**Click on standings for further details

JUNE 12, 2025

Grey Beards Report – Rob Bentley

Game #1

It took a full seven innings for the White Hairs to eke out a victory. The Grey Beards scored 6 runs in the top of the seventh, coming back from a 16 – 13 deficit.  However the White Hairs countered by scoring 4 to win by the ever so small margin of 20 -19. 

Game# 2

The White Hairs seemed to “hit them where they ain’t”. The Beards kept scratching our beards, wondering if we just over shifted, who knows? White Hairs 23 Grey Beard 17.

White Hairs Report – Jeff Morton

Who are those guys?  That's the question the Beardies were asking themselves following a slugfest at Millbank.

Game one saw the Hairs get out to a quick lead and maintain the lead until the 7th.

Beard boys down 3, erupted for 6 in the top to take a 19-16 lead.  Undettered, the Hairs kept their composure and answered with 4 in the bottom to take game one, 20-19.  Flow Kemp had the game winning RBI.

As visitors in game 2, the Hairs’ momentum disappeared.  Down 5 after one, the manager had everyone toss their gloves on the ground.  Sometimes goofy things work.  Defense improved but the Beards held a 9-4 lead heading to the fourth inning.  Hairs scored 5 but the Greyheads hit every hole and put up another 5.  Hairs kept scoring and took an 18-17 lead into the top of the 7th.  After the first two batters were put out, the Hairs put the hammer down, scoring 5.  Final score 23-17.

Hairs had 76 hits on the day - yes 76 hits! 

Steve “I'll play the outfield if you need me to” Craig had 8 hits on the day and made a couple of outstanding catches in left.  Guess where you're playing next week Steve?

Morton, Crazy Legs, Gord Shields [Ed. Note – no nickname?] and Octogenarian Cummings each had 8 hits, with Al gold glove King, Flow Kemp, Rookie Palencher and Ian 5th gear Schell contributing 7 each.

The Hairs arrived at Monaghans at 12:50 - a team tardiness record.

[Ed. Note – When the Hairs hadn’t arrived at Monaghans by 12:45 p.m. a concerned player from another team suggested sending out a search party.  After some discussion a vote was held and it was resolved that (i) we were concerned and (ii) we weren’t concerned enough to do anything about it.]

Red Faces Report – Bill Craig

Well, the Faces were down a couple of stalwarts but with the help of two spares managed to eke out game one against a very good Blue Pills team by a score of 11-6. We got 4 in the top of the first and kept adding a bit here and there to pull out a win. Rick Halik was a strike-throwing machine and made another great play defensively. Apparently you can't hit up the middle against him. He'll just snag the ball and throw you out.

The Pills were hampered in game one when Mike Way hurt his hamstring again, but they didn't let that stop them in game two. The Faces got up early and carried a 5-run lead to the top of the 7th. A terrific 5-run rally (just a bunch of hard hit balls) by the Pills tied the score and we failed to score in the bottom and settled for a 17-17 tie. Kudos to both teams for a well played double-header. A very fun morning of slopitch.

For the Faces, Richard Grudzinski returned to the lineup after two weeks in Europe and flashed the leather. He made a great play on a wicked hop right at him at rover. Cradled it on his chest and made the out at second base. Then he made a terrific stab of a hard hit ground ball to his left that also took a bad hop. All that in addition to his usual stellar batting in the leadoff spot. The "Killer B's (Bill Craig and Brian Mastervick...just made that up...gonna see if it sticks) combined to go 14 for 16 with 9 runs scored, 5 doubles, a triple and a home run (courtesy of Brian for the second week in a row...a moon-shot to right). Dario Pretto was 7 for 8 and made a nice running catch in left-centre. Super-utility man Ken Baker handled the plate and 2nd base flawlessly. Other super-utility man Brock Paterson moved to right field in game two (usually plays 2nd or rover) and made a great diving catch. So much so that he needs to launder the knees of his pants. Don Brown had 4 hits including a rocket to left for a double and made it look easy at first base. Doug Hyland was the same...except in left field.

Lastly, our spares Mike Mozewsky and Simon Everitt (in his OMMSPL debut) played well defensively at multiple positions and chipped in 13 hits combined, including each hitting a rocket for a double. Apparently, if you play cricket (as Simon does) hitting a softball is simple. Big thank you to them for coming out to play with us today.

Blue Pills Report – Ricky Buchan

Blue Pills, bolstered by the return of hamstrung slugger Mike Way, took on the first-place Red Faces on a sun-drenched morn at Glenashton East. The Faces powered their way to a 6-2 lead and claimed an 11-6 victory. Not much of note offensively for the Blues. Ron VanderMeulen was on the hill.

