York Diamonds

Head Coach: Paul Freeman

2012 Standing: 17-7-2 (1^st in Western Conference)

# Of Years In OSBA: 4^th

# Of Finals Appearances: 1

# Of Championships: 0

Twitter Handle: N/A

Defining Franchise Moment:  Winning its first 8 playoff games in 2012 and being up 2-0 in the best of 5 finals, then go on to lose the next 3 straight.

Key Losses: Tsukasa Murakoso, Ernie Morrison, Justin Williams, Nick Guglielmo 

Key Additions: Matt Graham, Jamie Parkes, Andrew Greig, Brian Dikdan

Summary Of 2012/Outlook For 2013:  York got off to a slow start in 2012, but caught fire in the 2^nd half.  They carried the hot streak to a 1^st place finish in the western conference, before rolling through the Twins, Mets and Majors on its way to the OSBA final.  The York Diamonds were within one win of the title last year, but the team is in a state of flux this season. With a high volume of part-time players, the lineup may look different every night and it's anyone’s guess how the on-field product will fare. Lefthander Tsukasa Murakoso returns to Japan, leaving a huge void in the starting rotation

3 Team Goals For 2013:

#3 – A team scouting trip to Japan.

#2 – Stop using an aluminum bat for the pregame infield warm-ups.

#1 – Win 1 more game.

Scarborough Dragons

Head Coach: Adam Johnston

2012 Standing: N/A

# Of Years In OSBA: 1^st

# Of Finals Appearances: 0

# Of Championships: 0

Twitter Handle: N/A

Defining Franchise Moment: Being the only OSBA franchise that is nicknamed after a mythological fire breathing creature.

Key Losses: N/A

Key Additions: N/A

Summary Of 2012/Outlook For 2013: The Dragons come into the 2013 OSBA season as an expansion team but they are not your normal expansion team as they are rich in history and championships dating back to 1993.  Spending the last 10 years in SABL and winning the last 3 straight championships it was time for a change and a bigger challenge that the Dragons believe they can get from the OSBA teams.  The Dragons roster seems to have a well-balanced roster through a mixture of young arms and bats with the ever important veteran leadership.  It will be interesting to see how the team adapts to the change from aluminum bats they used in SABL to the wood bat game used in OSBA.  Because of this coach Adam Johnston will have to rely less on the power of his team’s bats and try to figure out how to win using more of his team speed and defense.  Some people refer to the 2013 edition of the Scarborough Dragons as the most talented squad to have put on the jersey in the team's 20 year history. One former OSBA player recently quoted "The Dragons team has that uncanny ability that when they smell blood they go in for the kill and it's not a matter of IF they will finish you off, it's more of WHEN will they decide to finish you off".  With that being said others argue that the youth of the team (average age being 25) will be the team's downfall as they will have to learn how to change their mindset of going from the hunted now to the hunter, which is a totally different approach to the game.

3 Team Goals For 2013:

#3 – Host a team fundraiser by selling its aluminum bats.

#2 – No ejections.

#1 – Have no runners picked off 1^st base by a left-handed pitcher during day games when it’s warmer than 24 degrees Celsius.

Vaughan Expos

Head Coach: Jimmy Gonzalez

2012 Standing: 12-14-0 (7^th in Western Conference)

# Of Years In OSBA: 4^th

# Of Finals Appearances: 0

# Of Championships: 0

Twitter Handle: N/A

Defining Franchise Moment: Its awesome white uniforms.

Key Losses: N/A

Key Additions: N/A

Summary Of 2012/Outlook For 2013: The Expos were playing consistent baseball, and sitting comfortable in a playoff spot, until some roster issues late in the year cost the team some points and all of the momentum they had going into the playoffs.  While not knowing of any significant additions or losses for the ’13 season, the Expos have always had a solid mix of pitching and hitting that allows them to be competitive week in and week out.

3 Team Goals For 2013:

#3 – Make sure that the team’s diamond supplier in Vaughan is kept very happy.

#2 – Sell out each home game that’s played at Christie Pitts.

#1 – Remember to declare the two-out catcher rule before each game.

Newmarket Express

Head Coach: Steve Zimmerman

2012 Standing: 14-10-2 (3^rd in Western Conference)

# Of Years In OSBA: 12^th

# Of Finals Appearances: 1

# Of Championships: 1

Twitter Handle: N/A

Defining Franchise Moment: Winning the 2004 OSBA championship.

Key Losses: Jesse Nakayama, Brent Dufton, Alan Kung, Tim Coburn, Scott Gow, Marc Arsenault 

Key Additions: Gbenga Ajasin (OF/P), Vazken Boyrazian (1B), Matt Butler (C/1B), Lloyd Crespi (2B/EH), Marty Patience (DH/1B).

Summary Of 2012/Outlook For 2013: The Express’ strong offense carried them to a division title and 3^rd place seed in the west in 2012.  The only team in the west with Saturday home games lost in the first round of the playoffs to the expansion Mets.  Through the offseason, the Newmarket Express have experienced its highest turnover in recent years, especially within the last month where 4 key players learned they are unable to play this season.  These losses will undoubtedly have an impact on this season's performance.  After losing the big bats of Scott Gow, Tim Coburn, and Alan Kung, and the steady play of Brent Dufton and Jesse Nakayama, the Express will be in tough to repeat their offensive domination from years past.  The only real good news the last month is the addition of Gbenga Ajasin, who will significantly boost the Express offense and will be an added arm on the mound as the #4 starter.  The return of Marty Patience is also a boost to the team and will give us some added depth.  As usual, the Express lack in pitching, with only John Bethune, Jesse Barker, Steve Zimmermann, and Gbenga Ajasin as starters, and Greg Whelan as the lone reliever, expect many innings from each pitcher as they try to share the workload.  With only 15 players on the roster, and Gregory Whelan moving the end of June, commitment is the greatest concern for Coach Zimmermann, who worries any hiccups in injuries or personnel could mean a week-to-week scramble for bodies.  Expect some better defense this year with Vazken Boyrazian and John Bethune solidifying the infield, and Steve Reiss and Gbenga Ajasin patrolling the friendly confines of the Fairgrounds outfield.  Chemistry is excellent this season, but will team Chemistry and better Defense be enough to balance out the lack of pitching and a less potent lineup?  The Express expect to make the playoffs in the 6-8 seed, but will more than likely be in tough against their 1st round opponent.

3 Team Goals For 2013:

#3 – Maintain spotlessly clean dugouts out all times.

#2 – Get its former coach, and legendary OSBA inspirational speaker, Brian Booth out to a game.

#1 – Field 9 guys every week, without having to put Mr. Chan in the outfield.

Forest Glen Giants

Head Coach: Rick Boutillier & Kevin Horton

2012 Standing: 14-9-3 (5^th in Western Conference)

# Of Years In OSBA: 8^th

# Of Finals Appearances: 0

# Of Championships: 0

Twitter Handle: N/A

Defining Franchise Moment: Getting rid of the black pants after the ’07 season.

Key Losses: Mario Mainelli

Key Additions: Unknown

Summary Of 2012/Outlook For 2013:  Another offseason brought another long list of changes for the Giants.  Long time head coach, Alan Micolino, has retired; leaving the field duties to player coaches Rick Boutillier and Kevin Horton, with franchise owner Ron Smith still overseeing operations.  The Giants have also lost long time pitching ace Mario Mainelli, but the team’s new coaches have been recruiting diligently.  Expect another competitive Forest Glen team this summer.

3 Team Goals For 2013:

#3 – Memorize each other’s names by the end of May.

#2 – No forfeits.

#1 – Have a team social event.

Mississauga Majors

Head Coach: Bruce Cooper

2012 Standing: 14-8-4 (2^nd in Western Conference)

# Of Years In OSBA: 7^th

# Of Finals Appearances: 0

# Of Championships: 0

Twitter Handle: N/A

Defining Franchise Moment:  Assistant coach, Ryan McNeil’s, MLB player comparisons on the team website.

Key Losses: N/A

Key Additions: N/A

Summary Of 2012/Outlook For 2013:  The 2012 season was arguably the Majors best in its franchise’s OSBA history.  Elite pitching carried the team to a 2^nd place finish in the western conference and a birth in the conference finals; which it would lose to York.  With an almost identical roster returning for the 2013 season, the Majors hope to take the next step, and reach the finals for the first time in franchise history.

3 Team Goals For 2013:

#3 – Make sure to have score sheets, lineup cards and the coaches contact list at all games.

#2 – Have at least one person named Pileggi at every game.

