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The Kitchener Fastball League is pleased to announce the continuation of its partnership with Rogers TV for the 2013 season. After a successful year of broadcasting from Budd Park last summer, Rogers plans to air 10 of the league's Thursday 7 p.m. games. The broadcasts will kick off on May 16 and run to August 1, with the possibility of more games throughout August and into the fall. Each game will be tape-delayed by one hour, appearing on Rogers TV (Cable 20) at 8 p.m.
"Having our games on Rogers last year was a source of great excitement for both our players and fans," says Bryan Reeve, President of the KFL. "We're very pleased to have them on board again for 2013, showcasing the great sport of fastball to viewers across the region. We anxiously await the first pitch of the KFL's 45th season."
The complete schedule for the 2013 KFL season will be finalized shortly. In the meantime, see below for a full listing of dates for the Rogers TV Game of the Week. Any questions about the KFL on Rogers TV can be directed to feedback@kitchenerfastballleague.ca.
Rogers TV Broadcast Schedule for 2013 KFL Action:
May 16
May 23
June 6
June 13
June 20
July 4
July 11
July 18
July 25
August 1
- Mike Brown
With the Kitchener Fastball League's 2013 season on the horizon, we've added a Free Agents section to the website, in the hopes of matching eager players with teams looking to round out their rosters.
Teams in need of additional players can click on "Free Agents" in the navigation bar across the top of the website to browse player information, including positions, age, and playing history. Managers can even craft a message directly on the site, which will then be delivered to the potential players' email.
Players interested in being added to the KFL's Free Agent pool can do so by clicking on "Want To Play?" in the same navigation bar and entering their information, which will be reviewed by one of the league's administrators.
The 2013 KFL season will commence in early May. Teams are reminded to bring their finalized roster forms to the league's final preseason meeting, which will take place on Thursday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m. at Budd Park.
- Mike Brown
Welcome to the Kitchener Fastball League’s newly redesigned website.
Please take a minute to check out the site’s sleek new look, courtesy of Scott Clark at Halfull Design Solutions, and browse the KFL’s extensive photo galleries, thanks to league photographer Jerri Gallo. The league would also like to thank Tim Bartram for his hard work in transferring the league’s data into the new design.
The KFL Executive is hard at work preparing for the 2013 season, so stay tuned for more information after the league’s first meeting of the year.
- Mike Brown
Three members of the Red Sox squad converge to make a play in Kitchener Fastball League action at Budd Park. Photo Credit: Jerri Gallo
The International Softball Congress (ISC) announced last night that Kitchener will once again play host to the ISC World Tournament, the world’s premier fastball tournament for men’s club teams, in 2014. This will mark the fourth time the tournament has come to Kitchener, following successful events in 2002, 2006, and 2007.
A bid from Kitchener Fastball Promotions, of which the Kitchener Fastball League is a member, secured the right to host the 68th ISC World Tournament in a vote by the ISC Board of Directors. The tournament will take place in the third week of August 2014, with exact dates still to be determined. Games will be played on the three diamonds at Peter Hallman Ball Yard and the KFL’s two host diamonds at Budd Park. Lights will be installed at the third diamond at Peter Hallman in advance of the tournament.
“We’re thrilled to have the ISC World Tournament returning to Kitchener and shining a spotlight on this incredible, fast-paced game,” said KFL President Bryan Reeve. “We hope to see the league’s many players, coaches, and fans stepping up to help ensure Kitchener once again puts on a world-class show.”
The tournament’s co-chairs will be Rick Boyd and Duncan Matheson. Boyd played for 35 years in the KFL, served as tournament director for the ISC II portion of the three World Tournaments previously held in Kitchener, and will be familiar to those in the KFL as a regular umpire and the league’s liaison to the Kitchener-Waterloo Umpires Association. Matheson is a former coach and former President of the Kitchener-Waterloo Minor Boys Softball Association, a league that nurtured many of the KFL’s current players. He was also the chair of the 2007 ISC World Tournament.
“We are excited about bringing the ISC World Tournament and the world's best fastball players back to centre-stage here in Kitchener,” said Boyd. “Now the hard work begins to get ready for this.”
The tournament is expected to draw at least 35 of the world’s best club teams. Alongside the main event, the tournament will include an ISC II consolation bracket, as well as a 50+ Legends division and an under-21 division to showcase the game’s future stars. There are many details still to be worked out in the coming months, and Boyd and Matheson are hoping to attend the 2013 tournament in Quad Cities, Iowa/Illinois, to aid in the planning process.
Ontario has long been recognized as a hotbed for the sport. Seventeen Ontario squads competed at the 2012 World Tournament in Midland, Michigan, including the reigning champion Jarvis Travelers and the runners up, the Hill United Chiefs. Local squads included the Kitchener Bell Cartage Outlaws (43rd), Kitchener Cubs (23rd), Shakespeare Falcons (18th), and Elmira Erb Electric Expos (10th), as well as many KFL players.
Anyone interested in volunteering for the 2014 ISC World Tournament can contact Rick Boyd at rickboyd@bell.net.
- Mike Brown
Shayne Riepert of the Tri-City Jays Fastball Club, kicks and fires vs the Bulldogs,in Kitchener Fastball League action at Budd Park. Photo Credit: Jerri Gallo
Ah, the beauty of a fresh diamond at Budd Park on a beautiful evening...Go Away White stuff. See you all in the Spring.
Photo Credit: Jerri Gallo
Classics Slugger Jodie Schnarr, eyes the incoming heat vs. the Selects in Kitchener Fastball League action at Budd Park, on Rogers TV. Photo Credit: Jerri Gallo
Paul Clemons of the Smoke, looks in on the play in
Kitchener Fastball League action at Budd Park, on Rogers TV. Photo Credit: Jerri Gallo
Play by Play man Justin Fauteux, and Colour commentator James Gallo, record the pre-game spot in Kitchener Fastball League action at Budd Park, on Rogers TV. Photo Credit: Jerri Gallo
Larry Cox, of the Smoke, comes set vs the Moonshiners, in
Kitchener Fastball League action at Budd Park. Photo Credit:
Jerri Gallo
Doug Hoffman of the Diamond Jaxx, toes the rubber vs. the Kings in Kitchener Fastball League action at Budd Park, on Rogers TV. Photo Credit: Jerri Gallo
The Thunder turn a spectacular double-play vs. the Barons in Kitchener Fastball League action at Budd Park, on Rogers TV. Photo Credit: Jerri Gallo
Bulldogs battle the Smoke in Kitchener Fastball League action at Budd Park, on Rogers TV. Photo Credit: Jerri Gallo
Trying out a new feature for the KFL, to make the off-season go a little quicker. Check back in weekly for updated shots from the KFL SmugMug 2012 Season album ... let me know your thoughts. Email me at president@kitchenerfastballleague.ca.
2012 Champions, Bell Cartage
2012 Finalists, Tri-City Jays
The 2012 KFL season came to a close on a cold Monday night, as Bell Cartage won their first league title since joining the Kitchener Fastball League in 2006, defeating the Tri-City Jays three games to one. They didn't have an easy road to the title, knocking off the two-time defending champion Classics in the quarterfinals before taking down the top two regular season squads, the Diamond Jaxx and the Jays, in the semi-finals and finals respectively.
Bell won the series opener over the Jays, 8-0, behind a dominant pitching performance from Jeff Wise, handing the Jays their first loss in almost three months. The first-year Jays squad bounced back in game two, rallying from a 4-0 deficit to even the series with a 10-4 win, paced by home runs from Chris Dietrich and Jeff Kolb. From there, Bell pitcher Dan Martin took control of the series. In game three, Martin stymied the Jays offense in an 11-1 win that featured home runs from Tim Freeman and Brian Kron to take a stranglehold on the series, and he was similarly strong in Monday night's 6-1 series clincher. Congrats to the 2012 Kitchener Fastball League Champions, Bell Cartage, and the finalists, the Tri-City Jays, on a great year. See you in 2013!
- Mike Brown
Congratulations to Bell Cartage on being the 2012 Kitchener Fastball League Champions with a 3-1 series win over the Tri-City Jays.
Bell Cartage won on Monday night 6-1.
- Bryan Reeve
The KFL's Diamond Jaxx went 3-2 to finish fifth this weekend at the Ontario Challenge Cup, a 14-team tournament that invites top teams from leagues throughout Ontario to compete for a berth to the ISC World Fastball Championships, which will be held in Moline, Illinois in 2013.
The Jaxx opened the tourney on Friday night with a 6-1 win over the host Ohsweken Redmen before suffering their first loss in the double elimination tourney to the defending champion Wiarton Nationals, a tight 5-4 affair on Saturday morning. The Jaxx bounced back with an 8-0 win over the Fisherville A's on Saturday evening, punctuated by a Doug Hoffman two-hitter and a Ryan Ferber home run. On Sunday morning, they erased a two-run deficit to beat the Wyevale Trive 4-2 before ultimately bowing out with a 2-0 loss to the Alvinston Indians. All in all, the Jaxx put together a strong showing, with their only losses coming against the finalists from Alvinston and the eventual tourney champions from Wiarton. Hoffman picked up all three wins for the Jaxx, who got help from Jodie Schnarr and John Sexton of the Classics for the weekend. Congratulations to the KFL's regular season champions on a strong finish to their 2012 campaign.
