Though you wouldn't know it to look outside, the start of the 2012 fastball
season is upon us, with the first major tournament of the year set to get
underway next week at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena
Vista, Florida (just southwest of Orlando). 

Running from January 26-29, the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) International
Men's Fastpitch Softball Tournament will feature its largest field in the
tourney's 17-year history, with 48 teams from Canada, the US, Venezuela,
Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Bahamas represented. On the 26th and 27th, 12
four-team divisions will square off in divisional play, before the
elimination round begins on the 28th. 

Of the nine Canadian teams represented, four will include KFL players. 

In pool B, the Niagara Fury feature two members of the Cardinals, pitcher
Bryan Belisle and infielder Casey Toews. 

The Kitchener Bell Cartage Outlaws' roster, meanwhile, is loaded with
familiar faces for anyone who spent much time at Budd Park last year,
including Tim Dubois, Derek Martin, Pete Schaefer, Matt Stagg, Corey
Tinline, and Brandon Wohlgemut from Bell's KFL squad, as well as Ryan
Tinney of the Moonshiners and Kevin Buckley, a longtime member of the
Cambridge Reds who played a few games with the Diamond Jaxx last year. The
Outlaws will compete in pool G. 

The reigning KFL champion Classics contribute Devon Abbey, Sam Forbes,
Jason Hoch, and Jodie Schnarr to the Cobourg Force squad that will compete
in Pool I, while the Kitchener Selects will represent the KFL in Pool J
with a handful of their regulars - including Mike Brown, Glen Hall, Doug
Hoffman, Kevin Ryrie, and Mike Welton - as well as Brandon Viol of the
Puslinch Phillies. 

For a complete list of teams, rosters, and schedules, check out the
following links from Al's Fastball:

Pools
and Schedule
Rosters
Part 1
Rosters
Part 2

For an article about the history of the tournament, click here.

And lastly, for video from last year's tournament, head over to the
ESPN Wide World of Sports tournament website.

Best of luck to all the KFL players heading south!

(Post contributed by Mike Brown)

After overseeing seven seasons of the Kitchener Fastball League, I am
stepping down as president. 

I would like to announce that, as of the year-end meeting last week, Bryan
Reeve of the Diamond Jaxx has been elected as the incoming president of the
league and I have full faith that the KFL is in great hands for the
future.

I have had a blast being a part of this league and still intend to offer
help where I can as well as be a part of the Selects, but the majority of
my time and focus will be shifted to teaching the next generation of
superstar fastball players here in Kitchener.

I would like to wish Bryan all the best in taking the KFL to the next
level. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of the league with me for
the last seven year.

Trevor Botting

The Classics bats just proved to be too much as they once again put up
double digits in the finals. 12-2 was the final score and that makes it a 3
game sweep for the Classics over the Selects.

Congratulations to the Classics for their second consecutive title and
their third in four years.

Thank you to every one for another great season.

The Classics bats came out to play last night. Hard hits compounded with
defensive errors by the Selects, all played in light rain, combined to give
the Classics a 10-0 win.

Game three is schedule for tonight, barring rain, of course.

In what has to be an unprecedented occurrence, game one of the finals has
been postponed for a third time.

The Classics and Selects will try to get this game played tomorrow night.
Hopefully.