#1 – Win the western conference.

Metro Mets

Head Coach: Vince Novielli

2012 Standing: 9-13-4 (6^th in Western Conference)

# Of Years In OSBA: 2

# Of Finals Appearances: 0

# Of Championships: 0

Twitter Handle: @metromets

Defining Franchise Moment: The retirement of the Rodrigues brothers.

Key Losses: David Clark, Nelson Rodrigues, Brian Rodrigues

Key Additions: Sean Difeo, Chris Hastings, Maiker Santana, Chris Novielli

Summary Of 2012/Outlook For 2013: The Mets were a competitive team in its expansion year of 2012.  The team won the first playoff series that it ever played in, before getting knocked out by York in the 2^ndround.  The 2013 Mets are looking forward to the challenge a new year will bring them. After last year’s second round loss to the diamonds, the Mets are looking for more offensive consistency this year; something that was considered its downfall in 2012. This group of Mets are a tight knit group of men who are quickly building team chemistry looking to do some damage this year in the western conference. They have lost a few key players but have added some very nice pieces to the team at the same time. The season cannot start soon enough for this group.

3 Team Goals For 2013:

#3 – Lead all OSBA teams in total Tweets.

#2 – Bring the loudest fans to the All-Star game...again.

#1 – Keep a close eye of for other teams not using the league required ‘ROML’ baseball.

Mississauga (905W) Orioles

Head Coach: Peter Nicolaichuk

2012 Standing: N/A

# Of Years In OSBA: 1^st

# Of Finals Appearances: 0

# Of Championships: 0

Twitter Handle: N/A

Defining Franchise Moment: Changing its team name from the Milton Orioles to the Mississauga Orioles to the 905-West Orioles before ever playing a game in the OSBA.

Key Losses: N/A

Key Additions: N/A

Summary Of 2012/Outlook For 2013:  As an expansion team for the 2013 season, the Orioles were formed by a small group of players with past OSBA experience who joined forces with another group of players who participated in the OSBA tournament last fall.  Small tryouts were held to fill the remaining roster spots, and with the season start around the corner, the Orioles feel they have a club that is ready to compete in OSBA.  Returning to the league will be manager/player Peter Nicolaichuk, as well as Dan McGee, and Matt Smith.  Expectations are high coming into the season, and look for the team to try to get off to a strong start early in the season to build confidence.  Players to watch: Mike Shuryn, Sam Larson, Dominic Blago.

3 Team Goals For 2013:

#3 – Do not change its team name again until at least the next offseason.

#2 – Do not commit any 1^st to 3^rd balks.

#1 – Make the playoffs.

Mississauga North Tigers

Head Coach: Robert Buckberrough

2012 Standing: N/A

# Of Years In OSBA: 1^st

# Of Finals Appearances: 0

# Of Championships: 0

Twitter Handle: N/A

Defining Franchise Moment: Getting into the free coffee and donuts at the league meeting, before the franchise was accepted.

Key Losses: N/A

Key Additions: N/A

Summary Of 2012/Outlook For 2013: As the first expansion team to join the OSBA from the MBA junior loop in six years, the Tigers are by far the youngest team in the OSBA this year.  This group is the 3^rd different team to assume the ‘Mississauga North Tigers’ name; and it hopes to have more success than the previous two.

3 Team Goals For 2013:

#3 – Sign up for a Twitter account.

#2 – Win more games than the ’08 Tigers.

#1 – Have at least 1 player drafted in the OSBA fantasy pool.

Mississauga Twins

Head Coach: Ken Woodford

2012 Standing: 9-17 (8^th in Western Conference)

# Of Years In OSBA: 8^th

# Of Finals Appearances: 0

# Of Championships: 0

Twitter Handle: @mswtwins

Defining Franchise Moment: Losing the longest game (17-innings) in OSBA history.

Key Losses: Graeme Ogilvie

Key Additions: N/A

Summary Of 2012/Outlook For 2013:  The 2012 Twins got off to the worst start in OSBA history, putting up a 1-13 1^st half, before turning thing around with an 8-4 2^nd half.  This offseason has been much quieter so far than the last for the Twins; when it traded the right to Tom Malyk to the Pickering Pirates for a 3-cycle washing machine.  The trade worked out for both clubs, as Malyk won an OSBA championship and the Twins suffered from zero leg infections in 2012.  With the season less than a week away from starting, the Twins are still working on finalizing its roster.

3 Team Goals For 2013:

#3 – Get win #2 before July.

#2 – Do not collectively consume 87 beers before a game.

#1 – Mix in a playoff win.

Vaughan Vikings

Head Coach: Morty Fergenbaum

2012 Standing: 16-8-2 (4^th in Western Conference)

# Of Years In OSBA: 4^th

# Of Finals Appearances: 0

# Of Championships: 0

Twitter Handle: N/A

Defining Franchise Moment: Winning the 2010 OSBA Fall Classic.

Key Losses: N/A

Key Additions: N/A

Summary Of 2012/Outlook For 2013:  The Vikings got off to a hot start in 2012, but struggled with a handful of injuries to its pitchers later in the season.  The team returns most of its key players for the ’13 season and fully expects to be one of the elite teams in the west again this summer.

3 Team Goals For 2013:

#3 – Make sure that all uniforms are accounted for at the beginning of each game.

#2 – Get Morty or Hersch into a game.

#1 – Stay healthy.

<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->2012 OSBA Champions

PICKERING PIRATES

2012 Record: 16-9-1

Regular Season Standings: 3^rd

Playoffs: Won the OSBA Championship

What does 5 less wins in a regular season get you? For some teams it is the difference between making the playoffs and being on the outside looking in. For the Pirates – their first-ever OSBA championship. A club that has been near or atop the conference standings for several years, Pickering started off sluggish but by mid-season kicked things into high gear and never let up until the final out of the playoffs.

Key Losses: N/A

Key Additions: Jared Kwart, Craig Megill, Marc Nolan, Darryl Noble

Players to watch for: Ryan D’Souza, Brad Binns, Will Mariani, Scott Gray, Sydney Saunders

2013 Outlook:The Pirates enter the 2013 season riding high off of their championship in 2012.  Avoiding a championship hangover and not becoming complacent will be important in their effort to repeat.  The Pirates will have the core team back again in 2014, so expect chemistry to remain strong.  However, they are not getting any younger and are slowly finding themselves amongst one of the older teams in the OSBA.  Avoiding injuries will be important down the stretch and, hence, managing the pitching staff will be important for head coach - Phil Lacombe.  In addition, look for the coaching staff to leverage strong defence, speed, and a balanced and creative offensive attack in 2013.

WHITBY CHIEFS

2012 Record: 17-6-3

Regular Season Finish: 1^st

Playoffs: Lost to Pickering in Conference Finals

The Chiefs have become a model of consistency when looking at regular season performance and standing. They’ve also developed a pattern of bowing out in the conference finals – three years running. With several members returning, the Chiefs will also see some of the top players graduating from Whitby’s junior program join the team. Overall depth took a bit of a hit but this club still has a lot of solid pieces in place to remain competitive and compete for the right to represent the conference in the championship finals.

Key Losses: Mike Moorcroft, Adam Tedesco, Matt Kissel, Stephen Harrington

Key Additions: Jake Olynyk, Marc Stanoev, Kyle Smeelen, Tyler Mitchell, Mackenzie Clugston, Mike Del Fuoco

Players to watch for: Preston Wasmund, Tristan Beadle, Ryan Fleming, Dan Alayon, Graig Andrew

2013 Outlook: The veteran leadership lost in Moorcroft and Harrington cannot be put into words. With Harrington’s retirement that leaves just Graig Andrew as the final member of the inagural 2007 team. Tedesco and Kissel – two players who joined the club from junior were part of a young core this team has building around. Thankfully, all team members take pride in managing this club from a personnel perspective and once again chipped-in to find top-notch talent. Healthy pitching depth is a concern heading into opening weekend, but overall, the Chiefs should be a contender in the East.  

 Port Hope Flyers

 2012 Record: 18-8-0

Regular Season Finish: 2^nd

Playoffs: Lost to Pickering in Semi Finals

For a club that had mixed players’ reactions about joining the OSBA, the Flyers did extremely well in their first campaign. Finishing just one point behind Whitby in the overall conference standings, the Flyers finished 10 points higher that the now defunct Oshawa A’s – to capture their first division pennant. The Flyers have strong pitching, a balanced attack throughout their line-up and play well defensively – making them a contender once again this season. 

