Staff
The brightest lights of the Rainy River District Fastball League will be shining tonight in a different location than originally planned.
It will be Team Vaughan Wilson against Team Jesse Tom in the league’s summer showcase at VanJura Park at 7 p.m.
The game was originally to be played at the Rodrick and Telford Bruyere Ball Park on Couchiching First Nation, but was moved due to a funeral taking place on Couchiching today.
A total of 16 players, including those who cannot make tonight’s game, return from last year’s all-star battle.
Wilson of the league champion Barwick Blue Knights and Tom of last year’s runner-up Rainy Lake Pirates (now the Fort Frances Braves) have deep and talented rosters at their disposal.
The Barwick shortstop will have five of his teammates on board for the contest and would have had six if not for second baseman Mike Anderson being unavailable.
Joining Wilson will be Knights pitcher JJ Landry, catcher Kevin Gemmell, first baseman DJ Mosbeck, third baseman Brad Wakefield and centre fielder Ryder Woolsey.
Landry is 5-0 this season, while Gemmell is second in the league in homers with six.
Also on Wilson’s team are pitchers Matt Comegan (8-3-1) of the Dawson Tigers and Dan Servello (0-5) of the Manitou Thunderbirds; Couchiching Raiders shortstop Ryan MacDonald; outfielders Dakota Andy (Braves), Jake Vandenbrand (Stratton Eagles) and Nick Hunter (Windey’s Warriors) and catcher Kyle Copenace (Sabaskong Lakers).
Tom will have five other Braves out of the six Fort all-stars in total on his team in the form of pitcher Jaden Gustafson, first baseman Linden Indian, shortstop Travis Tom and outfielders Mike Parisien and Brandon McGinnis.
Gustafson, who is a perfect 10-0 this season, took the place of Big Grassy Lightning veteran Bob Andy, who couldn’t make the game.
Stratton will have four players in the game, as catcher Logan Jackson, second baseman Jackson Arpin and third baseman Chris Bourgeois will be on Team Travis.
Couchiching had two players picked for the game, but outfielder and league home run leader Faron Morrisseau (seven taters) was unable to make the game and will be replaced by McGinnis.
Team Travis’ pitching staff will also have John Desaulniers of the Sight & Sound Wolves, who at 9-2-1 is second behind Gustafson in pitching wins, along with hurlers Darren Smith (1-2) of the Northwest Bay Chieftains and the Sabaskong Cubs’ Kevin Copenace (1-5).
Also making it onto Team Travis are outfielder Connor Wall (Rainy River Royals) and Wade Johnson (Northwest Bay Juniors).
