Fastball squad looking to improve

The Rainy River District Fastball League is polishing its cleats for another season of action.
“[Fastball] is starting to make a comeback,” said catcher Derek McKinnon of the Sight and Sound team based in Fort Frances. “It’s a lot of fun.
“Competition is tough and it’s a much faster brand of baseball.”
This is the second year the RRDFL will be a part of the North American Fastball Association (NAFA), which allows teams to qualify for its ‘AA’ World Series.
Sight and Sound was eliminated by Emo in the semi-finals last year and is looking to improve on its 9-9 league record. Pitchers Donnie Larson and Harvey Flamand and fielders Chad Stodola and Ed Vold are among the veterans returning.
But the team will be very thin on the mound if Larson and Flamand happen to miss any games.
“There’s a lot of turnover in pitching,” said McKinnon, who noted some teams even use hurlers from other towns while travelling.
Young prospects Justin Larson, Ryan Flamand, and Cody Vold, whose fathers all play on the team, are looking to impress and get some playing time.
“Young talent is tough to come by around here,” noted the elder Vold. “So we’d like to get them some playing time when possible.”
But the Emo Bulldogs once again will be tough to beat. They had the best record in the league (14-4), won the playoffs, and played in the World Series in Fargo, N.D., finishing in the top 10.
And most of their core players are returning, including starting pitcher Warren Voth and league home run champ Don Copenace.
“Our team is shaping up really well,” said Bulldog centre fielder and league publicity director Grant Swire. “But we’re going to let the younger guys play.”
Zig’s Place will be the newest team to join Sight and Sound, Emo, Barwick, Stratton, Pinewood, Big Grassy, and Big Island. Teams now will play 21 games this season.
“There’s a new team in the league so hopefully we’ll be steady for years to come,” noted McKinnon.
Sight and Sound started the season with a SCORE win/loss yesterday in Barwick. They play their home games every Thursday at 8 p.m. at VanJura Stadium.