Key Losses: Sandy Clark, Andrew Flay

Key Additions: Marc MacDonald, David Elliot, Joel Hallowell

Players to Watch For: Brett Jiggins, Robert McNab, Kyle Maloney, Brad Pickering, Cory Baker

The Flyers are hoping to repeat their success they had in their first season in the OSBA.  The Flyers have the majority of the team returning for their 2013 season with the additions of David Elliot, Joel Hallowell and former Flyer Marc MacDonald. Pitching should once again be a strength for the Flyers having Bobby Gilligan, Mike McNaught, Cory Baker and Owen Sharp in the rotation.  Flyers offensive will once again be counting on reigning MVP and Silver Slugger winner Brad Pickering, Robert McNab, Ryan Davis and Brett Jiggins.

<!--[endif]-->BROOKLIN DODGERS

2012 Record: 15-11-0

Regular Season Finish: 4^th

Playoffs: Lost to Oshawa A’s in ¼ Finals

Brooklin had a nice bounce-back year after failing to make the play-offs in 2011. Led by a strong veteran core, the Dodgers added several players last year in an attempt to give the club some much needed depth. Some familiar faces re-join the club and with a little additional tinkering, Brooklin will once again field one of the more experienced teams in the conference.

Key Losses: Derek Grieve, Darryl Noble, Wayne Feltham, Todd Blair, Jeremy Majoros, John Wesley, Jason Graham, Jon McGillen, Ryan Corey, Mike Cappadocia

Key Additions: KWayne Wickens, Mike Weir, Dan Wilson, Greg Pomroy

Players to watch for: Dan Blea, Sam Grabowski, Mike Desputeaux, Lawrence Thomas, Jeff Canning

2013 Outlook: Despite the additions last year Brooklin has trimmed their roster which could create some issues given some of those members are playing on a part-time basis. This will certianly give other members an opportunity to step-up and carry larger workloads. The Dodgers have done a great job over the years minimzing turnover, but this past off-season appears to be an exception. Nevertheless, look for the Dodgers to be where they were last year – challenging for a top spot within the conference.

  Port Hope River Rats

2012 Record: 9-14-3

Regular Season Finish: 6^th

Playoffs: Lost to Pickering in ¼ Finals

The River Rats meet and possibly exceeded expectations last summer. The ball club comprised of mostly Junior-aged players with a handful who had graduated did a solid job in their first season at Senior and within the OSBA. Wanting to be competitive, the club delivered. For their efforts, the River Rats were a mid-pack team by season’s end - good enough for 6^th – which earned the club a play-off berth and an opportunity to gain post-season experience. While the club was swept by the eventual champions any anyone on the River Rats would tell you they were very pleased with how the season unfolded.

Key Losses: Marc Stanoev,

Key Additions: Ken Harmon

Players to Watch For: Kyle Dekesyer, Jordan Jeans, Nick Stone, Dawson Stone, Brandon Vaters

Outlook 2013: Building on where they left off, the River Rats should try to use their regular season standing as a bench-mark for improvement this summer. Adding a few more wins would be a great step in overall achievement. Plus, if successful, it should also position the club well in an effort to qualify for the play-offs.

OSHAWA TALONS

2012 Record: 9-15-2

Regular Season Finish: 7^th

Playoffs: Lost to Port Hope Flyers in 1/4 Finals

The Talons played well enough to make it into the playoffs for the first time in three years. This club has always been competitive but has had challenges of being able to put together hot streaks for long stretches. Historically the team struggles out of the gate and picks it up in the second half. Some unforuntate injuries over the years have also depleted their depth putting management back to the drawing board every off-season. Things may be picking up for the Talons who have been able to acquire a big bat for the middle of their line-up which is something the Talons have needed for a few years.

Key Losses: None

Key Additions: Adam Dupont, Jorges Robles, Hiro Jingyi Su, Cody Leocata, Ryan Colburn, Chris Ricketts

Players to watch for:Steve Embrey, Anthony Cole, Chad Reid

2013 Outlook: Making the playoffs last season should be a huge moral boost for this club. Looking to build on that success, the Talons have upgraded their offence and defence in the offseason, and have strengthened the depth of their pitching staff.  Having lost many close games in 2012, it would not take much for the Talons to have a significantly improved record in 2013.

CLARINGTON CUBS

2012 Record:9-15-2

Regular Season Finish:8^th

Playoffs: Lost to Whitby in Quarter Final

The Cubs failed to defend their league title and basically suffered from championship hangover all summer. Year over year their record was slightly worse despite qualifying for the playoffs as the 8^th seed. In fairness, the Cubs lost some key offesnive players who also were very solid defensively as well. A strong core returns with some major FA acqusitions. The Cubs are the biggest benefactors in the folding of the Oshawa A’s. Mix in some former players returning and some good young talent coming up from Jr and this club leaps up considerably in overall talent and potential.

Key Losses: Dan Wilson, Brennan McNeely,

Key Additions: Mick Kurhan, Mark Dainty, Matt Tosoni, Thomas Fearon, Daniel Cooke, Todd Blair, Wayne Feltham, Brennen Conquer, Todd Van Laere, Colin Cockburn, Justin Recon, Shaun Hall, Rob Watson, Kyle Taylor, Mike Vance

Players to watch for: Mark Dainty, Mick Kurhan, Matt Tosoni, Todd Blair, Colin Cockburn

2013 Outlook: Heavily into fantasy sports, Head Coach/GM Chris Killoran must be all smiles when he sits down to figure out his line-up and pitching rotation. Easily the busiessiest GM in the off-season, the Cubs on paper are a pure juggernaut. Look for them to bust out of the gate this weekend.

Bowmanville Blue Jays

2012 Record: 9-16-1

Regular Season Finish: 9^th

Playoffs: Failed to Qualify

A club that appeared to be folding in the off-season when coaches Mike Snider and Jamie Tessier both decided to retire did a great job of dodging some uncontrollable circumstances and re-building on the fly. Mark Salonius stepped in to become the new GM/Head Coach and immediately started working with the returning core to keep the team in operation. Formerly known as the Ajax Indians, the Blue Jays came about when team management found out their home park would be closed this season in preparation of the Pan Am games and had no choice but to relocate. So with change comes excitement and the Blue Jays are looking to push for a playoff spot this season.

Key Losses: Mike Snider, Jamie Tessier, Marc MacDonald, Chris Paelez, Ryan Gordon

Key Additions: Mark Salonius, Jeremy Majoros

Players to watch for: Luke Jenkins, Riley Whelan, Paul Evans, Joe Campa, Jeff Whittle

2013 Outlook: New name, new park, new uniforms, new management, new personnel, new team websie – all adds up to a lot of uncertainty when trying to predict just exactly how the Blue Jays will do this season. Similar to the situation of the Kendal Eagles, the Blue Jays simply need to erase thoughts of last season while drawing from experience. This club will obviously need time to gel and evaluate player performance on-field. They’ve been holding work-outs for a few months but the true test comes from strong competition across the conference. A solid effort with consistency should keep the team in the playoff picture and catch some teams off-guarad along the way.

 Kendal Eagles

2012 Record: 8-16-2

Regular Season Finish: 10^th

Playoffs: Failed to Qualify

The 2012 season did not go as planned for the Eagles. Coming over from the EOBA with the two Port Hope teams, it was Kendal who failed to get off the ground and plummeted to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. A club with a lot of experience and veteran leadership, Kendal simply did not make the grade – finishing 8 games below .500 in 26 regular season games. With a long off-season the Eagles certainly have had time to let everything sink in. A club that wins games on pitching and defence, a better effort from start to finish will be required if this club wants to reach its goal of making the playoffs.

Key Losses: Chris Stark, Dave Drew

Key Additions: N/A

Players to Watch For: Nick Stacey, Bryan Landry, Phil Cammasulli, Tyson Gimblett, Russell Hunt

Outlook 2013: Looking for positives on a poor inaugural season, Kendal can enter the 2013 campaign knowing things can’t get much worse. Part of their struggles last season may have come from the fact in previous years there was nothing to play for with respect to playoffs and a league championship. Meaning, all the games were essentially for exhibition in preparation for Provincials. Look for the club to play with purpose this season.

Bowmanville Bandits

2012 Record: N/A

Regular Season Finish: N/A

Playoffs: N/A

If you build it, they will come. For the Bandits that was the case. Some hard work went into reaching out to just about anyone and everyone looking for a place to play and the effort paid off. GM/Head Coach Stephen Smith brings an expansion team to Bowmanville with modest expectations and a willingness to build a team from the ground up. After several indoor sessions the team was put together and will look to cut their teeth in what has become a very strong Eastern Conference.