Also representing the KFL at the OCC were the league's second place squad, the Tri-City Jays. The Jays lost a heartbreaker on Friday night despite a three-run blast from Al Taylor, falling to the Ponsonby Sting 5-4 on a walk-off home run. The Jays were then eliminated on Saturday afternoon, losing 5-2 to Niagara Falls Can-Am of the Golden Horseshoe Fastball League, after threatening with the bases loaded and only one out in the seventh. In spite of the tough losses, the Jays look to finish the season strong in the KFL finals, where they are battling Bell Cartage. That best-of-five series is tied at one game apiece, with game three going tonight at 8 p.m. at Budd Park.
For full results from the OCC, visit Al's Fastball.
- Mike Brown
Hope everyone is enjoying the 2012 KFL playoffs and has had a great summer.
We have had the privilege of having a young photographer, Jerri Gallo, taking pictures for the KFL this season, and they have been posted on the KFL Facebook page.
However, it has come to my attention that not everyone is able to see the pictures, so we have been looking for a high quality photo-sharing solution for the league. Please follow the link to the trial page for the new KFL Photo Hub.
http://KFLFastball.smugmug.com
We have 7 days remaining on the trial period and I am looking for your feedback on the site, on the photos, and your thoughts. You can email me at president@kitchenerfastballleague.ca.
I look forward to hearing from you.
- Bryan Reeve, President
#1 Red Division vs. #3 Red Division
Jays (19-3-1) vs. Bell Cartage (15-9-1)
No matter how the season's final games play out, the KFL will be crowning a first-time champion in 2012. And the two teams that remain in the hunt to become that first-time champ are also the two that made this situation a certainty.
In the quarterfinals, Bell Cartage knocked off the two-time defending champion Classics and they are fresh off of ousting the league's top regular season team, the Diamond Jaxx, two games to one. Dan Martin tossed a shutout in the series opener as Bell cruised to a relatively stress-free 8-0 win. The Jaxx then evened the series with a hard-fought 3-2 victory before Bell's offense again proved too much in an 8-3 series clincher. They have faced down two of the league's best squads and simply bashed their way to the finals, scoring at least eight runs in all four of their wins. Tim Dubois has gone deep three times in the playoffs, anchoring a relentless offensive onslaught that has also featured strong performances from the likes of Tim Freeman, Corey Tinline, and Corey Way. This marks Bell's second finals appearance in team history, the first coming in 2008, so expect to see the established veterans on the rubber. Though they have a deep rotation, Danny Martin and Mel Ross have seen the lion's share of Bell's playoff innings, a trend that seems unlikely to change with a title on the line.
On the other side of the ball, the Tri-City Jays have quietly put together an inspired inaugural campaign. The upstart first-year squad remains undefeated in postseason play, having dispatched with the Selects in the quarterfinals before handing a similar sweep to a Kings squad boasting a previously pristine playoff pedigree. Marc Geddes tossed a one-hitter in a 3-0 game one win, while Shayne Riepert got the call in the 4-1 win that ended the Kings' season. Four playoff games, four wins. In fact, they enter the finals with an 11-game win streak that dates back to June 25, a 4-1 loss against the very Bell Cartage squad they must now topple. It'll be the toughest test faced by Geddes and Riepert this postseason and they'll need to rely on their solid defense for some help. Offensively, the Jays got a boost from the return of catcher Jason Clayfield, who went 4-7 in the semis after missing the opening round. They'll look for him to stay hot, while hoping veteran Al Taylor can break out of a mini-slump. It's doubtful the Jays will hold Bell to one run as they did in their semi-final series, but they've shown all year that they just know how to win. If they can prove it three more times, they'll complete the impressive feat of winning the KFL crown in their first year in existence.
It all begins tonight at 8:00 on Budd 1.
Season series: Jays won 9-3 and Bell won 4-1
Game 1: Thursday, September 13 @ 8 p.m.
Game 2: Monday, September 17 @ 8 p.m.
Game 3: Wednesday, September 19 @ 8 p.m.
Game 4: Monday, September 24 @ 8 p.m. (if necessary)
Game 5: Tuesday, September 25 @ 8 p.m. (if necessary)
- Mike Brown
After an epic Smoke-Diamond Jaxx quarterfinal came to a close last night, the semi-final match-ups are finally set and will get underway tonight with game one of the Diamond Jaxx and Bell Cartage at 7 p.m. and the Jays and Kings at 9 p.m.
#1 Black Division vs. #3 Red Division
Diamond Jaxx (19-3-1) vs. Bell Cartage (13-8-1)
Our first semi-final match-up pits two teams that have been part of the KFL's upper echelon for the last five years, both seemingly on a mission for their first title. The Diamond Jaxx cruised through the regular season with a 17-2 record, but encountered considerable opposition in their first round series with the Smoke. After dropping game one 9-4 and evening the series in a 13-0 game two romp, they never led in game three and needed a two-out, two-strike RBI single from Chad MacQueen in the seventh inning to earn the tie and force a fourth game to decide the series. Doug Hoffman shut the door in that one, giving the Jaxx a 2-0 win last night to keep their season alive. It marks only the second time in their five-year history that the Jaxx have advanced to the semi-finals and the first time since 2009, when they lost to the Kings in one of the most exciting KFL finals in recent memory. For the Jaxx to get another crack at the championship in 2012, they'll need to continue getting timely hitting from MacQueen, as well as veterans Ryan Ferber and Warren Williams. On the other side of the ball, the Jaxx hope Kevin Clugston can keep Bell's batters off balance, while Hoffman will need to maintain the form that saw him throw 14 innings of shutout ball in the Jaxx's two wins against the Smoke.
The Diamond Jaxx are in tough, however, as they meet an extremely talented Bell Cartage squad that they've never bested in the postseason, losing to them in the quarterfinals in both 2008 and 2011. Bell is fresh off a series win over the two-time defending champion Classics and they're eager to take their top spot as the KFL's new royalty. They seemed to issue a statement to the rest of the league with their game one win, blasting the Classics pitchers in a 16-4 blowout that included absolutely monstrous home runs from Brian Kron and Tim Dubois (one of his two in the series). Though the Classics pushed them to a deciding game with a 4-2 game two win, Bell's offense again came to play in a 9-6 series-clinching victory. Though their offense is formidable, Bell also had the second-best defense in the league this year, thanks in large part to a pitching staff so deep that excellent throwers like Kevin Buckley and Brandon Roach weren't even needed to dispatch the Classics in their quarterfinal series. This is Bell's fourth semi-final foray in five years, but they have only one finals appearance to show for it. Still, anyone who saw them play in the opening round will have to think twice before betting against them in 2012.
Season series: Diamond Jaxx won 7-4
Game 1: Thursday, September 6 @ 7 p.m.
Game 2: Monday, September 10 @ 9 p.m.
Game 3: Tuesday, September 11 @ 7 p.m. (if necessary)
#1 Red Division vs. #2 Red Division
Jays (17-3-1) vs. Kings (13-4-5)
One thing's for certain in this Jays-Kings semi-final: an impressive win streak is going to get snapped. The Jays hold the KFL's longest win streak, going 9-0 since late June. The Kings are also undefeated over that span, though they've posted a slightly less impressive 6-0-2 record for the period in question. More notably, the Kings have not lost a playoff game since 2009, a 13-game stretch that includes the 2009 Championship and the 2010 and 2011 B titles. The bottom line here is this: it might not be in game one and it might not be in game two, but eventually one of these teams is going to have to experience the foreign feeling of defeat.
In their first season in the league, the Jays were the only team to defeat their quarterfinal opponent in two games straight, knocking the Selects off 6-5 and 4-3 with a pair of come-from-behind wins. In both games, they erased two-run deficits in the final inning with timely hitting, showcasing the will to win that has served them well all year. After a 3-3 tie in their opening game against the Moonshiners, the Kings won the series with 6-4 and 1-0 victories, highlighted by a dominant pitching performance from Fred Follings in the game three clincher. To stay on the winning track, the Kings will continue to hang their hat on the first-class pitching of Follings and Nick Laurette and hope guys like Anthony Medley and Jason Falk - both of whom homered in their quarterfinal win - can help scratch out enough offense to win. The Jays, meanwhile, will ride their own potent pitching pairing of Shayne Riepert and Marc Geddes, while relying on an offense-by-committee approach. The youth contingent of Justin Clayfield, Kevin Matthews, and Justin Krulicki did a lot of the damage in the quarterfinals, aided by veteran run-producer Tim Bartram. If they can stay hot, the Kings' various undefeated streaks may be in jeopardy. Either way, the smart money here is on a very tightly-contested, low-scoring series that is sure to excite.
Season series: Jays won 4-3 and they tied 4-4
Game 1: Thursday, September 6 @ 9 p.m.
Game 2: Monday, September 10 @ 7 p.m.
Game 3: Tuesday, September 11 @ 9 p.m. (if necessary)
- Mike Brown
2012 B Side Champion Phillies
2012 B Side Finalist Predators
The Phillies capped an undefeated postseason last Thursday in Rogers TV's final televised game of 2012, beating the Predators 2-0 to complete a two-game finals sweep. Scott Macdonald threw a complete game shutout for the young Phillies squad, getting timely outs whenever the Predators threatened, en route to his third victory in as many playoff starts. Mark Kelly once again threw well for the Predators, with the game remaining a scoreless tie through five innings, but Erik Rasmussen got to him in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run homer to left field. In game one of the series, the Phillies scored twice in the first two innings and rode a complete game, 12-strikeout performance from Kevin Dowling to the 2-1 win.
