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Game Results

9 July, 2026

FINE WINES	17	GREYBEARDS	15
FINE WINES	12	GREYBEARDS	3
RUSTY ROYALS	12	RED FACES	5
RUSTY ROYALS	19	RED FACES	14

**Click on standings for further details

GAME REPORTS - JULY 9

Fine Wines vs Grey Beards

Grey Beards Report – John Kemp

Gee whiz, fellas, buckle in — this week's tale is a real lulu.

The skies over the old ballyard were grey as a Beard's chin whisker all morning — overcast, sullen, threatening — the kind of morning that makes a fella wonder if the baseball gods were sore at the Beards. Although the sun eventually peeked out, the Grey Beards were swept in the doubleheader sweep the wrong way.

But hold the phone, just because we lost both games, doesn’t mean there weren’t some hi lights along the way.

Game 1- Teamwork comes through when Bill Manson steps in without hesitation in relief of the tardy starter who was delayed in traffic. In an equally sporting way, he let’s the late starter enter the game in the second inning. At bat we scored five runs in the first inning — Dan Cooper, Bill Manson, Bill Craig, Chris Barrett and Simon Everitt. A great start indeed. Later that game we had more run contributions from Dan Cooper, Bill Manson Don Yaschyshyn, Chris Barrett, Simon Everitt and Steve Moses. Our total offence in game one totaled 15 runs, not bad but it just wasn’t enough to take down the Fine Whiners (who really did whine quite a bit) after they scored 21 runs.

Game 2- I’d like to say things changed, and they did change, just not for the better. We lost 12 to 3. Our only runs came from Bill Manson, Jim Fenner and Steve Moses.

Other highlights:

In game one Dave Brinton leapt into the air to make a great out when he caught a fly ball in the infield, a lot of guys said “he really caught some air” on that jump and he did, at least 2” between the bottom of his spikes and the safety of the ground below, either way, it was a great catch.

Bill Craig, we all hope he’s okay, took one for the team when a ball from the infield bounced off his glove or the field right up into his throat. He left to get medical attention, but we all know just downing a few cold ones after the game would likely have kept the swelling at bay.

Who knew Bill Manson’s yellow batting gloves would be the talk of the town in high baseball fashion terms this season. To put it into context, as I was coaching first base, the other team’s first baseman said ‘man, look at those yellow batting gloves, they match his bat beautifully”. Sure enough, when Bill showed up on first base after getting a hit we asked him about the yellow batting gloves, and without hesitation he says “I bought them because they match my bat”. Filling in for delayed pitcher, scoring a ton of runs, and setting fashion trends - this guy’s doing it all this season.

Don Yaschyshyn was also part of the highlights from this week’s game, at one point we thought he was practicing a move ready for his try out with the Savanah Bananas, demonstrating a new defensive move he threw the ball underhand, backhand through the legs that almost got a runner out at second. Fantastic stuff folks. I think this guy’s got a shot with the Bananas if he just made that out.

Lastly, one of the players on the red whiners mentioned to me in passing that that although we lost both games to them, that I had a no-hitter going from the bump this week. Confused, I asked him to clarify his response. “You had a no hitter on me, one batter, over two games”. I’m not sure that’s what we were looking for as a team, but I suppose between that and some of the good hitting and defence the Grey Beards demonstrated this week, we have something to build on.

So that's the ballgame, folks — two Ls, one traffic jam, one stand-up teammate, and a sunny finish that almost made it all worth it. Tip your caps to Bill, let’s hope Bill Craig is good to go next week and that we get Randy back. In the meantime we stay positive, have fun and with any luck we'll get 'em next week.