Key Losses: None

Key Additions: N/A

Players to watch for: Mitchell Potok, Adam Hudson

2013 Outlook: The great thing about being a true expansion team is that there is no way of knowing what the team will accomplish. There is no need to place great expectations on the group and many teams will look past the Bandits on the schedule. If the Bandits can sneak in a few wins here and there they could have a shot at making the playoffs.

Peterborough Tigers

2012 Record: N/A

Regular Season Finish: N/A

Playoffs: N/A

Like the Port Hope River Rats last season, the Peterborough Tigers have elected to move their team to the senior ranks despite still having players at the junior age level. Wanting to be part of a group that offered strong competition the Tigers will add another young club full of promise and skill. If this club plays like the River Rats did last season they should have no problem being competitive and well within the playoff picture.

Key Losses: N/A

Key Additions: N/A

Players to watch for: Grant Elson, Cory Barker, Dan Burke, Brad Thompson, Kurtis Borland     

2013 Outlook:  This club while an expansion franchise certainly knows how to keep the press out of their clubhouse. Not much to report on this Tigers aside from many of them having been together since Mosquito. Team chemistry will not be a problem for the Tigers and they’ll need that plus a strong work ethic should they hope to create some noise at the senior level. Experienced and a history of achievements behind them suggests the Tigers will be just fine and a contender for many years to come.

The OSBA All-Star Game at Rogers Centre was a well-played affair that ended in thrilling fashion, as Tristan Beadle provided a walk-off single to give the East a 6-5 victory over the West. The game was close the whole way through and featured some great defense, as well as some timely hitting.

Jordan Cleveland started for the East and yielded a run over his two innings of work. Sunny Sandhu's line drive single scored Eric Foley to give the West a 1-0 lead in the second. Foley was the starting pitcher for the West and pitched two shutout innings while striking out three. In the third, the West tacked on two more off Todd Van Laere to go up 3-0. Evan DePiero sparked the rally with a beautiful bunt single. Clint Jeon then hustled a base hit into a double, and Andy Ryder cashed both runners with a line drive single.

In the bottom of the third, the East got on the board against reliever John Bethune, as Bryan Landry singled and later scored as the back end of a double play throw that errantly went past first base. In the fourth the West made it 4-1 as Jeff Murphy walked, John Bethune singled, and Shawn Dunsmore ripped an RBI double. In the bottom of the inning, the East tallied three times to tie the game. Todd Blair walked and scored on a base hit by Tristan Beadle. Kyle Searle's double then plated Beadle, and Searle scored on a Bobby Gilligan base hit.

In the fifth, Luke Jenkins had a 1-2-3 inning and the East took the lead in the bottom of the frame as Matthew Laise allowed singles to Dan Joy and Steve Mitchell and the East pulled off a double steal to take the lead. Laise then pitched out of trouble to keep the score at 5-4 for the East. In the sixth, neither Rob Hehir nor Bobby Gilligan allowed a run, but the craziest moment of the game ensued after Gilligan hit leadoff batter Stuart Kingston on the forearm. The home plate umpire originally called it a foul ball. Kingston was in obvious pain and showed the ball mark to the umpire. It was determined that the ball did hit Kingston but on appeal, the first base umpire said that Kingston had swung at the ball. So Kingston stepped back in the box, and in obvious pain, proceeded to hit the next pitch down the left field line narrowly foul, as the ball crashed off the facing of the second deck. Kingston completed the at-bat by getting hit by a pitch for real. After the inning, Kingston went straight to the hospital where it was determined that he had a broken wrist, which will require surgery to repair. It was unbelievable that someone could hit a ball that far with a broken wrist.

In the seventh the West tied the game off of Darryl Noble as Sean Difeo was hit by a pitch and Jon Muia doubled, before Shawn Dunsmore's sacrifce fly. Noble was able to strand Muia at third and the game stayed tied at 5-5. In the bottom of the inning, Tim March cruised through it striking out two. In the eighth, Brad Binns allowed a single to Tim March but got out of the inning unscathed. The inning featured a great diving play by third baseman Craig Megill and a great running catch by catcher Kyle Searle. In the bottom of the eighth with the curfew approaching, March retired the first two batters, before Megill singled and went all the way to third on a wild pitch. Tristan Beadle then hit a sinking line drive to right that found its way to the turf to give the East a walkoff win.

The game was extremely well-played and featured two differing philosphies as the West used 24 players, with all of them getting to bat. The East used 18 players, with 7 players playing the entire game. Congratulations to the East and manager Romeo Persaud for avenging last year's defeat and for gaining home field in the Finals.

To view the boxscore, click on the "GAME RESULTS" tab on the left side of this screen.

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With the 2010 season now over, the OSBA will look to begin the next decade of baseball. Having started back in 2001 with just four teams, the association has developed into a very competitive program. When reflecting back on some of the greatest achievements over the past 10 seasons, it would be hard not to start with the current champion Burlington Bulls. In successfully defending their title, the Bulls become the first-ever to 3-peat. They also cemented their stake as the team of the decade – having won four championships in 5 trips to the championship finals in just 6 seasons within the association. They’ve also won the OSBA tournament more than any other team and from an individual stand-point have more than their fair share of perennial all-stars and award winners.

Two founding members - the Brooklin Dodgers and Mississauga Stars each have a pair of championships and both achieved their titles in back to back fashion. Before the surge of the Bulls, the Dodgers franchise was hand-down the benchmark for higher standards within those who competed for the coveted crown of champion.

The Richmond Hill Phoenix (another founding member) got their hands on the prize once as did the now defunct Bloor Jays – proving that not only winning a championship is hard but so is defending it.

Some teams have come and gone, same with individual players and coaches, but it is very gratifying to see some original members still in the program and putting up solid numbers year after year. Hopefully this trend can continue while the next generation of players start to leave their mark and cement their place in the history of this thriving association.

The OSBA started as a spot to continue baseball for anyone that had the skill and desire to play. 10 years later things are stronger than ever. The players, coaches, umpires, fans, sponsors and all the other volunteers from each city and town involved in the OSBA deserve a huge thank you for their dedication and support.

So here’s to the first 10 seasons and future seasons that will surely follow.

Thank you to all who make this program run, thrive and succeed.

Steve Smith

Burlington Bulls       vs.    Pickering Pirates 

Regular Season Record & Final Standing:

Bulls:               19-9-0; 3^rd in conference

Pirates:           17-9-2; 1^st in conference

Bulls:          Defeated Mississauga Stars 2 games to 0 in Western Conference Finals

Pirates:      Defeated Whitby Chiefs 2 games to 1 in Eastern Conference Finals

The Bulls return to the finals for a 3^rd straight year and 5^th overall in just 6 seasons within the OSBA. The back to back champions will also look to become the first-ever to 3-peat. If successful, they’ll also double the Brooklin Dodgers and Mississauga Stars with 4 OSBA Cups – adding to their accolades as the most successful franchise in the association’s 10 year history. The Pirates return to the finals after a one year absence. In 2008, Pickering took the bulls to a 5^th and decisive game, but unfortunately for the Pirates, they came up short and handed the Bulls their 2^nd championship.

Due to the number of teams within the association, the schedule did not see these two teams face one another this season during the regular season. During the ’08 finals games #1 and #4 went to extra innings with both teams each winning one in dramatic fashion. There were also two games decided by shutout and both were won by the Bulls – including game #5. This season the Bulls gave up an uncharacteristic 114 runs against whereas the Pirates held their opposition to just 78 runs in just 28 games. Offensively the Bulls put up 164 runs on the board whereas the Pirates score 122 times. Both teams are solid defensively and that should make for great baseball for the two most deserving teams this season.

