The Rainy River District Fastball League has joined the North American Fastball Association (NAFA), which would see the league winner move on to the ‘A’ World Series tournament in Fargo, N.D. in August.
The move would be a first for the local league, and will serve as another option for a local team to compete outside of the province.
“The league now has an opportunity to go to the [U.S.] nationals,” said RRDFL treasurer George Oltsher.
The Sunset Merchants rep team, which had represented the RRDFL at the Manitoba provincials in past years, is not expected to be formed this season.
The Emo Bulldogs previously have had teams compete at similar U.S.-based tournaments while Pinewood Bears’ pitcher and RRDFL president John Desaulnier has played for a Fargo team.
The Bulldogs have won the league playoffs the past five seasons and would be the league’s best choice to compete in Fargo.
But Emo cannot compete in the ‘A’ tournament this year, which will also be played in Fargo that same weekend as the ‘AA’ World Series tournament, due to the fact they have Thunder Bay’s Brooks Swanson on their roster for the ‘AA’ qualifier tournament later this month.
Swanson, considered a top-level pitcher, is rated by NAFA as being ‘AA’ calibre.
That means if the Bulldogs win their sixth-straight league title, the other league finalist then would earn the trip to Fargo. If that team also elects not to go, the league “would go down the list” team by team to find one that will want to participate in the tournament.
Desaulnier said playing at a tournament of this calibre would be a good experience for most teams. He expected the league would send a representative in August.
“It’s a good affiliation because it opens the doors for us and makes for a better league because now the [regular season] games mean something,” agreed Emo Bulldogs’ Brent Tookenay.
“In the past, games have been routine because everyone makes the playoffs but this way a top finishing team has a good chance to go [to the World Series].
“It’s good because it gives club teams an opportunity to play at that level,” he added.
In other news, the RRDFL will begin its season May 16 will all seven teams returning from last year.
Sight & Sound will host the first tournament of the season May 26-28 in Devlin. The rest of the league tournament schedule will include Stratton (June 3-4), Barwick (July 1-2), and Emo (Sept. 2-3).
Pinewood and Big Island also are slated to hold tournaments this season but the dates have not yet been finalized.
The all-star game is slated Aug. 10 in Barwick.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