Fine Wines Report – Dan Sanscartier

We're going to work backwards this week, starting with the game two recap before featuring the first game. I don't know if anyone in our league is old enough to remember Dale "forkball" Murray...ahh who am I kidding… we're all old enough to remember him. Well, we have our own version of him pitching for the Fine Wines team. Rick (forkball) Halik has baffled opposing hitters most of the season and this week he came close to posting a rare shutout in game two of our twinbill against the Grey Beards in a game which we eventually won 12-2. Another unusual occurrence for us was that Rob (Dr. Evil) Bentley actually made an out. While Jeff squared (Francis & Palmer), Jonathan Kamin et al get the big contracts and most of the press, Rob flies under the radar with his remarkable hitting. There are three certainties in life - Taxes, More Taxes, and Rob Bentley getting a hit.

While the second game wasn't very close the first one was a nailbiter with both teams exchanging blows right to the end in a game where the Grey Beards never gave up even after losing their star shortstop. (Bill Craig, who also happens to be one of the great guys to play with or against in this league.) The game ended with the tying run on second base as we held on to win 17-15. Worth noting here - the Grey Beards somehow reported us as winning 21-15. This may explain their record so far this year ... they may need an auditor to come in. They may discover that they're actually in first place...

Other highlights for the day: Jeff Palmer had 6 hits including the overlap cycle while the aforementioned Rob Bentley had 5 hits along with Jonathan Kamin, Mike Bryant, Bill King and Drew Leblanc who also drove in 5 runs.

Rusty Royals vs Red Faces

Red Faces Report – Tom Hunter

The Red Faces took another big step toward our season goal of winning a participation award.

Game 1 had some positives, including several crisp defensive plays by third baseman Tony Foscarin and rover Andy Kozai. Andy used both contact lenses this week which might have helped.

For a brief, glorious moment in the middle of game 2 the Red Faces actually held a 2-run lead … or was that just a hallucination. However, going into the bottom of the 7^th found we ourselves in a familiar predicament – down by 8 runs. The first two batters were quickly retired and some of the more pessimistic (or realistic?) guys started to pack their bags. Then a hit. And another. A run crossed the plate. Then two more. Could this be the start of an epic OMMSPL seventh inning comeback? The next batter smoked a grounder between 1^st and 2^nd which eluded the Royals’s defence… but not the baserunner from 1^st who suffered the emotional pain of being the final out along with the more tangible pain of a bruised ankle. Umpire Howie called him out, reluctantly.

Thanks to spares Frank Sturm and Warren Pantrey for helping us out!

The Red Faces’ offensive output in both games showed some improvement, led by Denis Bosc 6-7 with a walk, Frank Sturm 4-6 with a walk, Andy Kozai 5-7 with a walk and Tony Foscarin 4-7 with a walk. Inbetween games Jeff Biren found a bat which works and promptly went 4-4 in game two – make a note of that bat, Jeff!

Rusty Royals Report – John Koopman

The Rusty Royals are rounding into playoff form. In game one, which the Royals won 12-5, Randy Heinbecker, Richard Grudzinki were 3-3 and young Barny Henderson 2-2. Showing great consistency through the lineup each Royal starter had at least one hit in the game. Mike Way led the way with three runs scored, young Barny again and Darrell Northcott each scored twice. Ten Royals cross the plate. As usual Mike Cannes hurled a great game, walking no-one (that I can remember!). Defensively your Royals played a clean game with particularly good defensive plays by the ever-reliable Randy H, Dario Pretto and Richard Grudzinki.

As the heat mounted in game two, the Royals seemed to wilt. By the end of three your Royals were down 10-8. Mike Way, perhaps the only Royal with significant musculature, managed to pull something, and hobbled through the rest of the game. Two other Royals had appointments with either girls or doctors (it was not clear which, or maybe they were women doctors). Their numbers were thus reduced to 10.5 with two gone and an ailing Way still playing. Our gallant lads though, battled on. With many of our sluggers gone or ailing others needed to carry the torch, and they did. Barny Henderson, Robert Cookish, Tony Lima, John Koopman, Richard Grudzinski, Mike Way, Randy Heinbekker, Darrell Northcott, Cario Pretto, and Richard Grudzinki all reached base three times. The Red Faces hit well too - but they stalled out at 14, while the Royals scored 19.

Look out White Hairs! The Rusty Royals will be ready for you!