Lucas Punkari
The 2011 playoffs in the Rainy River District Fastball League got underway on ball diamonds across the district yesterday evening, and judging by the feelings from players in the league, it is certainly anyone’s title to win.
“Every team in the league has picked up wins this year, and some of the weaker teams have been beating some of the stronger teams this season,” Derek McKinnon, the manager and first basemen for the third-seeded Sight & Sound Wolves, explained.
“The middle of this league was within a point or two of each other when the season finished up, and that just shows you how strong the league really is.
“Anything can happen in the playoffs, and I really think you could see a dark horse sneak up and win the title,” McKinnon reasoned.
The top seeded team going into the post-season is Beef’s Warriors, who had a 16 game win-streak to finish off their inaugural campaign in the RRDFL as they finished up the regular season with a 17-1 record and an opening round bye in the playoffs.
“We had a pretty good season where we came together as a team really well, but I’m not sure if we were as dominant as the standings made us look.” Beef’s Warriors catcher Kevin Gemmell explained.
“We got a lot of wins, and that helps to give you a bye and home field advantage for the playoffs, but it doesn’t really matter what you did in the regular season once the playoffs begin.
“Just because we had a good season, that doesn’t mean that we think everything is over, as we are still really hungry,” Gemmell stressed.
With Kimbi Copenace and Sheldon Kelly leading the rotation, and a solid hitting lineup from top to bottom, the Warriors look to be favourites heading into the double elimination playoffs.
But Gemmell stressed that he and his squad will need to focus on the task at hand if they want to achieve their ultimate goal of capturing the league championship.
“Our turning point was in the middle of the season when we started doing the little things right, and that is what we need to start doing again,” Gemmell explained.
“Moving over base runners by using the bunt, tagging up on plays and helping out guys when they make an error. Those are the things that helps you win ball games,” Gemmell added.
One of the teams standing in the way of Beef’s Warriors is Sight & Sound, who are looking to capture their third straight league crown, with their first playoff matchup taking place last night against the sixth-seeded Big Grassy Lightning.
“We got off to a bit of a slow start this season, but things started to come around at the end of the year as we started to get better as a team,” McKinnon explained.
“The biggest thing for us now is having a full lineup for the playoffs, as that allows guys to be in their comfort zones that they are used to playing, and they don’t have to worry about moving around out there.
“As long as we have everyone at our games and we are not short on guys, we should do very well in the playoffs,” McKinnon reasoned.
As often is this case though in post-season play, the determining factor for who ends up hoisting the championship trophy may come down to which team ends up having the hottest pitcher during the month of August.
“There are lot of young pitchers like Travis Tom of the Big Grassy Braves who are coming into their own, and you have a guy like Murray Armstrong (of the Rainy River Royals) who can just steal a game on his own,” Gemmell stressed.
“The biggest thing in this league is the pitching, and you are starting see a lot more younger guys playing that position, which is a change from when I first started playing,” Gemmell reasoned.
Other opening round games on Tuesday night saw the fourth seeded Royals take on fifth ranked Barwick, ninth seeded Manitou face off with tenth seeded Northwest Bay, and seventh seeded Stratton tangle with eighth ranked Big Island.
Details on those games were not available at press time.
As for Beef’s Warriors and the Big Grassy Braves, the top two teams in the regular season will be kicking off their post-season slate of games on Thursday evening, as they will play the winner’s of the Manitou/Northwest Bay and Stratton/Big Island matchups respectively.
The double-elimination playoffs will conclude with the finals on Thursday, Aug. 25, with a second game if necessary occurring on Tuesday, Aug. 30.