The Phillies also knocked off the Red Sox, 7-3, and Thunder, 4-2, in their run to the B side championship. It marks their first B title and second appearance in the B finals in just two years in the league. The Predators beat the Bulldogs 1-0 to make their first appearance in the B finals since their 2008 win, but will have to settle for finalists this year. Congrats to both teams on a great series.
- Mike Brown
The month of August has been kind to a number of young players in the KFL.
First off, at the Canadian Junior Championships in Owen Sound, two KFL players were named to the all tournament team. Ty Sebastian of the Selects hit 0.385 with Wiarton and was named the top second baseman, while Corey Way of Bell Cartage hit 0.455 with Walkerton and was one of the three outfielders selected.
Then, at the World Junior Championships in Midland, Michigan, infielder Austin Brown of the Diamond Jaxx was named to the all tournament team as his Owen Sound Junior Selects squad finished second to Argentina's Junior National Team.
Lastly, the aforementioned Sebastian was named to the 17-man Team Canada roster for the ISF IX Junior Men's World Championship in Argentina in November. Michael Lagace-Roote, who played for the New Dundee Dodgers of the KFL in 2011, was also named to the team.
The KFL congratulates all of these bright young stars on their achievements.
- Mike Brown
The playoff schedule for the Semi-Final round of the A side is now official. The individual match-ups have yet to be determined, but will be updated when they are set.
Here is the schedule, by series.
SERIES A1
#1 Seed vs #4 Seed
Game 1 - Wednesday September 5 - 9pm
Game 2 - Thursday September 6 - 7pm
Game 3 (if) - Monday September 10, 9pm
SERIES A2
#2 Seed v #3 Seed
Game 1 - Wednesday September 5 - 7pm
Game 2 - Thursday September 6, 9pm
Game 3 (if) - Monday September 10, 7pm
- Bryan Reeve
#5 Black Division vs. #6 Black Division
Predators (9-11) vs. Phillies (9-12)
The B side championship is upon us, featuring two teams that had a very real shot at making the A side right up until their final game. Since those losses to end the regular season, however, both the Predators and Phillies have looked sharp.
The Predators entered the playoffs as the overall number one seed on the B side, earning a bye to the semi-finals. There, they eked out a 1-0 win over the Bulldogs in a pitcher's duel between Mark Kelly and Mike Dietrich. Alongside Kelly, they will look to Dan Mullin and Ryan Horsley to keep the Phillies hitters guessing and, if history is any guide, they have every reason to be brimming with confidence. Since the Phillies entered the league in 2011, the Predators have amassed a 4-0 record in head-to-head battles, beating the newcomers by a combined score of 34-6. The stage itself is also familiar territory; 2012 marks the Predators' third B side finals appearance in seven years in the league, with their only B side crown coming in 2008.
The Phillies, meanwhile, make their second B finals appearance in as many years in the KFL and they're eager to improve upon last year's loss to the Kings. After a 7-3 win over the Red Sox in the B quarterfinal, they doubled up on the Thunder 4-2 last week to ensure the Black Division would be well represented in the B finals. They boast a deep pitching staff that includes the likes of Dan Blair, Kevin Dowling, Erik Rasmussen, and Scott Macdonald and a talented defense anchored by middle infielders Brandon Viol and J.J. Gallo. If they can get to the Predators pitchers, the Phillies should have a very real chance at pulling off the upset.
Season series: Predators swept the two-game series, winning 8-3 and 4-2
Game 1: Tuesday, August 28 @ 9 p.m.
Game 2: Thursday, August 30 @ 7 p.m. (Rogers TV Game of the Week, to be aired at 9 p.m.)
Game 3: Tuesday, September 4 @ 9 p.m. (if necessary)
- Mike Brown
The B side playoffs will continue to roll right along this evening with one-game semi-final match-ups between the Bulldogs and Predators (7 p.m.) and Phillies and Thunder (9 p.m.). The winners will meet in a best-of-three B final scheduled to begin next Tuesday.
#5 Black Division vs. #6 Red Division
Predators (8-11) vs. Bulldogs (7-13)
The Bulldogs rode one strong inning to eliminate the Barons with a 4-2 win and earn a semi-final fate with familiar foes in the Predators. In their last playoff meeting in 2010, the Bulldogs beat the Predators in the B semi-final. In their only other postseason meeting, in 2008, the Predators beat the Bulldogs to win the B championship. The Predators' A side appearance last year prevented another postseason match-up and they narrowly missed staying on the A side again this year, losing the final berth on a tight head-to-head tiebreaker with the Selects.
With a 4-0 combined record this season against the three teams that stand between them and the second B title in team history, the Predators have to be considered the favourites. Dan Gehl and Chris Lang have provided some pop in the top half of the lineup, while newcomer Mark Kelly has excelled on both sides of the ball. Along with Dan Mullin and Ryan Horsley, Kelly gives the Preds a three-pronged pitching attack that should make things difficult for the Bulldogs.
Season series: Predators won 8-4
#5 Red Division vs. #6 Black Division
Thunder (8-11) vs. Phillies (8-12)
With a 7-3 win over the Red Sox on Tuesday, the Phillies set up a semi-final bout between two second-year KFL squads looking to improve upon their inaugural campaigns. For the Phillies, nothing short of a B title will accomplish that goal after last year's squad fell to the Kings in the finals. The Thunder, on the other hand, kind of already have; by earning a bye to the semi-final, they've advanced further than in 2011, though they're still in search of their first postseason victory.
Trevor Cadwell and Scott Kersey are two key pillars of the Thunder offense, both having shown a proficiency for leaving the yard this year. Meanwhile, they'll look to Kevin Clement, Lucas Crosby, and Dan Wakeford to keep the Phillies' sticks at bay. On paper, this is a pretty even match-up that could come down to who simply wants it more.
Season series: Thunder won 3-0
Editor's Note: Don't forget that game two of tonight's A side match-up between Bell Cartage and the Classics airs on Rogers TV at 9 p.m. The two-time defending champion Classics need a win in order to stave off elimination.
- Mike Brown
The second half of the A side playoffs gets underway tonight, with the opening games between the Kings and Moonshiners (7 p.m.) and Diamond Jaxx and Smoke (9 p.m.).
#2 Red Division vs. #3 Black Division
Kings (11-4-4) vs. Moonshiners (12-7)
The Moonshiners were the KFL's most improved team in 2012, going from 6-13-3 and a playoff exit in the B semi-finals last year to 12-7 and an A side appearance this year. Their reward? A date with the Kings, the same team that has eliminated them from the playoffs in each of the previous two seasons. In 2010, the Kings trounced the 'Shiners 11-1 in the B semi en route to the B title. Last year, it was 3-1 - again in the B semi and again en route to a B title. In fact, the Kings enter this year's postseason carrying a 10-game playoff unbeaten streak that dates back to their A championship season of 2009. And the 2012 Kings squad hasn't lost since June 28.
The good news for the Moonshiners squad staring down that ominous history? First, that June 28 loss was a 3-0 defeat courtesy of these same 'Shiners. Second, this year's 'Shiners are not the same as the teams that have fallen in the past. In junk-baller Derek Mitchell, they have found a nice complement to hurler Jordan Emick, who doubles as the biggest home run threat in a very balanced offensive attack - at 5.16 runs/game, the fifth best in the league. Still, they have to be viewed as underdogs against this playoff-tested Kings squad, anchored by the potent 1-2 pitching punch of Fred Follings and Nick Laurette. Shortstop Aaron Correia is coming off a fantastic season and Matt McLaren looms large in the heart of the batting order. And if all that wasn't daunting enough, the Kings are no stranger to the type of nailbiters that often characterize postseason play, with 9 of their 19 games this year being decided by one run or less.
Season series: Moonshiners won 3-0
Game 1: Wednesday, August 22 @ 7 p.m.
Game 2: Monday, August 27 @ 9 p.m.
Game 3: Wednesday, August 29 @ 7 p.m. (if necessary)
#1 Black Division vs. #4 Red Division
Diamond Jaxx (17-2) vs. Smoke (10-8-1)
The Diamond Jaxx enjoyed their best season to date in 2012, leading the league in both offense (8.32 runs/game) and defense (2.05 runs allowed/game) en route to the overall #1 seed. They were 17-0 against teams not named the Classics. They have a pair of hard-throwing right-handers in Kevin Clugston and Doug Hoffman, as well as a balanced offense with plenty of pop. They have youth, speed, and strong sticks at the top of the order with Will Peirce and Austin Brown, while also boasting nine different players that went yard this year. And they have plenty of playoff experience, making their fifth playoff appearance in as many years in the league. To date, 2009 remains the only year they've escaped the first round. Their quarterfinal opponent that year? The Smoke. The Jaxx are hoping history repeats itself in 2012.
The Smoke are similarly accustomed to playoff ball, making their sixth straight playoff appearance, and they should know what to expect. Outside of the 2009 loss to the Jaxx, the Smoke have been eliminated in four of the last five years by the Selects, Hoffman's old squad. They'll throw a trio of veteran hurlers at the Jaxx's potent lineup with Kevin Pomfret, David Robinson, and Larry Cox. To be successful, they'll look to veteran shortstop Paul Clemens to spark their offense for middle-of-the-order guys like Travis Murdock, Mike Harnock, and Adam Vanwyck. To knock off the league's top seed, they'll likely need to produce runs at or above their season average of 4.79/game.