Bulls: P/IF Cam McKnight, OF Kip Keith, DH/IF Jason Hogan, IF Brad Guy, C Chris Lord

Pirates: IF Ryan D’Souza, P Will Mariani, OF/IF Jeff Murdoch, C Scott Grey, OF Sydney Saunders

Pitching: Offensively – edge to Burlington; Performance – edge to Burlington

Catching: Offensively – edge to Pickering; Defensively – edge to Burlington

1B: Offensively – edge to Pickering; Defensively – edge to Burlington

2B: Offensively – edge to Pickering; Defensively – edge to Pickering

3B: Offensively – edge to Burlington; Defensively – edge to Burlington

SS: Offensively – equal; Defensively – equal

OF: Offensively – edge to Pickering; Defensively – edge to Burlington

EH/DH: equal

Overall Bench: edge to Burlington

Overall Rotation: edge to Burlington

Coaching: edge to Burlington

X-Factor:

Composure

Whitby Chiefs   vs.   Pickering Pirates

Regular Season Record & Final Standing:

Chiefs:         16-10-2; 2^nd in conference

Pirates:         17-9-2; 1^st in conference

How They Got Here:

Chiefs:         Defeated Brooklin Dodgers 2 games to 0 in semi finals

Pirates:         Defeated York Diamonds 2 games to 1 in semi finals

Overview:

Skinny:

Pickering walked away with 3 of 4 points when these two clubs met back in August. Neither club led the league offensively, but the Pirates did an excellent job keeping the opposition’s offense to a minimum. In 28 regular season games they surrendered only 78 runs against – good for an average of less than 3 runs per game. Whitby vastly improved defensively this year so look for this series to be a relatively low scoring one unless both teams get away from their very similar style of play.

Players to Watch for:

Chiefs:  OF Jason Andrews, C Jeff Kingdon, OF Graig Andrew, OF Dylon Flores, P Sohan Singh

Pirates:     OF/IF Jeff Murdoch, P Mike Robinson, OF/IF Jaymin Parmar, OF Sydney Saunders, IF Ryan D’Souza

X-Factor:

Coaching

Burlington Bulls   vs.   Mississauga Stars

Regular Season Record & Final Standing:

Bulls:      19-9-0; 3^rd in conference

Stars:      19-8-1; 1^st in conference

How They Got Here:

Bulls:         Defeated Forest Glen 2 games to 1 in semis

Stars:         Defeated Mississauga North Bengals 2 games to 0 in semis

Overview:

The Bulls regular season record was the worst in franchise history. A mark of 19-9 would be a successful season by most clubs’ standards, but not for Burlington. After dropping game #1 to Forest Glen last Saturday, the defending champs responded to their wake up call and went on to dominate the final two games. The Stars made short-order of the Bengals on route to a sweep in their semi final match-up. Most impressive was the club’s ability to limit the Bengals to just five runs over both games. Offensively things looked to go well for the Stars as well – putting up 18 runs in the series.

Skinny:

These divisional rivals met four times during the regular season and it was the Stars who came away with the edge. Winning 3 of 4 and outscoring the Bulls 18-14 suggests all of these games were close. In fact, the largest run differential was 3 runs and that outcome occurred three times. The Bulls are looking to advance to the finals for an opportunity to capture their 4^th OSBA Cup while the Stars have designs on trying to capture their 3^rd and first since 2002.

Players to Watch For:

Bulls: P/IF Cam McKnight, P/OF Jon Leyland, OF Kip Keith, DH/IF Jason Hogan, IF Brad Guy

Stars: P/IF Johnny DeWolfe, IF Jeff Cornish, IF Gregg Cullen, P/IF Steve Gallant, OF Alex Perez

X-Factor:

Defence

York Diamonds   vs.   Pickering Pirates

Regular Season Record & Final Standing:

Diamonds: 13-13-2; 5^th in conference

Pirates: 17-9-2; 1^st in conference

Overview:

The York Diamonds won their one game playoff last night over the Ajax Indians and now draw the top seed in the conference as they look to continue their successful inaugural campaign within the OSBA. The veteran ball club bounces back on less than two days of rest to host game #1. The Pirates had another very strong regular season and thanks to the efforts of the Eastern All-Star team could have home field advantage throughout the playoffs should they advance to the finals after missing out last season.

Skinny:

These clubs faced one another four times during the regular season with the pirates taking three of the four games. Of note, the largest run differential was just four runs and that happened just once. All other games were very close in score indicating these two teams match-up to one another relatively well.

Pirates: OF Sydney Saunders, OF Matt D’Souza, P Will Mariani, P Dave McElroy, IF Scott Grey

X-Factor:

Pitching Depth

Brooklin Dodgers   vs.   Whitby Chiefs

Regular Season Record & Final Standing:

Dodgers:  14-13-1; 3^rd in conference

Chiefs:  16-10-2; 2^nd in conference*

(* division winners are ranked 1-2 regardless of point totals)

Overview:

The Dodgers dropped three of four to the Chiefs this summer and in large part was the reason why the club finished second in their division. None of the games were blowouts, and all were decided by four runs or less. The Dodgers enter this post season with two OSBA championships to their credit and are the defending conference champions. The Chiefs who continue to build their club slowly by way of achievements once again improved on their standing from a year ago. Having been knocked out of the playoffs twice in three years at the hands of the Dodgers, the Chiefs will need to catch some breaks to buck that trend.

Skinny:

Both teams qualified larger rosters this year (Brooklin 19, Whitby 24). The Dodgers should have most, if not all hands on deck for this series. The Chiefs will be without some players who have returned to school. In each of the four games during the regular season both teams were missing key players. With both clubs adding new personnel during the off-season and/or during the summer, it could quite easily be some of the new blood that helps to decide the series.

 Players to Watch For:

Dodgers:  SS/P Mitch Dunn, DH Mike Weir, OF Mike Desputeaux, P/OF Jon McGillen, P Jeff Canning

Chiefs:  OF Graig Andrew, 3B/OF Paul Ovsonka, P Steve Harrington, C/IF Jeff Kingdon, P Adam Groome

X- Factor:

Playoff Experience:

Mississauga North Bengals   vs.   Mississauga Stars

Regular Season Record & Final Standing:

Bengals:  12-16-0; 5^th in conference

Stars:   19-8-1; 1^st in conference

Overview:

The Mississauga North Bengals won a close 2-1 ball game last night over the Vaughan Vikings and for their effort advance to the Western Conference semi finals. The club will be on just a few days rest when action resumes this Saturday. Next in line for the team that finished 5^th in overall standings – the top seeded Mississauga Stars. The Stars beat out the defending champion Burlington Bulls for tops in their division on route to 1^st overall in the conference and will hold home field advantage for this round and next if they can knock off the Bengals.

Skinny:

Being in the same division these clubs met four times during the regular season. The Stars took three of four in some very high-scoring contests. In all, 73 runs were put on the board for an average of just over 18 per game. Chances are this series will be played much tighter with both clubs knowing it has been a while since either team has reached the championship finals.

Players to Watch For:

Bengals: SS/P Jonathan Amendola, C/OF Andrew Costley, 1B/C Nick Scarcelli, OF Cody Ireland,  P Dexter Chu

Stars: P/3B Steve Gallant, P/IF Johnny DeWolfe, IF Gregg Cullen, P Matt Belbeck, P Allen Penney

X-Factor:

Pitching:

Burlington Bulls   vs.   Forest Glen Giants

Regular Season Record & Final Standing:

Bulls: 19-9-0; 3^rd in conference

Giants: 15-10-3; 2^nd in conference*

(* division winners are ranked 1-2 regardless of point totals)

Overview:

The Burlington Bulls enter the playoffs as back to back champs in search of the association’s first-ever three-peat. Their route to the cup became a little more difficult when they failed to secure tops in their division. They’ll enter this series as the visiting team in the best of three and face the club they met in last year’s conference finals. The Forest Glen Giants did not have a run-away campaign like last year. In fact, although they played well enough to win their division there were times this summer when the club showed a lot of inconsistency in their play. However, the playoffs represent a new season of sorts and an opportunity to put it all together. They’ll need a complete effort if they have designs on getting past the champs and into the conference finals.

Skinny:

There is no hiding the fact these two teams want to beat one another. As mentioned previously, the Bulls knocked the Giants out of the playoffs last fall and that bad blood carried over to this season. To their credit, the Giants exacted a little revenge by sweeping their series - giving the Bulls their most lop-sided defeat - being out-scored 21-6 in the two games. Expect to see a lot of intensity in this series starting with the two coaching staffs which will undoubtedly filter into what goes on between the white lines.

Players to Watch For:

Bulls:  OF Kip Keith, SS/P Cam McKnight, C Chris Lord, DH Jason Hogan, P/IF Jamie Kozak

Giants:  OF Steve Correia, 1B Rick Boutilier, IF Graham McGee, IF Denis Hucal, P Mario Mainelli

X-Factor:

Bullpen:

        12-16-0                        15-12-1

Overview:

The expansion Vikings qualify for the post season and fall just short of the Forest Glen Giants for tops in the division. Finishing just two points behind for second spot sees the Vikings slip to 4^th in the conference and in a one game winner take all game with the Bengals. This season wasn’t exactly a stellar one for the Bengals, who qualify for the playoffs as the only team to have a record below .500. The club clinched the final playoff spot during the last week season and got some help by virtue of other teams within striking distance failing to win down the stretch.

