemble the iconic flask- shaped bottle of Mateus with a candle stuffed in its mouth dripping candle wax down its sides?

Game 1 of this double dip saw the Wines holding a 13-12 lead after 4 innings. Unfortunately, the hits and runs dried up faster than Doug Ford changes his mind. The Royals scored 4 times over the final 3 frames to secure a 16-13 win and keep the Wines winless. Offensively, there was some pop in the bats of Dave Adams, Pat Blais, and Ben Roczniak who were all perfect at the plate. Jonathon Kamin, Chris Barrett, and Mike Way combined for 7 hits and 6 runs.

In the second game of this mid-morning matchup, the Wines popped their corks like a shaken bottle of Baby Duck. The team was relentless, racking up runs in every inning. The game came to a merciful end with a Geoff Coulson 3-run homer in the fifth frame to make the final 19-3. Pat Blais pitched a masterful game and was once again perfect at the plate (can anyone say Shohei Otani?). Also contributing to the offensive output were Rob Bentley, Gary Gilmour, Ian Carson, Adams and Kamin who pounded out 14 hits and scampered home with 8 runs.

So it may not have been a Dom Perignon day on the diamond but the Wines were still able to make a toast to their first win of the season. As for those candle-waxed bottles of Mateus, they do make a wonderful Mothers Day gift.

Rusty Royals Report – John Koopman

In Thursday's first game the Rusty Royals were still rolling in the swagger of a 2-0 start. We were not at our best defensively but the bats were there led by a four for four performance, including two doubles and three runs scored by lead-off man Bill Johnson.  It used to be that the speed guys led off - but as you know - in the Bigs and in Oakville Masters that has now changed. There are many strong aspects to Bill's game, but speed is a work in progress.  Brian Mastervik, Mike Mozeswski and Andy McMakin also hit four for four. The rest of us got out enough to keep the Fine Wines in the game, but the Rusty Royals ultimately prevailed 16-13.

In the second game their swagger got the best of the Rusty Royals. Vanity and overconfidence were our ruin.  Being undefeated apparently got into heads, and our dapper Royals laid an egg.  Jeff Palmer and the consistent Andy McMakin each got two hits, but no other Royal had more than one hit, and most had none.  Defensively we let easy ground balls through the infield, dropped flies and failed to keep the force on.  Crushed 19-3, the Rusty Royals will be a humbler bunch this coming Thursday.

Blue Pills Report – Frank Sturm

Does anyone remember the first episode of the “Walking Dead”?  It was poignantly titled “Days gone by”. This would best describe the day.  Pills played like zombies for the most part. But if you know the show, Darrell Northcott can take care of business!  Our Darrell went 5 for 7 on the day, scored 3 times and made some great catches.  Other good bats (a Negan reference from the show) were Dave Walker 5 for 7, Frank Strum 5 for 7 and the Walker of the day Mike Canham, 3 for 3 with 4 walks. Let this day be gone bye and end the apocalypse.  We’ll strap on those cleats for a better day next week.

Red Faces Report – Tom Hunter

Buoyed by the return of superfan Cathy Renwick (along with her sidekick Bernie) the Red Faces clawed back to .500 on the season with two spirited wins over the Blue Pills. 

In Game One the Faces set the tone with 4 runs in the top of the first, but the Pills' fearsome lineup quickly dampened the mood with 3 of their own. Fortunately, crafty pitcher Ron VanderMeulin kept the Pills scoreless for the next 4 innings while the Faces demonstrated that we can actually hit (unlike last week).  Our defence was also much improved, including an unlikely blind catch by shortshop Jeff Francis running hell-bent toward the outfield fence. (Similar to an over-the shoulder catch, but more “over the head”.)  In the bottom of the sixth the Pills scored 5 to create some mild discomfort, but the Faces promptly scored 3 in the seventh to snuff out any misguided thoughts of a Pills comeback.  Final score 15-9.

Jack (of all trades) Pang made his pitching debut for the Faces in Game Two.  For some reason (perhaps a scouting report?) the Pills became very patient at the plate, resulting in an inordinate number of 3-2 counts, but Jack usually prevailed.  The Faces’ newfound fondness for hitting continued, and after 5 innings the score was a comfortable 10-3.  Once again the Pills found their stride late in the game and in fact had the potential game-tying runners on base in the top of the seventh, but left them stranded and the Red Faces escaped with a 12-9 victory.  The defensive play of the game for the Faces was an unassisted double play by grizzled veteran John Finley, making a rare appearance at Rover.

Proving the old adage that hitting is contagious, each of the Red Faces had at least 3 hits (or in some cases 2 hits and a walk) and most of the lineup had an OBP above .667 so there is insufficient space to note individual batting performances, except Dan Sanscartier went 6 for 7.  The rest of you know who you are.

Grey Beards Report – Larry Young

The Grey wards suffered their first two losses of the season. Missing five of our regulars was a challenge. Nod of the baseball cap to Chappy for filling in and Super Spare Dave Ware who went 6/7.  Steve Craig led the way with a 7/8 day at the plate. George (Jorge) flew in from the Dominican for his first two games pitching and did not walk one batter. Looking forward to getting on the right side of the win column next week.

White Hairs Report – Jeff Morton

Un"Vince"ible.  That's what faced the White Hairs as their two Vinces, the only Vinces in the OMMSPL, were both absent. Undettered, European Import Rookies Andy Byj and Doug Hyland made their debuts.  Buy a Vowel Yaschyshyn also returned.

Last week's hitting prowess went missing but strong pitching and several outstanding defensive plays carried the Hairs to two hard-fought victories 10-9 and 13-9.

Tony Foscarin was flawless on the right side.  Breadbasket Warren made a perfect throw to second to erase that speedy Greybeard Heinbecker.  Gerry Coveny made a key catch in right and Road Runner Brancier tracked down several line drives.

At the plate, Buy a Vowel was 6 for 6 and Rookie Byj and Morton each contributed 5 hits.  Bill Manson delivered several key run-scoring hits.

White Hairs' first to Monahans streak continued.  This year's Hairs are a bit more of a traditional squad - only one salad ordered and a team beer fund was established.

2023 SEASON FINALE!

Congratulations to the White Hairs for achieving first place in the regular season and, for an encore, winning the Playoff Championship.

From left to right:  Barny Henderson,  Tony Fratia,  Frank Strum,  Kim Warren,  Roman Kryzaniwsky,  Mike Canham,  Jeff Morton (Manager),  Al King,  Brock Paterson,  Greg Potter,  Nick Wollaston,  Rick Cummings,  Vince Pileggi 

Congratulations also to the Fine Wines for their terrific regular season (1 point out of first place) and a hard-fought battle in the Championship Game.

From left to right - Ian Schell, Tony Foscarin, Jim McDonald, Steve Isaacs, Rick Wilcox, George Merrick, Vince Moffat, Andy Kozai, Rick Wilkinson, Dave Adams, Mike Way, Chris Barrett, Ted Wierda

And congratulations to Shane Noseworthy, the recipient of the Bill Carson Award for 2023, which is awarded to a player who exemplifies patience, a positive attitude, enthusiasm, support of his teammates and a proclivity to lead by example, and who commands respect from both his teammates and competitors.

BOYS OF SUMMER 2023