Season series: Diamond Jaxx won 10-2
Game 1: Wednesday, August 22 @ 9 p.m.
Game 2: Monday, August 27 @ 7 p.m.
Game 3: Wednesday, August 29 @ 9 p.m. (if necessary)
- Mike Brown
The A side playoffs also begin tonight with the opening games between the Classics and Bell Cartage (7 p.m.) and the Jays and Selects (9 p.m.).
#2 Black Division vs. #3 Red Division
Classics (12-7) vs. Bell Cartage (11-7-1)
This is the first round series to watch and Game 2 will be televised as the Rogers TV Game of the Week on Thursday at 9 p.m. The Classics and Bell Cartage enter the playoffs with nearly identical records and a host of intriguing storylines at play. Both teams are stacked to the gills with talent, with 19 playoff-eligible players on the Classics' roster and 20 on Bell's side, and their pitching depth make them the envy of many of their peers. The Classics' stable of arms includes proven veterans like Sean Geehan, Don Stebbings, Bob Underwood, Peter Spitzig, and Martin Mauviel, while Bell mixes veterans and youth with a staff that includes Danny Martin, Mel Ross, Kevin Buckley, Jeff Wise, and Brandon Roach. To complement their prolific pitching, Bell boasts the co-winners of the 2012 home run title, as Corey Tinline and Tim Dubois each went deep four times despite seeing considerably fewer at bats than many of their fellow long-ballers. The Classics counter with the potent sticks of John Sexton and Jodie Schnarr.
To add to the drama, this series is a rematch of a very tightly-contested 2011 semi-final, eventually won by the Classics en route to their second consecutive KFL crown. Last year, however, Ross was throwing fire for the Classics; this year, he'll be on the Bell side. Though they've long been a playoff staple, Bell has yet to win it all, making their only Finals appearance in 2008, when they lost to the Classics. The Classics, meanwhile, have been perennial powerhouses, making the Finals in six of the last seven years and winning it all in three of the last four. Having won eight of their last nine to close out the season, they've once again peaked at the right time. If they are to fall, it will take an impressive performance from Bell to topple them.
Season series: Bell Cartage won 7-3
Game 1: Tuesday, August 21 @ 7 p.m.
Game 2: Thursday, August 23 @ 7 p.m.
Game 3: Tuesday, August 28 @ 7 p.m. (if necessary)
#1 Red Division vs. #4 Black Division
Jays (15-3-1) vs. Selects (8-11)
The Jays couldn't have asked for a much better first season in the KFL. They led the Red Division for most of the year, locking up its top spot with a seven-game winning streak to end the season. With a balanced offense led by Justin Krulicki, Chris Dietrich, and Tim Bartram, they've put up runs in bunches, boasting the league's second best offense at 6.84 runs/game. On the other side of the ball, the hard-throwing Marc Geddes has found a wonderful complement in young Shayne Riepert, who blossomed into one of the league's top pitchers, posting a 9-0 record and a miniscule 1.09 ERA in 2012.
Their opponent, the Selects, have not enjoyed such a smooth season and are in danger of seeing their league-best streak of six straight semi-final appearances snapped. They have plenty to prove, as the only playoff team with a sub-.500 record, but the Jays won't make it easy on them. Scott Clark has been a workhorse in his first season as the team's primary pitcher, notching a career-high 15 starts and 81 innings pitched. Offensively, Kevin Ryrie has paced the offense with a 0.542 average and team-leading 12 runs scored. In order to pull off the upset, the Selects will need a big series from both of them, as well as help from guys like Mike Brown and Jamie Ridley.
Season series: Jays won 7-0
Game 1: Tuesday, August 21 @ 9 p.m.
Game 2: Thursday, August 23 @ 9 p.m.
Game 3: Tuesday, August 28 @ 9 p.m. (if necessary)
- Mike Brown
The B side playoffs kick off tonight with one-game quarterfinal match-ups between the Red Sox and Phillies (7 p.m.) and the Barons and Bulldogs (9 p.m.). The winners will advance to the B semi-finals, where the Predators and Thunder await.
#6 Black Division vs. #7 Red Division
Phillies (7-12) vs. Red Sox (1-18)
In their second season in the KFL, the Phillies were in the hunt for an A side playoff berth right down to the wire. They notched impressive wins over perennial playoff squads like the Classics and Smoke, but showed signs of inconsistency as well. With pitching depth and capable on-field leaders like Brandon Viol and Tyler Fischer, there's no reason they can't repeat last year's run to the B finals or even take the B side crown, but one bad game could also send them packing prematurely.
The Red Sox, meanwhile, endured a difficult 2012 campaign. They had some fine individual performances from Andy Buck, Justin Gambacourt, and Sean Tracy, but could only put it all together to translate to one win. In a one-game series, though, they need only to find the formula for seven innings to pull off the upset.
Season series: Phillies won 17-3
#6 Red Division vs. #7 Black Division
Bulldogs (6-13) vs. Barons (3-15-1)
After starting the season 0-6, the Bulldogs basically played 0.500 ball the rest of the way. A veteran squad that's made the B finals in two of the last four years, the Bulldogs have to be considered the favourites in this one. Chris Davis and Leighvi Batte lead a very capable offense; the trick for them, as always, will be in keeping their opponents off the scoreboard.
The Barons, meanwhile, sealed their regular season fate with a 13-game losing streak in the middle of the year. On either end of it, though, they put together a couple impressive performances, including a 4-2 win over Bell Cartage and a 2-2 tie with the Kings. In their third year in the league, the Barons are still in search of the team's first postseason victory and it will be battery mates Andrew Parkinson and Brad Gartz that hold the keys to their fate.
Season series: Bulldogs won 8-0
- Mike Brown
The KFL's 2012 regular season came to an exciting close last night, with playoff destinies hanging in the balance right up until the final game.
In the Black Division, the two-time defending champion Classics have found their stride at precisely the right time, winning eight of their final nine games, including a 5-3 win over the division-leading Diamond Jaxx last night to clinch the division's second spot. The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for the Jaxx, who nonetheless enter the playoffs with the overall #1 seed after a 17-2 season that saw them outscore their opponents by 119 runs - an average of more than six runs per game! The Moonshiners went 3-2 over the season's homestretch, dropping to third in the division by virtue of losing the tiebreaker with the surging Classics. The final spot in the Black Division was not decided until the season's final game. After falling to the Kings 5-4 and Jays 7-0, the Selects blanked the Phillies 4-0 and were forced to wait and see what their fate would be. After the Phillies lost two of their final three, it was down to the Selects and Predators for the final spot; Bell Cartage then downed the Predators 9-1 last night, dropping them to the B side and handing the Selects the last playoff berth.
That Bell Cartage win also had repercussions for the Red Division's final standings. With it, Bell moved ahead of the Smoke to lock up third place in the division, after the Smoke had beat them 3-2 to sweep the season series. The Kings finished the season on a five-game undefeated streak, beating the Selects and battling the Barons to a 2-2 tie, giving them second place in the Red Division. The Jays, meanwhile, made their first season in the league a statement one. After dropping the Selects, they rode dominant pitching from Shayne Riepert and Marc Geddes in the final Rogers TV Game of the Week to beat the Moonshiners 2-0, ending the season on a seven-game winning streak to lock up the division's top spot.
Teams must now shift immediately into playoff mode, with the first postseason games going tonight.
- Mike Brown
The 2012 ISC Men's World Fastball Tournament in Midland, Michigan wrapped up this weekend with six members of the KFL picking up some hardware, as the Cobourg Force won the title in the Legends Division. Pictured above, the team included Paul Clemens from the Smoke; Sam Forbes, Dana Seiling, Peter Spitzig, and Don Stebbings from the Classics; and Al Taylor from the Jays. After losing their opener 7-4 to the Bay Area Merchants of Haywood, California, the Force rhymed off six consecutive victories to claim the title. They exacted revenge for the opening loss by beating the same Bay Area squad 2-1 in Saturday's final.
In the main division, the Elmira Expos finished in a tie for 9th, the highest finish for a team with KFL connections. When they're not representing Elmira, Dan Martin, Derek Martin, and Tim Freeman all play for the KFL's Bell Cartage squad.
Congrats to all of the above players, as well as the many others who represented the KFL proudly at this year's Worlds.
- Mike Brown (photo courtesy of Sam Forbes)
The Rogers TV Game of the Week returns this week with two of the league's top teams closing out their regular season. With a win, the Moonshiners (12-6) can clinch second place in the Black Division and home field advantage for the first round of the playoffs, putting the finishing touches on the best season in team history. In their fourth year in the league, they've already doubled their previous highest win total and 2012 will mark their first foray into the A side playoffs. Getting that win won't be easy, however, as they square off with the top team in the Red Division, the Jays (14-3-1), who look to close their inaugural season on a seven-game win streak. Though they've already clinched first place in the division, the Jays will be looking to impress in their first appearance on Rogers TV. This is the first ever meeting between the two teams. Catch the action on Rogers TV (Cable 20) at its new time, 7:00 p.m. on Friday.
Editor's Note: Look for a final season recap and playoff preview early next week.