Game two was a seesaw affair with four separate lead changes. The good guys scored 5 runs in the top of the 7th to knot things at 17-17. George Merrick, who drove in the tying runs, retired the side in the bottom of the inning and the squads kissed their sisters. Geoff Coulson led the hit parade with several screaming line drives and went 4 for 4, Ron was 4 for 4 with four runs scored and Tony Foscarin raked a bases-loaded triple. Vince Pileggi hoovered up everything in right centre. The beer was cold, the food mediocre on the Monaghan's patio as Ron shocked the waitress with his Peroni-cat jaw story.

Fine Wines Report – Dan Sanscartier

Well it finally all came together for us this week. After several weeks of rainouts and substandard performances our team stepped up and put a beating on the White Hairs team. Not only did we have a great turnout at Monaghans but we easily beat the White Hairs there. Some of us had already cashed out by the time their manager and hitting guru Jeff Morton arrived, head hanging in shame.

On a less important note, we did play two games that morning, and no, they weren't against the White Hairs.

In the first game versus the not-so-Rusty Royals we were outhit, outplayed and outscored 9-4 and never really challenged. Al Stokes was a perfect 2 for 2 with a run scored. Randy Heinbecker and Mike Canham were the only other players who managed two hits.

The second game had far more tension. Down to our last out in the bottom of the 7th, with two runners on base, rookie Steve Devoe came up clutch and drove in Bruce Locke - looking more like Andy Kozai - who scored from second and the Fine Wines bench erupted with pure elation and relief. Of course, this wasn't to win the game - it simply broke the shutout as we went down by a score of 8-1 and a two game sweep by the Rusty Royals.

Having scored only 6 runs in the past 3 games, the Fine Wines ownership group has reportedly reached out and signed Adolpho Phillips (who once led the National League in intentional walks - look it up) to a one-year contract.

[Ed. Note – Dan wins this week’s award for “Best Game Report with the Least Amount to Work With”, a prize formerly monopolized by Koopman]

Rusty Royals Report – John Koopman

The Rusty Royals seem to have turned the corner. Other teams beware!  Bill "Grapes" Stubbins took control of the bench, and in fear of what he might call them if they failed, the Rusty Royals turned in an outstanding performance.

In Game One Bill "Charles" Manson was 4-4 and Bill "Otis" Walker, Darryl Northcott and Jack Pang all had three hits.  Tony "Sprano" Fratia and Northcott each had two ribbies. Behind Manson's great pitching, and stellar defence by all (particularly Jonathan "Royal" Kamin), the Rusty Royals cruised to ta 9-4 victory over the stunned Fine Wines.

In Game Two the Fine Wines were not so fine. Fortunately Charles Manson threw them some helter skelter and shut them out for six innings. The Royals plated four in the first and never looked back.  Stunning performances were turned in by the noted entertainer Tommy Hunter who was 3-3 with two ribbies and a run, and Darrell Northcott and Otis Walker who were each 3-3. 

Andy "Mayberry" Byj played a great second base, Rudy Gauer was on base four times in the morning's activities, as was Tim Price. 

The Rusty Royals can't wait to rake again next week.

Sad News  

Charlie Withnell, a long-time player in the OMMSPL, has passed away at the age of 90. After graduating from our league he played in the OSSPL (the 70’s league) until 2 years ago, when he was on the championship team.  As noted by Laurence Drew (another OMMSPL alumnus)… “We all loved that guy. A great friend and ball player. He will be greatly missed.”

2024 PLAYOFF CHAMPIONS - BLUE PILLS 

Top Row LTR   Dave Brinton, Ed Lincz, Rudy Gauer, Michael Fleming, Darrel Northcott, Kirk MacDonald, Roman Kryzaniwsky 

Bottom Row LTR   Dave Walker, Tony Fratia, Gord Shields, Mike Canham, Greg Aubert (Coach), Frank Sturm,  

Missing   Bill Stubbins  

2024 REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONS - WHITE HAIRS

Top row LTR: Andy Byj, Tony Foscarin, Richard Grudzinski, Bill Manson, Ron Linklater, Gerry Coveny, Vince Moffat

Bottom row LTR: Jeff Morton, Doug Hyland, Kim Warren, Rick Wilcox, Mark Brancier, Vince Pileggi

Missing: Don Yaschyshyn

BOYS OF SUMMER 2024

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