Skinny:

Despite being separated by 7 points in the standings, these two clubs split their series this year. Vaughan holds a slight edge when you look at runs for/runs against, and a solid 4-2 record to close out the season. The Bengals who struggled finished the year at 2-4 and will undoubtedly be the club that plays with a little more desperation in their game.

Players to Watch for:

Bengals – P Dexter Chu, IF Nick Scarcelli, OF Cody Ireland, IF Garrett Nicol, IF Dean Mariani

Vikings – P Daniel Pelley, OF Brandon Bolarinho, IF Jon Muia, IF Patrick Festa, OF Lane Gold

X-Factor:

Roster Uncertainties:

Given how young the Vikings are – coming to the OSBA after graduating from the junior ranks, it would be easy to assume September could be this club’s biggest obstacle on the year. A few or several players could be off to school depleting the team’s overall depth. In addition, fresh off their competing in the OBA “C” Provincial Championships this past weekend, the Vikings could be a little short on available hurlers. The Bengals added several new faces and made a managerial change over the course of the off-season. Perhaps their standing was reflective in part to all those changes made and a side effect was a longer than expected gelling process. Nonetheless, both teams enter this series knowing they’ll need a supreme effort from all involved or the season will come to an abrupt end.

York Diamonds   vs.     Ajax Indians

                                                                                     13-13-2                     13-13-2

 Overview:

The Ajax Indians played much better down the stretch - picking up several victories and giving the club an opportunity to once again do some damage in the post season. With a record of 5-3 in August, the Indians made up enough ground to not only qualify but secured home field advantage for this one game against the Diamonds – albeit by tie break. The Diamonds who took OSBA by storm – going 6-1 during their first 7 games in the OSBA struggled at times and saw a hefty lead in the division standings dissipate before their eyes. If not for a couple of key wins in the final weeks the Diamonds would have missed the post season in their inaugural season.

Skinny:

These division rivals met four times during the regular season and split both times. The Indians had the best runs for/against with 24-16 and won one of the games via shutout. They also won the last game of the series (and season) in a route – winning easily 13-3. Given that both teams have had equal rest and the opportunity to see one another quite a bit through divisional play, there probably are not many surprises left to uncover. Both teams will send their respective ace to the mound in an effort to advance and face the conference winners (and divisional counterparts) the Pickering Pirates.

Players to Watch for:

Diamonds – OF Steve Foley, P Eric Foley, OF Hayden Griffin, IF Manny Rodriquez, OF Brett Burns

Indians – P Chris Theodoru, C/P Mike Snider, IF Jimmy Sgourakis, IF Jamie Tessier, IF Donnie Burke

X-Factor:

Coaching:

The game within the game could very well come into play if one or both of the projected starters falter. Given the importance of this game, the coaches may be faced with difficult decisions and turning to their benches – knowing short leashes must be used in a single game that leaves very little room for error. So whether it is dipping into the bullpen, pinch hitting or calling for a substitution with a runner in scoring position, the team that gets the most from their supporting staff could very easily walk away with the victory and an opportunity to play this weekend.

After being swept by the conference leading Pickering Pirates last weekend the Express may have hit a brick wall at the worst time. They face the Pirates again this Saturday at home. Newmarket more or less needs a sweep for any realistic shot at the playoffs. This club has hung in the playoff race all season and regardless of the end result – they will have done very well given their off-season restructuring. The Express don’t want to hear about silver lining clichés. They want a post season berth and will fight until the last out has been recorded.

After a bit of a lay-off the Chiefs simply looked flat in a series they should have been up for. After getting blown out of game #1 they showed some life and came away with a tie in the second game. This weekend they host the Dodgers. If Whitby sweeps, they’ll clinch their division and make life difficult for the Dodgers. If they don’t, chances are things in the East will continue to be very interesting for the duration of the August schedule.

The Bulls get back to action after participating in a tournament in Ottawa last weekend. Originally the club planned to play four games on Saturday, but were unable to secure a field for the morning make-up games with the Chiefs. They’ll host a struggling Giants team in a re-match of last year’s Western Finals. Look for the Bulls to prove they are a model of consistency and give the Giants two tough games.

With a flurry of games within the past two weeks the Diamond have not only caught up to other clubs in games played, they’ve also caught the front-running Pirates in their division. With a record of 3-2-1 over the past 6 games and participation in the OSBA tournament, the Diamonds have played a lot of baseball in July. And with a game last night, York heads into Pickering with little rest. Nonetheless and as stated above there, there is a lot on the line this weekend. Look for this veteran club to manage at least a split this weekend.

If being swept by the Cubs was not bad enough, how about the potential loss of P/1B Chris Theodoru for an extended period of time? A very hard hit comebacker to the mound was taken off the leg by Theodoru. If anyone has seen the growing bruise on his Facebook page you can see just how bad it has become. The Tribe will try to right the ship this weekend against the Dodgers at Kinsmen Stadium but now down a quality starter will make things harder on Ajax to come away with a sweep.

The Majors failed to move themselves up in the standings last week dropping a pair of games to the Expos. As bad as their record is, the Majors are just three points out of first place (within their division). For a young ball club they simply have not found a way to win games in a consistent fashion. Facing a strong Pickering club probably will not help their situation any, but this club needs to remain positive and find a way to win some ball games.

Being placed at the bottom of the rankings helped the Expos. Only time will tell how long it will take for the Talons to move up – as they currently sit last in the Eastern Conference. More alarming is their runs for/against ratio. For a team known for its strong pitching the Talons have given up 49 runs while only scoring 21 over their first 8 games. When you look at those numbers it makes things easier to understand why they are struggling. Next up for the Talons – they host the division leading Whitby Chiefs.

2009 Record: 16-9-1

Regular Season Standings: 1^st in Conference

Playoffs: Lost in Semi Finals to Ajax

Despite playing two less games in 2009, the Pirates for the second straight season finished with an impressive 16 wins in regular season and captured the Eastern Conference pennant. A club built on a solid core with minimal turnover, Pickering showed they could play ball with a strong offensive attack without compromising defensively. The ball club led the conference in runs for (132) and fewest runs against (76). Despite a successful regular season many would suggest the Pirates took a step backwards failing to get into to the OSBA finals. With some key acquisitions in the off-season the Pirates should once again be in contention for the right to represent the East in the OSBA finals.

Key Losses: Ryan Topping

Key Additions: Matt D’Souza, Mike Robinson, Tyler Mandzuk

Players to watch for: Ryan D’Souza, Jeff Murdoch, Scott Gray, Jaymin Parmar, Dave McElroy, Will Mariani

      2009 Record: 16-9-1

        Regular Season Finish: 2^nd

        Playoffs: Lost in round 1 to Brooklin

When comparing their 2009 results with the year previous, the Chiefs improved in every possible area – even if just marginally. And while their elimination in round 1 of the playoffs duplicated the 2008 end result, Whitby won a playoff game – their first in franchise history and took the eventual Eastern Conference champion Brooklin Dodgers to extra innings in the final and decisive game. From a personnel standpoint, the team lost some quality players and veteran leadership (although some may return in limited roles) over the winter, but overall, the majority of players are back. Included in that mix is 2009 Pitcher of the Year Steve Harrington and last season’s rookie standout - Tristan Beadle. To replace the vets, Whitby was fortunate to be able to add some of the best talent available moving up from Junior.

Key Losses: Adam Bickford, Denny Howell, Darryl Lewis, Jared Mercier, Adam Stokes, Adam Tedesco

Key Additions: P/OF Julian Daligadu, RHP Richard Burke, OF Darryl Denyer,  LHP Adam Groome, P/3B James Rowe, IF Steve Mitchell,

Players to watch for: OF Graig Andrew, OF Tristan Beadle, OF Jon Binder,  LHP Steve Harrington, IF Matt Kissel  

2009 Record: 15-10-1

Regular Season Finish: 3^rd

Playoffs: Eastern Conference Champions

What a difference a year makes. How did the Dodgers respond after failing to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history? The went all the way to the Champsionship Finals last fall. Overall team commitment and a slightly larger roster - providing extra depth - were big reasons why the turnaround was so successful. Add in sheer pride and expecations to win every year and that sums up how Brooklin operates. After a tight series against Whitby and a relatively easier Conference Finals against the Indians, Brooklin looked average against the Burlington Bulls in the finals. Knowing what it takes to ensure playoff success the Dodgers did some tinkering over the winter and have mixed in some youth and role players to help supplement a few veterans who cannot commit like in years passed. With the majority of the team back again Brooklin has to be considered the favourites to once again come out of the East.