- Mike Brown
The playoff schedule for the first round of the A side and the complete B side is now official. The match-ups have yet to be determined, but will be updated when they are set.
Here is the schedule, by series.
SERIES A4
Red #2 KINGS v Black #3 MOONSHINERS
Game 1 - Wednesday Aug 22, 7pm
Game 2 - Monday Aug 27, 9pm
Game 3 (if) - Monday Aug 29, 7pm
SERIES A3
Red #1 JAYS v Black #4 SELECTS
Game 1 - Tuesday Aug 21, 9pm
Game 2 - Thursday Aug 23, 9pm
Game 3 (if) - Tuesday Aug 28, 9pm
SERIES A1
Black #1 JAXX v Red #4 SMOKE
Game 1 - Wednesday Aug 22 - 9pm
Game 2 - Monday Aug 27 - 7pm
Game 3 (if) - Wednesday Aug 29, 9pm
SERIES A2
Black #2 CLASSICS v Red #3 BELL CARTAGE
Game 1 - Tuesday Aug 21, 7pm
Game 2 - Thursday Aug 23, 7pm (Rogers TV)
Game 3 (if) - Tuesday Aug 28, 7pm
B side
First round
Tuesday Aug 21, 7pm Budd 2 - Black #6 PHILLIES v Red #7 RED SOX
Tuesday Aug 21, 9pm Budd 2 - Red #6 BULLDOGS v Black #7 BARONS
Second round
Thursday Aug 23 9pm, Red #5 THUNDER v (team advancing with highest league points)
Thursday Aug 23, 7pm, Black #5 PREDATORS v (team advancing with lowest league points)
B-Side Finals
Game 1 - Tuesday Aug 28, 8pm, Budd 2 - TBD vs TBD
Game 2 - Thursday Aug 30, 8pm, Budd 2 - TBD vs TBD
Game 3 (if) - Tuesday Sept 4, 8pm, Budd 2 - TBD vs TBD
- Bryan Reeve
As the season enters its final couple weeks, the playoff picture is starting to sort itself out. In the Red Division, the Jays (13-3-1) have clinched the top spot, posting a 10-0 win over the Barons and an 8-4 victory over the Bulldogs to extend their winning streak to a league-best five games. In the battle for second spot, the Kings (10-4-3) took the inside track with an exciting 2-1 win over Bell Cartage (10-5-1) on Rogers TV, as Nick Laurette threw a gem and doubled home Matt McLaren with the game-winning run. Bell then bounced back with a convincing 10-1 win over the Moonshiners to keep the pressure on. Meanwhile, the Smoke (8-7-1) have endured a two-week layoff and need just one win in their final three games (or a Thunder loss) to clinch the final spot in the division.
The Black Division remains a little more wide open. The Diamond Jaxx (13-1) posted 15-0 and 6-0 wins over the Red Sox and Selects, making them the only team in the division who has clinched a playoff berth. The Moonshiners (9-5), who beat the Selects 8-4 and the Barons 7-3, sit in second spot, but need to beat the Jaxx this Wednesday to prevent them from locking up the top spot. The Classics (8-6) rhymed off victories over the Phillies, Thunder, and Barons (by scores of 7-5, 13-0, and 13-6, respectively) to extend their win streak to four games and give them sole possession of third place, while the Predators (8-8) currently hold the final playoff spot after winning three straight of their own over the Selects, Bulldogs, and Phillies (6-1, 8-4, and 4-2, respectively). The Selects (7-9) and Phillies (5-7) are currently on the outside looking in and need to finish strong in order to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Week 12 could clear up the playoff picture even more, thanks to a host of head-to-head tilts in the Black Division. The Phillies look to stay in the hunt with three games this week: tonight against the Barons, Tuesday versus the Diamond Jaxx, and Thursday against the Classics, all at 7 p.m. The Classics also look to move up in the standings with games tonight at 9 against the Predators and tomorrow at 7 against the Smoke, in addition to the aforementioned clash with the Phillies. The Predators and Moonshiners meet tomorrow at 9 in a game with major postseason implications, while the Selects are in tough this week against the Kings Tuesday at 9 and the Jays Thursday at 7. All in all, it should be another great week of KFL action.
- Mike Brown
Week nine was a week of firsts. After downing the Predators 4-1, the Diamond Jaxx finally lost their first game, 1-0 to the Classics. At the other end of the spectrum, the Red Sox found the win column for the first time this year, doubling up on the Barons 6-3. Though those games had little impact on the playoff picture, some of the week's other action did. In the Red Division, the top three squads all put together big weeks. The first-place Jays dropped the Thunder 10-6 in their only game of the week, while the Kings and Bell Cartage each posted two victories to remain hot on their heels. The Kings followed a 6-1 win over the Classics with an 8-5 defeat of the Smoke, while Bell's offense absolutely sizzled, knocking off the Thunder and Bulldogs, 14-0 and 12-2 respectively. The Smoke sit comfortably in fourth after a 9-5 win over the Selects with two playoff spots still up for grabs in the division, the Jays and Kings having already clinched.
In the Black Division, five teams are separated by four points or less, but the Moonshiners took over sole possession of second place with a 6-4 win over the Phillies in the Rogers TV Game of the Week. The Phillies bounced right back with an 8-5 win over the Bulldogs in the second game of a double-header, after the Bulldogs crushed the Selects 12-1.
Week 10 could go a long way to sorting things out in the tightly-contested Black Division, thanks to a number of head-to-head divisional games. The slumping Selects (6-6) look to break a three-game losing skid against a pair of divisional rivals, tonight at 9 against the Predators (5-8) and tomorrow at 7 against the Moonshiners (7-4), who also meet the Barons (2-9) Thursday at 9. The Phillies (5-5) have a tough week ahead of them with a pair of 9:00 games, Tuesday against Bell Cartage (9-4-1) and Wednesday against the Classics (5-6), who also meet the Thunder (6-9) on Thursday at 9 as they try to move up the standings. In the Red Division, the Red Sox (1-14) look to build on their first win with 7:00 games against the Thunder tonight and the Diamond Jaxx (11-1) on Thursday, while the Jays (11-3-1) seek to increase their hold on first place with 7:00 games on Tuesday against the Barons and Wednesday versus the Bulldogs (5-10).
Rogers TV Game of the Week
This week's Rogers TV Game of the Week features the Kings (9-4-3) and Bell Cartage (9-4-1), two strong Red Division squads who enter the week with nearly identical records. Both teams are seeking the upper hand in the season series after battling to a 1-1 draw back in June. Bell, making their first TV appearance of the year, come in red hot, having won their last four games by a combined score of 31-3. The Kings, meanwhile, are coming off a big two-win week and looking to atone for a lopsided 10-0 loss in their first televised Rogers game. Both squads can be subject to variance in their roster from game to game, so this one could be decided by who can get more of their stars to the ballpark. Either way, with playoff positioning very much at stake, this should be a good one. Catch it on Rogers TV (Cable 20) at 9:00 p.m.
- Mike Brown
It's looking like the year of the Jaxx. In week eight, the Diamond Jaxx continued their perfect season with statement victories over a pair of division rivals to move to 10-0, beating the Phillies 8-1 and the Selects 15-4. In a league where every other team has lost at least three games, they boast both the league's top offense (8.7 runs/game) and defense (2.4 runs against/game) and look poised to run away with the #1 seed barring a second half collapse. Though the Red Division race is much closer, the division-leading Jays added to their lead with a 5-2 win over the Classics, who also split a home-and-home with the Moonshiners, losing 7-5 on Wednesday and answering with a 7-3 win on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Thunder closed the gap on the final playoff spot in the Red Division, beating the Bulldogs 9-6 before losing to the Predators 7-6, while the Smoke fell to the Bulldogs 7-6.
As we enter week nine of the KFL season, a number of story lines have emerged. First and foremost, the Diamond Jaxx (10-0) chase the first undefeated season in the KFL since the Outlaws went 21-0-1 in 2006. They do battle with two Black Division foes, meeting the Predators (5-7) tonight at 7 and the Classics (4-5) Wednesday at 9. It looks to be a big week for the Classics, who have already matched their loss total from all of last season, and also do battle with the Kings (7-4-3) Tuesday at 7. The boys from Shakespeare, who are looking to halt a three-game winless streak, also meet the Smoke (7-6-1) Wednesday at 7. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs (4-8) have won four of their last six after a slow start and have a big week ahead, with a 9 p.m. game against Bell Cartage (7-4-1) on Tuesday and a double-header against the Selects (6-4) and Phillies (4-4) on Thursday. Rounding out the week, the Red Sox (0-14) search for that elusive first win Thursday night in a 9:00 tilt with the struggling Barons (2-8).
Rogers TV Game of the Week
The Rogers TV Game of the Week returns with a Highway 6 rivalry featuring a pair of streaking teams from the very tight Black Division. The Moonshiners (6-4) have won five of their last seven and sit in a tie for the division's second spot, while the Phillies (4-4) have rhymed off victories in four of their last five and currently hold a tenuous grasp on the division's fourth and final playoff spot. In the teams' only previous meeting (a regular season contest last year), the Moonshiners emerged with an 8-7 win. Both squads are in the midst of their best seasons to date, boasting youth, solid pitching, and a balanced offensive attack, so look for a similarly close one here. Catch all the action on Rogers TV (Cable 20) at 9:00 p.m.
- Mike Brown
Three teams posted two-win weeks in week seven, improving their playoff positioning in the process. In the Black Division, the Moonshiners have now won four of their last five and sit in a tie for second place with the Selects at 5-3 after beating the Barons and Kings, 11-2 and 3-0 respectively. Despite the loss, the Barons pulled off a dazzling triple play on a liner to third. In other action, the Phillies extended their win streak to three games with a decisive 17-3 win over the Red Sox and a 3-2 nailbiter over the Selects. With the wins, the Phillies improve to 3-3 and move into a tie for the final playoff spot in the division with the Classics, who lost their only game of the week, 11-1 to the Selects. Everyone, however, continues to chase the Diamond Jaxx, who notched a 10-2 win over the Smoke to improve to 8-0 on the year.
In the Red Division, Bell Cartage used a two-win week to move up the standings, downing the division-leading Jays 4-1 and beating the Red Sox 1-0 on the strength of a Dan Martin shutout and solo home run. The Jays downed the Predators 5-3 to retain the division's top spot, while the fourth-place Smoke gave themselves a little breathing room, beating the fifth-place Thunder 4-2. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, have rebounded from a slow start, beating the Kings 3-1 to give them victories in two straight games and three of their last four.
As we enter the season's third month, a holiday-shortened week eight boasts a number of intriguing match-ups. The back-to-back defending champion Classics (3-3) will be busy, as they meet a very good Jays club (9-3-1) tonight at 7 before a home-and-home series against the red hot Moonshiners (5-3) on Wednesday and Thursday, both at 7. The Phillies (3-3) look to stay hot with a pair of late games, tonight against the undefeated Diamond Jaxx (8-0) and Thursday against the slumping Barons (2-7). To stay undefeated, the Diamond Jaxx will also have to win Thursday at 9 against the Selects (5-3), who play tonight at 9 against the Red Sox (0-13) as well. The Bulldogs (3-7) and Thunder (5-6) round out the squads with two-game weeks; they meet head-to-head on Wednesday at 9, while the Bulldogs battle the Smoke (7-5-1) tonight at 7 and the Thunder and Predators (4-7) square off Thursday at 7. There is no Rogers TV Game of the Week this week, but the KFL returns to local cable next Thursday.
- Mike Brown
Week six was a good week for division leaders. In the Black Division, the Diamond Jaxx kept their perfect season alive with a 7-4 win over Bell Cartage, while the Red Division leaders, the Jays and Kings, put some distance between themselves and their competitors. The Kings edged the Thunder 7-6 on Monday night and the Jays doubled up on the Red Sox 8-4 on Wednesday. On Tuesday, they battled each other to a 4-4 draw. The Smoke did their best to keep pace, handing both Bell and the Red Sox two-loss weeks, beating Bell 3-2 and the Red Sox 1-0. In the only other games in a rain-shortened week, the Bulldogs blanked the Barons 8-0 and the Selects handed those same Barons a 12-1 loss.
Week seven plays host to a number of meaningful match-ups as teams jockey for position leading up to the Canada Day weekend and perhaps none are more important than tonight's 7:00 meeting of the Jays (8-2-1) and Bell Cartage (5-4-1). The Jays look for the season sweep after beating Bell 9-3 in May, while the Cartage crew looks to snap a two-game losing skid and hold on to fourth place in the Red Division. Should the Jays slip up, the Kings (7-2-3) hope to pounce by extending their undefeated streak to six games with match-ups against the Bulldogs (2-7) tonight at 9 and Moonshiners (3-3) Thursday at 9. Meanwhile, the Smoke (6-4-1) are staring down another big week, battling a Thunder (5-5) squad that is hot on their heels and has already beat them once this year and the league's only undefeated team in the Diamond Jaxx (7-0).
In the Black Division, second place is on the line as the Selects (4-2) and Classics (3-2) meet Thursday at 9, with the Classics looking to avenge a 1-0 loss in the teams' first meeting and the Selects still seeking to atone for a number of head-to-head playoff losses in recent years. Other promising divisional tilts include the Moonshiners versus the Barons (2-5) and Barons against the Predators (3-6). The Phillies might just be happy to get back on the diamond having played just four games all year, as they go against the Red Sox (0-11) Tuesday at 7 and the Selects on Wednesday at 9. There is no Rogers TV Game of the Week this week.
- Mike Brown
In week five of the 2012 KFL season, the Red Division race became a little closer as the first-place Jays fell to 7-2 on the year, losing their only game of the week, 6-3 to the Smoke to split the season series. The Kings took advantage, moving to 6-2-2 with a 4-2 win over the Red Sox and a 1-1 tie against Bell Cartage, who also had a three-point week thanks to a 4-1 win over the Selects. Despite knocking off the division's top dogs, the Smoke sit one point out of the division's final playoff spot at 4-4-1, as the Thunder beat the Barons 5-1 in the Rogers TV Game of the Week to move to 5-4. Kevin Clement held the Barons to one run over six innings and helped his cause with a three-run homer to secure the victory.
In the Black Division, the Diamond Jaxx moved to 6-0 with a 9-4 win over the Moonshiners and the Classics jumped into a tie for second in the division at 3-2, blanking the Predators 7-0. The rest of the week's games were rained out.
Will week six bring the Diamond Jaxx their first loss? They meet a Bell Cartage squad that's undefeated in their last five on Tuesday and divisional rivals in the Selects on Thursday, both at 9. Other key Black Division match-ups include the Selects (3-2) and Barons (2-3) on Wednesday at 9 and the Classics (3-2) and Moonshiners (3-3) Thursday at 7. The game to watch in the Red Division pits the Jays (7-2) against the Kings (6-2-2) on Tuesday at 7, while other divisional bouts include the Kings and Thunder (5-4) tonight at 7 and Bell (5-2-1) against the Smoke (4-4-1) tonight at 9. There is no Rogers TV Game of the Week this week.
- Mike Brown
Beginning tomorrow, the weekly broadcast of Kitchener Fastball League action on Rogers TV (Cable 20) will air at 9 p.m., not 8 p.m. as has been the case for the first four weeks on the season. This programming change will remain in effect for future weeks until further notice.
The first four broadcasts have featured some great ball and we're excited to continue working with Rogers TV to bring competitive fastball to a wider audience, beginning with tomorrow's match-up between the Barons (2-2) and Thunder (4-4). The complete broadcast schedule for 2012's remaining televised games is as follows:
June 14 - Barons vs. Thunder
July 12 - Phillies vs. Moonshiners
July 19 - Bell Cartage vs. Kings
July 26 - Smoke vs. Bell Cartage
Aug 2 - Jays vs. Selects
Aug 9 - Diamond Jaxx vs. Classics
Aug. 16 - TBA
Aug. 23 - TBA
Aug. 30 - TBA
- Mike Brown
Rain reared its ugly head for the first time this year to wash out Wednesday's games, but week four in the 2012 KFL campaign still saw lots of good ball, with 10 games in the books. The Diamond Jaxx moved to 5-0, remaining the league's only undefeated team, beating the Kings 10-0 in the Rogers Game of the Week. Austin Brown hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first as the Jaxx scored early and often en route to the comfortable victory. Elsewhere in the Black Division, the Selects moved to 3-1 with a 10-3 win over the Predators and the Moonshiners won their second straight, blanking the Smoke 6-0 to move to 3-2. The Phillies also dropped the Smoke, 5-2, to notch their first win of the year.
Meanwhile, in the Red Division, the red-hot Jays extended their win streak to a league-best six games, beating the Thunder 12-4 and the Bulldogs 12-2. Their closest competitors, the Kings, edged the Predators 5-4 before falling to the Jaxx in the aforementioned TV game, giving them a 5-2-1 record on the year. The Bulldogs also picked up their first win of 2012, out-hitting the Red Sox in a 10-9 slugfest.
Week five will be a test for the Jays (7-1), as they battle the defending champion Classics (2-2) at 7:00 on Tuesday night and then meet the Smoke (3-4-1), who are looking to avenge a 6-5 loss in the season opener, at 7:00 on Wednesday. Two wins could put them firmly in the Red Division's driver's seat, while a couple losses would leave the door wide open. Hoping to stroll through it are the Kings (5-2-1) and Bell Cartage (4-2), who go head-to-head in the week's first game, tonight at 7. In other action this week, the Diamond Jaxx will have to beat a pair of familiar division rivals if they hope to stay perfect, as they'll see the Phillies (1-3) on Tuesday and the Moonshiners (3-2) on Thursday, both at 9. The Classics and Predators (3-5) will also jockey for position with a divisional tilt on Thursday at 9.
Rogers TV Game of the Week
After the last three weeks have seen a combined margin of victory of 22 runs, this week's TV match-up has the potential to be close to the finish. It features a pair of the league's younger teams, the Thunder (4-4) and Barons (2-2), both vying for their first-ever playoff berths. In their sophomore season, the Thunder have already matched their win total from all of last year and currently hold a tenuous one-point advantage over the Smoke for the division's fourth playoff spot. The Barons, meanwhile, turned some heads with impressive wins over Bell Cartage and the Predators to open the year, before falling to the Diamond Jaxx and Classics in recent weeks. Whatever the result, this should be a good one. Catch the action at its new time, 9:00 p.m., on Rogers TV (Cable 20).