Key Losses: Andrew Elsworth, Ed Ganhao, Colin Appleton

Key Additions: 1B Greg Pomroy, P Jon McGillen, IF Jason Dowse, P Mike Robinson, IF Rob Leva

Players to watch for: P Jeff Canning, SS Mitch Dunn, P Wayne Wickens, 

P Sam Grabowski, 2B Dan Blea

2008 Record: 15-10-1

This franchise has gone through yet another name change. Partially to do with the York Diamonds joining the OSBA to start the 2010 season, and perhaps more importantly – to reflect a passing of the (Booth) buck or changing of the guard, if you will. GM/Head Coach Brian Booth has decided to move away from the day to day operations of the club turning the team over to the veteran players to manage.  In fact up to late February this franchise looked to be folding. Thanks in large part to the few remaining veterans the team built up enough contacts to replinish a roster that has depleted rapidly over the past two years. Nonetheless with new faces comes new optimism, and the Express look to have a deeper level of commitment and should surprise teams who take them lightly.

Key Losses: Brian Stefancic, Jason Booth, Cal Bessant, Brandon Veenstra Mike Barnett, Phil Heimstra 
Key Additions: DH/1B Tim Coburn, 3B Mike Steward, 2B Jeff Gruchy,

OF Geoff Van Toen, OF Kevin Paquette

Players to watch for: P Craig Bessant, IF Elgene Bautista-Chan, IF Ellison Bautista-Chan, P Josh Stitt, Utility Jesse Nakayama

2009 Record: 10-13-3

Like owning a lottery ticket for a chance to win the big prize, the Indians took their below .500 record into a single game elimination match-up with the 4^th seeded York Diamond Jacks (Newmarket Express) and never looked back. For a second consecutive year the Indians advanced all the way to the Eastern Conference finals – again defying odds and proving all you need to do is qualify for the playoffs and make the best of the opportunity at hand. Not satisfied with being swept from the playoffs by the Brooklin Dodgers the Indians made some changes – starting at the top. GM/Head Coach Mike Kitevski was able to bring back former member Mike Snider to sever as the team’s newest head coach. With a new Chief Wahoo in place the team then went through a series of practices and exhibition games evaulating their current personnel and other players invited to training camp. Wanting to compete and get to the championship series, the Indians look to have added several new faces in effort to build upon an impressive ’09 campaign.

Key Losses: None

Key Additions: LHP Mike Barnett, 1B Tyler John, Utility Alex Dunn, Utility Jonathan Sukhu, Utility Alan Black, Utility Chambers Middlebrook, and Utility Jeffrey Thomas

Players to watch for: P Chris Theodoru, C Jamie Tessier, 1B Tyler John,

OF Ryan Gordon, LHP Mike Barnett

               2009 Record: 9-15-2

          Regular Season Finish: 6^th

                   Playoffs: Failed to qualify

A new name and new uniform wasn’t enough to turn around this one time OSBA powerhouse. Adding P Steve Butterworth via free agency along with a few other former members re-joining the fold certainly helped the club, but the Cubs still failed to make the post season for the second straight year. GM/Head Coach Chris Killoran is always looking for opportunities to add new personnel every off-season - in an effort to strenghten his club. This year appears to be no exception. Part of the problem for this franchise is that with high turnover comes notorious slow starts. Clarington was one of the hottest teams down the stretch in both ’08 and ’09 – at least within their conference. If the team could stabilize itself and minimize turnover it would significantly increase their chance of success. It would appear that with a stronger focus on adding youth for 2010 this might be the year the Cubs move in the right direction.

Key Losses: James Kilpatrick, Chris Aarons, Geoff Van Toen, Jason Boccinfuso, Colin Cockburn, Chad Jennings

Key Additions: 2B/OF Chris Jones, P/1B Shawn Lamb, OF Matt MacIssac, C/OF Kerry Noel, Utility Mike Lenehan

Players to watch for: 1B Paul Graham, P Steve Butterworth,

SS J.P. Vittorio, P Brenan McNeely, C Dan Wilson

2009 Record: 8-16-2

Regular Season Finish: 7^th

Playoffs: Failed to make the playoffs

Oshawa finished last season in last place despite being part of a very tight Eastern Conference playoff race. With the loss of slugger Dan Rushton (serious illness) and poor offensive numbers from just about everyone on the roster it made for a long summer in Oshawa. The club has one of the best 1-2 punches on the mound in Arsenault and Mannella, but even their stellar performances couldn’t prevent the Talons from failing to make the playoffs for the first time since joining the OSBA back in 2002. Head Coach Anthony Cole ran a bunch of tryouts in an effort to find some youth and most importantly offensive flair. The club has shown that their pitching staff keeps them in most ball games. Having some much needed offensive support would give this club a great chance at getting back to the post season. Management is looking for returning veterans to quickly erase last season and get back to their ’08 form. If that happens and some of the new players can contribute as well the Talons should see results in the standings.

Key Losses: Dan Rushton

Key Additions: Utility Aaron Trude, IF Richard Colin-Thome, C Ben Anderson, 1B/C Kyle MacKinnon

Players to watch for: P Mike Arsenault, P Paul Mannella, IF Chad Reid, OF Ryan Reid, C Owen Hudgins

               2009 Record: N/A

The Diamonds also join the OSBA after the Metro Senior Baseball League (MSBL) decided to shut down operations last fall. This ball club has had several championship runs over the years and is considered the most experienced club of the three new expansion franchises joining the OSBA this season. While no official documents been received to validate this claim, the Diamonds have been around for years and several OSBA teams have also faced the club at various senior tournaments in the area. From the outside looking in it appears as though the Diamonds are going through somewhat of a transition. Some of the older members have left opting for play in vintage leagues while team management has tried to fill some of the holes bringing in younger players – in an effort to keep the team running for the long term. Make no mistake about it, this club knows how to win and should be well equipped to take on all comers in the OSBA. 

Key Losses: N/A

Key Additions: Nick Guglielmo, Sean O'Neill, Bruce Johnson, Marcuss Weiss, Steven Szoldra, Shikoh Ukiyama, Rocco Lau

Players to watch for: Eric Foley, Steve Foley, Manny Rodriguez

   2009 Record: 22-3-1

          Regular Season Finish: 1st

          Playoffs: 2009 OSBA Champions

In a league where just getting to the finals is a goal for most clubs, the Bulls have different standards than most. And why wouldn’t they? Since joining the OSBA back in 2005, the Bulls have made it to the finals an astounding four times. Even more impressive - their 3 championships – with the last two coming in back to back seasons. So saying anything less than a championship for this franchise is a step backwards is an understatement. Understanding the reasons for their success is easy when you break it down. A dedicated coaching staff that employs a team-first attitude and minimizes turnover year to year; complimented with great defensive ability, solid application of baseball fundamentals, a deep and talented pitching staff and strong line-up offensively. Perhaps even more apparent is this team has big game swagger. With minor changes once again this off-season expect Burlington to assume their public enemy #1 label and push for the first team to ever 3-peat.

Key Losses: Kyle Pitman, Cameron Kirby, Brad Johnston

Key Additions: C Chris baker, Utility Matt Smith,

Players to watch for: OF Mike Howden, DH Jeff King, OF Mike Mousseau

        2009 Record: 19-3-4

          Regular Season Finish: 2^nd

          Playoffs: Lost in Conference Finals to Bulls

Last year the focus was on how much Forest Glen had improved year over year since joining the league in 2006. Well after last season that focus can be shifted to a club on the rise and more specifically, a franchise now sitting in a great position to capture its first OSBA Cup. When you look at the team’s record from last season they were the only team in the West to give the Bulls a run for first overall. They advanced to the Conference Finals for the first time and in many ways needed that loss to the eventual champs - to put everything into perspective. The Giants are solid. They have a deep offensive line-up, are strong defensively and have some quality young arms at their disposal. This past off-season also saw the team bring in some proven talent that should make them even stronger. It would be hard to imagine this club taking a step backwards so look for them to challenge Burlington and all others for the right to represent the West in the finals.  

Key Losses: Jordan Wilton

Key Additions: Steve Correia, Brian Dikdan, Rob Rivers, Ryan Wakelin, Kevin Horton

Players to watch for: C Ryan Micallef, IF Denis Hucal, P Mario Mainelli,

C Chris Micolino, OF Mike Drzazga

        2009 Record: 12-11-3

          Regular Season Finish: 3^rd

          Playoffs: Lost in round 1 to Forest Glen

The Bengals enter the 2010 season with a new manager. Ryan Rattos after running the team for the past few seasons has stepped aside and turned the controls over to Kris Kibsey. A distant 3^rd in the Western Conference standings behind front-runners Burlington and Forest Glen last season suggests Kibsey has his work cut out for him. One game above .500 was a drop-off from 2008. However, with the majority of their regulars coming back and several new additions it is evident there has been some work done behind the scenes. With 6 players gone and 9 new players joining - chances are this team will need some time to gel and a slow start would not be good for a club that will need to rack up some points to earn a play-off berth.

Key Losses: Francis Pallotta, Mark Skrela, Jason Silverberg, Jason Ireland, Andrew McDermid, Chuck Vleeschhouwer

Key Additions: Dean Mariani, Clayton Dinger, Jonathan Amandola, Nick Scarcelli, Jason Hewitt, Dexter Chu, Navjot Siduh, Johnny Kim, Matt Lapointe

Players to watch for: OF Cody Ireland, C Garrett Nicol, Utility Rob Phair, P Jonathan Menezes, 1B Greg DaCosta

   2009 Record: 11-15-0

          Regular Season Finish: 4th

          Playoffs: Lost 4/5 game to Mississauga Stars

When looking at their overall record of ’09, the Twins went backwards winning 8 fewer games during the regular season than in the previous season. While still playing well enough to qualify for the playoffs they wound up in fourth and lost the one game winner take all with the Mississauga Stars. A team than can be described as scrappy, the Twins were near the top of the league in runs for but also one of the clubs that gave up the most as well. A reported huge loss for the Twins in that perennial all-star outfielder Phil Kingston has moved away and will not be with the club this season. This not only leaves the team with a huge hole to fill in centre field but also takes a legitimate threat away on the bases. Team pitching is also hurting both literally and figuratively, but hopefully the return of Tom Malyk and addition of newcomer Tolga Tukoff will give the club the depth needed to compete in a very strong Western Conference. Should the Twins be able to stay relatively healthy and get their big bats into the line-up on a consistent basis they’ll be a mid-pack team that can pull off a few surprises here and there. If not, they will be hard-pressed to challenge for a division title and could have a hard time making the playoffs.

Key Losses: Phil Kingston, Justin Butler, Nick Chisholm

Key Additions: P Tom Malyk, P Tolga Tukoff

Players to watch for: C Jay Woodford, Utility Pat McEnroe, P Curtis Strabac, P Stu Kingston, Utility Ken Woodford

       2009 Record: 8-15-3

          Regular Season Finish: 5^th

          Playoffs: Lost in semi finals to the Bulls

Despite being an original 4 team, one that has experienced the extreme highs of league champs and the ultimate low – brink of folding, last year’s edition seemed to be two different teams within itself. During the regular season the club had various hot and cold streaks. Struggling late in the year and needing help from other teams to secure the 5^th and last play-off spot, the Stars appeared to have some commitment issues at times. Granted they also had players out with injuries but overall their record dipped way below what it was in ’08. Then near the end of August and right around playoff time they got an injection of depth from players who had dual commitments playing on a second team. The Stars were able to upset the Twins masking a really awful regular season. However, that’s as far as they would go – being eliminated relatively easily by Burlington in the semi finals. While team management is optimistic the club will rebound this season, the jury is still out on just how good this team will be in 2010. 

Key Losses: None reported

Key Additions: Nate Kerr, Greg Cranker 

Players to watch for: SS Johnny DeWolfe, IF Jeff Cornish, OF Alex Perez, newcomer Nate Kerr, P Matt Belbeck

              2009 Record: 6-19-1

                   Regular Season Finish: 6th

                   Playoffs: Failed to Qualify

Sum up the ’09 season for the Majors in one word - no problem - awful. A club full of young talent certainly under-achieved last year and has a long road ahead of them to get back to where they had success in junior. A 2007 expansion team, the Majors up to now have merely sputtered along at best. This club is going to have to look at taking small steps when looking for ways to measure success along the way. On the bright side it is hard to imagine a record worse than last season. This club needs to aim for a .500 record. While it may not be enough it would certainly put the franchise in a better situation to challenge for a playoff spot and go a long way in restoring confidence in their talented core.

Key Losses: Andrew Dutra, Kyle Gerrard, Adam Sawoszczuk

Key Additions: Michael Bannon, Marcel Roque, Nathan Burgess

Players to watch for: P/IF Joey Pileggi, P/IF Josh Pileggi, IF Danny Taormina, P/1B Paul Roth, OF JP Anderson

2009 Record: N/A

                   Regular Season Finish: N/A

                   Playoffs: N/A

The Expos come over from the former Metro Senior Baseball League (MSBL) where they saw limited success in 2009. Despite not being considered the top team in their former league, the Expos are optimistic that a strong blend of veteran savvy and the younger players’ enthusiasm will be a nice mix – capable of some success in a much larger association. As an expansion team for 2010 there really is not a lot of detail on this organization. The ball club enters their first campaign with a roster of over 20 players. So from a depth perspective it looks like the Expos certainly have it, now the question becomes do they have what it takes to compete with the top teams in the OSBA? Only time will tell. Realistic goals have been set by team management and not wanting to sell the ball club short – there is optimism that the Expos will be worthy advisories and challenge for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Key Losses: None reported

Key Additions: None reported

Players to watch for: None provided

While the forecast does not project for sunny skies, it will take more than scattered showers to dampen the enthusiasm of opening day 2010. With several clubs opting to avoid Mother’s Day conflicts the OSBA will officially kick-off its 10^th anniversary on Saturday, May 8^th.

When looking back, it is hard to believe the OSBA has already reached the decade mark. When founder Rod Holinaty started play back in 2001 there were only four teams. I’m happy to report all four founding teams are still in operation today. And while several  of the players have changed and three of those four clubs have changed their team names these franchises are just as dedicated to the OSBA now as they were when they first took to the field 10 years ago.

In a year designed for celebration and looking back on fond memories, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the loss of one of OSBA’s biggest supporters. Gerry Ray who had been with the OSBA since 2002 as General Manager and Head Coach of the Barrie Red Sox/Brewers franchise, passed away after a courageous battle against cancer. Gerry was a vocal, no nonsense executive member with a grin from ear to ear. A respected man not only in the community of Barrie but across the entire OSBA, Gerry served as Vice President, East for two years and will always be remembered as one of the individuals who helped get the association’s annual Canada Day tournament off the ground.  At this time, I would like to announce that the OSBA Tournament will now be officially named the Gerry Ray Memorial Tournament. After receiving the blessing of Gerry’s family, the OSBA wanted to find a way to recognize and honour Gerry and this venue seemed like the perfect fit.

The Barrie franchise has taken a year off from operations and will review their situation – in hope of finding someone to take over the day to day management of the team for next season. Despite losing Barrie there was plenty of expansion discussion and after several months of dialogue three new teams will join and call the OSBA their home this year. Joining are the York Diamonds (from MSBL), The Vaughan Expos (MSBL) and Vaughan Vikings – a junior team that graduated from the Toronto Metro league. Each of these franchises along with the other remaining 13 will look to stake claim as the next OSBA champion.

The Burlington Bulls currently have a lock on that distinction – having won their second consecutive championship (tying the Mississauga Stars and Brooklin Dodgers) and third title (most in OSBA history) in just their 5^th season.  A perennial favourite, the Bulls have a big target on their backs and they wouldn’t want it any other way. Who will be this year’s stand-out players, surprise teams, and league champion Let’s play ball and find out!

              2009 Record: N/A

                   Regular Season Finish: N/A

                   Playoffs: N/A

The Vikings were the last of three expansion teams to join the OSBA over the winter. With the entire team graduating from the Metro loop in Junior, the Vikings come to the OSBA as a club that has played together for several years. There will be no issues with team chemistry and that should help this franchise as it gets accustom to the senior ranks. With Rep level experience, the Vikings should be looked at as a club that will be solid in all areas. Team management would not quote on what their expectations are for this year but look for this team to challenge for one of the four playoffs spots in the Western Conference. This Vikings are well run and if leadership starts from the top, the OSBA has found a gem in the Vaughan Vikings. Look for this team to play well right from the start and give some of the veteran teams a real test over the course of the season.

Key Losses: None reported

Key Additions: None reported

Players to watch for: None provided

Visitation: Friday, Mar. 12 @ 7:00-9:00pm

Funeral: Saturday, Mar. 13 @ 11:00am