- Mike Brown
And then there was one. The Diamond Jaxx beat the Bulldogs 10-0 and handed the Barons their first loss, 6-1, leaving them as the KFL's only undefeated team at 4-0. The Moonshiners downed the Selects 5-2, while the Jays ended the Kings' brief flirtation with an undefeated season with a 4-3 win. Thanks to that victory and a 10-0 win over the Phillies on Thursday night, the Jays have used a four-game win streak to take sole possession of first place in the hotly-contested Red Division at 5-1, just four points ahead of the fifth-place Thunder, who beat the Smoke 4-2 and the Moonshiners 6-2 to move to 3-3.
In other games of interest last week, Bell Cartage extended their win streak to three with comfortable wins over the Red Sox, 11-1, and Bulldogs, 7-0. The Predators also had a good week, with a pair of 8-3 wins over the Phillies and Red Sox, the latter of which was week three's Rogers Game of the Week. The game remained tight through four innings before the Preds broke a 3-3 deadlock with three runs in the sixth and a two-run homer from Chris Lang in the sixth to put the game out of reach.
Looking ahead to this week's action, the Red Sox and Bulldogs search for their elusive first win when they go head-to-head tonight at 9, while the Phillies hope to find their way into the win column with midweek match-ups against the Smoke (Tuesday at 9) and Barons (Wednesday at 9). Meanwhile, the defending champion Classics look to knock off a couple divisional foes Wednesday at 7 against the Moonshiners and Thursday at 9 against the Barons.
Rogers TV Game of the Week
Rogers viewers are in for a good one this week, as the top team in the Black Division, the Diamond Jaxx (4-0), put their undefeated season on the line against the Red Division's second-place team, the Kings (4-1-1). In the month of May, the Kings boasted the league's best offense (8.17 runs/game) and sixth-ranked defense (3.67 runs/game), while the Jaxx combined the KFL's third most potent offense (7 runs/game) with the second stingiest defense (2.25 runs/game). To make things even more interesting, these two squads have ample history to draw on, dating back to the 2009 final, which saw the Kings erase a two-game Diamond Jaxx lead to win the best-of-five championship series, 3-2. The Jaxx, however, took last year's season series; after a 1-1 tie, the Jaxx won a 13-8 slugfest in their second encounter. Tune in to Rogers TV (Cable 20) on Thursday at 8:00 p.m. This is a game not to be missed.
- Mike Brown
In a holiday-shortened week two, the Kings continued to roll, dropping the Thunder 6-1 on Tuesday and the Bulldogs 13-6 on Wednesday to jump to a 4-0 start. The Red Division leaders have little room to breathe, however, as both the Jays (3-1) and Smoke (3-1) had two-win weeks of their own. The Jays topped Bell Cartage 9-3 and beat the Red Sox 8-3, while the Smoke downed the Predators 8-5 and beat the Bulldogs 9-2 in the Rogers TV Game of the Week. The Smoke escaped a potentially disastrous first inning with an unconventional double play from catcher Dwight Zinger and proceeded to put up nine unanswered runs, including home runs from Mike Harnock and an absolute no-doubter from Todd Melchin to deliver the knockout punch.
Over in the Black Division, the Selects hammered the Thunder 10-0 and the Barons dropped the Predators 5-2 to pull even with the Diamond Jaxx in a three-way division lead at 2-0. Meanwhile, the Moonshiners got their first win, 6-4 over the Red Sox, and the Classics dropped their second straight, 7-3 to Bell Cartage in a rematch of last year's semi-final.
Week three has major implications for Red Division leaders, as the undefeated Kings (4-0) have big games against the two teams that are hot on their tails, Tuesday at 7 against the Smoke (3-1) and Wednesday at 9 against the Jays (3-1). In the Black Division, at least one of the three undefeated teams will fall, as the Diamond Jaxx (2-0) and Barons (2-0) do battle Thursday at 9. The Selects (2-0) will try to maintain their unblemished record in a key divisional tilt with the Moonshiners (1-1) on Thursday at 7, while the Phillies (0-1) seek their first win with match-ups against the Predators (1-3) on Tuesday and the Jays (3-1) on Thursday, both at 9:00.
Rogers TV Game of the Week
This week's televised match-up features a couple squads looking to get on track. At 1-3, the Predators need to figure out their formula for success soon if they hope to clinch their second consecutive playoff berth. Meanwhile, the Red Sox enter the week in search of their first win of 2012. To get it, if they're unable to do so in tonight's tough match-up with Bell Cartage, they'll have to do something they couldn't in 2011: beat the Predators. Last year, the Predators won an early-season meeting 9-7 before blowing the Red Sox out 14-0 late in the year. The game can be seen on Rogers TV (Cable 20) on Thursday at 8:00 p.m.
- Mike Brown
The positive press continued to roll in over the weekend, as The Waterloo Region Record published a piece entitled "Fastball alive and well in Kitchener" in their Saturday edition. In her article, Christine Rivet calls the KFL a "robust" league and quotes Sam Forbes, Classics' third baseman and one of the league's elder statesmen, and Bryan Reeve, Diamond Jaxx centre fielder and KFL President. Among the choice quotes, Forbes says, "Any idiots in this game don’t hang around very long. They get weeded out pretty quick." Check out TheRecord.com for the full article.
In addition, the KFL's resident photographer, Jerri Gallo, has posted her first set of pics to the league's Facebook group. If you haven't already, join the group to keep up-to-date on league information and see more of Gallo's tremendous photography throughout the 2012 season.
- Mike Brown
The 2012 KFL season kicked off with four days of gorgeous weather and, after one week, just four teams remain undefeated. The Kings got the jump on their Red Division rivals with a pair of impressive victories, 18-4 over the Red Sox and 4-2 over the Phillies, as Nick Laurette earned MVP honours in both games. Meanwhile, the Diamond Jaxx grabbed the top spot in the Black Division, earning a 5-2 win over the Predators in their opener before edging the Jays, 7-6. The Barons and Selects both started 1-0, with the Barons handing Bell Cartage a surprising 4-2 loss and the Selects topping the Classics 1-0 in the Rogers TV Game of the Week behind a complete game two-hit shutout from Scott Clark.
In week two, the Thunder (1-1), led by early season home run leader Scott Kersey, look to cut the league's number of undefeated teams in half, as they do battle with the Kings tonight at 9 and the Selects on Thursday at 7. The Barons look for their first-ever 2-0 start when they meet the Predators (1-1) on Thursday at 9, while the Diamond Jaxx have the week off, ensuring at least one team will enter week three with an unblemished record. Bell Cartage (1-1) also has a big week ahead of them, with match-ups against the Jays (1-1) tonight at 7 and the Classics (1-1) squad that eliminated them from the playoffs last year in a hard-fought semi-final series, with that one going Thursday at 9.
Rogers TV Game of the Week
After a pitching duel in the inaugural Rogers KFL broadcast, two of the league's longest-running teams, the Smoke and Bulldogs, will look to bring a little more offensive firepower to this week's TV game. The Bulldogs did not get the start they were hoping for last week, losing 6-2 to the Thunder and 11-4 to the Classics. They're hoping the TV cameras will provide added inspiration as they look to enter the win column. The Smoke, on the other hand, emerged from week one with a 1-1 record, losing a tight one to the Jays, 6-5, and notching their first win, 5-3 over the Red Sox. Though it's early in the season, the stakes are high in this divisional tilt, as both teams jockey for position in the Red Division ranks. They split the season series in 2011, with the Bulldogs winning 7-5 and the Smoke avenging that loss with a 12-4 win later in the year. The game, as always, can be seen on Rogers TV (Cable 20) on Thursday at 8:00 p.m.
Note: For those that weren't able to take in the action in Woodstock this weekend, a number of KFL players got in some early season swings. The Shakespeare Falcons, with members of both the Kings and Classics on their roster, won the B side with a 3-2 extra inning win over the Chepstow Black Forties. The Kitchener Selects, with help from Mel Ross and Kevin Buckley of Bell Cartage, went 2-1 before losing to the Ohsweken Redmen in the A quarterfinal, and the Kitchener Predators had a tough weekend, falling to the Shedden Mission in the C semi-final. For full results, click here.
- Mike Brown
The 2012 KFL season is only two days old, but it's already garnered some local press attention.
Mike Arsenault spoke with KFL President Bryan Reeve for his preview of the league, entitled "Kitchener Fastball League in full swing", in this week's K-W Review. Pick up a copy and flip to page 13 or check it out online.
Sean Tracy of the Red Sox contributed a piece to SportsXpress, espousing the game's virtues for fans and players alike. You can view that one on page 20 of their May/June issue, available online.
Lastly, Rogers TV issued their own announcement about their efforts to televise KFL games every Thursday through the end of August. Head over to their website to check that out. DVD copies of the games will also be available.
As always, check back regularly for more news and notes on the 2012 KFL season.
- Mike Brown
The Kitchener Fastball League's 2012 season kicks off tonight with a pair of Red Division tilts on the recently renovated front diamond at Budd Park.
At 7:00, the Thunder and Bulldogs square off, with both teams coming off tough 2011 campaigns and looking to start the season off right. At 9:00, KFL fans can get their first look at the new Tri-City Jays as they take on the Smoke, who are hoping to avoid the slow start that plagued them last year and necessitated a late-season push to lock up the last playoff position. With two great games on a beautiful night for ball, it should be a stellar start to the KFL's 2012 campaign.
Other match-ups to watch this week include a pair of divisional battles featuring the Predators, who look to replicate last season's undefeated month of May, as they take on the Diamond Jaxx on Tuesday and the Moonshiners on Thursday.
Rogers TV Game of the Week
On Thursday night at 7:00, the Selects and Classics renew acquaintances in a rematch of the KFL Final of the last two years. Though the anticipated starters for both teams will have changed from last season, both squads will do their best to entertain in the KFL's television debut. This series has been rather lopsided in the Classics favour in recent years, making them the prohibitive favourite, as the Selects seek to end a five-game losing streak in this head-to-head match-up that dates back to 2010. The game will air with a one-hour tape delay on Rogers TV (Cable 20) at 8:00 p.m.
- Mike Brown
On Wednesday, we took a look at the Black Division - scroll down if you missed it. Today, we give you the rundown of the Red Division, where a couple of perennial playoff contenders will do battle with a new-look amalgamation of successful squads, while a couple others seek their first-ever playoff berths.
Bell Cartage - The talent on Bell Cartage is never in question. They've made the playoffs for five consecutive seasons, advancing to the semi-finals three times and the finals once. Last year, they posted the third best record in the league and lost a tight semi-final series to the eventual champion Classics. Whether or not they take the divisional title in 2012 will depend largely on how consistently their star players - many of whom traditionally also play in the South Perth league - can make it out, but they make for a nightmarish first round match-up no matter where they finish in the regular season.
Bulldogs - The Bulldogs have been one of the mainstays of the league over the last decade-plus. It's been a few years since their last A-side playoff appearance, but they made the B finals in both 2008 and 2010. After a disappointing early exit from last year's playoffs, they're hoping a solid returning core can put them back on the winning track.
Jays - The Tri-City Jays are the KFL's newest team - comprised almost entirely of familiar faces. Eight veterans of the now-defunct Black Sox form the team's core, along with three former Cardinals, Shayne Riepert from the New Dundee Dodgers, and just a couple altogether new entrants to the league. Translation: the jerseys may not have any game experience to speak of, but the guys wearing them are no strangers to the friendly confines of Budd Park. Don't be surprised to see them battling for prime playoff position come August.
Kings - The Kings haven't ended their season on a losing note since 2008. After erasing a two-game deficit to become the 2009 KFL champions, they fell to the B side for the last two years, where they've amassed a 7-0 playoff record en route to a pair of B titles. Like Bell, their regular season roster can fluctuate somewhat, but an impressive pitching staff anchored by Fred Follings and Nick Laurette makes them a tough postseason foe - a fact to which their 10-game playoff win streak will certainly attest.
Red Sox - Entering their fifth year in the league, albeit only the second under the current name, the Red Sox are looking for a breakout year after a tough 2-1 loss in last year's B side quarterfinals ushered them into winter sooner than they would've liked. In 2009, they surprised some people with a run to the B finals. Can they recapture some of that magic in 2012?
Smoke - KFL competitors since 2002, few teams in the league have more history than the Smoke - and with five consecutive playoff appearances, it's pretty storied history at that. After a quarterfinal defeat last year at the hands of their familiar playoff foes, the Selects, this veteran squad is looking to not only return to the playoffs this year, but also hoping to come out on the right side of a few of the nailbiters that have characterized their recent postseason history.
Thunder - Their first year in the league was a season of growing pains, as is often the case with young teams. After bowing out to the Kings, last year's eventual B champs, in the quarterfinal, they've made a couple personnel changes and returned with every intention of notching a few more tallies in the win column. If Trevor Cadwell can maintain the form that earned him nine single-game MVP honours in 2011 and a couple of his teammates up their games, they'll undoubtedly do just that.
There you have it. Now that you know the lowdown on the KFL's cast of characters for 2012, why not check out the Schedule link on the left and plot out which games you want to see? Action kicks off next week. Better yet, make the drive to Millgrove (Hwy. 6 between Guelph and Hamilton) this weekend, where members of - at the very least - Bell Cartage (playing for the Kitchener Outlaws), the Phillies (playing for Puslinch), the Diamond Jaxx (playing with the Waterdown Hammer), and the Kitchener Selects will start their season with good ball, cold beer, and (hopefully) blue skies. The schedule can be found online via Al's Fastball.
- Mike Brown
We're just days away from opening night of the 2012 season, so it seemed like a fitting time to take a look at this year's slate of KFL squads, the 14 teams that will make Budd Park their battleground for another exciting summer of ball. Today, we look at the Black Division, home to both the 2011 champs and runners-up, as well as five feisty clubs taking aim at the targets on their backs.
Barons - After a tough entry to the league in 2010, the Barons upped their win total by six games last year before losing a close one, 7-6 to the Moonshiners in the B quarterfinal. Now in their third year, this young squad is hungry for their first postseason win. They hope to get another strong season out of Brad Gartz, who finished third in the league last year with eight single-game MVP nods.
Classics - Boasting the title of back-to-back defending champions and more veteran savvy than many of their competitors combined, the Classics are just that: an absolute staple of the KFL. They understand how to peak at the right time and, with offensive firepower from top to bottom, they're never out of a game. Last year, they knocked off two tough squads in the Black Sox and Bell Cartage before sweeping the Selects in an anticlimactic final. Until further notice, this is the indisputable team to beat.
Diamond Jaxx - With four playoff appearances in four years in the league, anyone who takes the Jaxx lightly does so at their own peril. Rumour has it that last year's tough quarterfinal exit at the hands of Bell Cartage has left this squad hungrier than ever and new bench boss Jim Mercier has had them working hard throughout the winter. Add to that the offseason addition of one of the league's most dominant hurlers in Doug Hoffman and the return of reigning home run champ Warren Williams and the Jaxx have to be considered the Classics' toughest competition for the Black Division title. Circle August 9th on your calendars, ladies and gentlemen. That Classics-Jaxx match-up, televised on Rogers TV, may well decide the division's top dog.
Moonshiners - Entering their fourth season in the KFL, the Moonshiners are still in search of their first appearance in the league's upper echelon. With the addition of Derek Mitchell to the pitching staff, they're hoping 2012 is the year they make the leap. A quick start could make all the difference in whether or not they're in the playoff hunt down the stretch.
Phillies - In their first year in the league, the Phillies knocked off the Bulldogs and New Dundee Dodgers before falling to the Kings in the B finals. This year, they look to build on that and find their way into the A side. To do so, they'll need to take care of business in their divisional match-ups and get another big year from slugger Brandon Viol.
Predators - The Predators always seem to be a team on the bubble. In 2011, they rode a torrid start to a playoff appearance, but were bounced by a talented Cardinals squad. Now in their seventh year in the KFL, they're looking to make back-to-back A side appearances for the first time in team history - and go a little deeper if they do.
Selects - The Selects have been consistently good without ever being great. They boast the distinction of being the only team in the KFL to make the semi-finals every year since 2006, but have only two finals appearances to show for it, losing to the Classics in both 2010 and 2011. Expect the 2012 Selects to be a team in search of an identity. They lost their staff ace and starting catcher in the offseason, as Doug Hoffman joined the Jaxx and Glen Hall has been sidelined with health issues. Can they overcome those losses to keep playing at a high level? With a season opener looming against the same Classics squad that dismantled them in last year's finals, they don't have long to figure it out.
It's shaping up to be another great year in the KFL. Check back soon for the Red Division preview.
- Mike Brown
The start of the 2012 KFL season is less than two weeks away and we're excited to announce that Rogers TV will be broadcasting one game a week for the 2012 season.
"We are thrilled to have Rogers TV broadcasting our Thursday 7 p.m. games this season from Budd Park," says Bryan Reeve, President of the KFL. "We are excited to be able to bring our games to a larger audience, to past fastball stars from the area and hopefully future fastball fans as well."
The games will be tape-delayed by one hour and air on Rogers TV (Cable 20) at 8 p.m. every Thursday. Every team in the league will be featured in one or two of the games scheduled through August 9. Broadcasts will continue on August 16, 23, and 30, with the featured games to be announced as the season unfolds.
Coverage kicks off on Thursday, May 17 with a rematch of last year's championship series between the Classics and Selects, as the Selects seek redemption for a dominating three-game sweep by the league's reigning back-to-back champions. For the complete schedule of broadcasted games to date, see below.
The league is currently seeking a SkyJack scissor lift that would allow for a fully functional camera in centre field. If you know of someone that has one to donate or loan to the KFL, please contact Bryan Reeve at president@kitchenerfastballleague.ca by Monday, May 7. Anyone interested in joining a pool of potential commentators should also contact Reeve by Monday, May 7.
Complete Roger's TV Broadcast Schedule for 2012 KFL Action:
May 17 - Classics vs. Selects
May 24 - Bulldogs vs. Smoke
May 31 - Predators vs. Red Sox
June 7 - Kings vs. Diamond Jaxx
June 14 - Barons vs. Thunder
July 12 - Phillies vs. Moonshiners
July 19 - Bell Cartage vs. Kings
July 26 - Smoke vs. Bell Cartage
Aug 2 - Jays vs. Selects
Aug 9 - Diamond Jaxx vs. Classics
Aug. 16 - TBA
Aug. 23 - TBA
Aug. 30 - TBA
- Mike Brown
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!
- Mike Brown