RRDFL gears up for playoffs

Very little adjusting in the rankings is all that stands between the regular season and playoffs in the Rainy River District Fastball League season.
Rainy River was the end-to-end leader in the standings and were 15-2-1 heading into their final regular season game last night. The newly resurrected Royals squad also boasts the league’s winningest pitcher (Murray Armstrong, 14-2-1) and home run hitter (Guy Arpin, six).
But nothing’s a guarantee as the games draw more meaning.
“We’re playing well but [the playoffs] are anybody’s to win,” stressed Arpin, who brought this team back together after four years of inactivity. “There’s some really good teams out there. Barwick has played us close. We’ve had three one-run games and once the Bulldogs get players together, they’re always dangerous.”
Hyatt’s, a second-year team, has turned it up in clinching the second-seed, winning five of their last seven games.
“We still feel pretty good heading into the playoffs,” said Hyatt’s co-captain Will Windigo, whose team is at 13-4-1.
“We’re missing some key guys so hopefully the younger guys will step up and help out,” he added.
The top four teams–Rainy River, Hyatt’s, Barwick (11-6-1) and Pinewood (9-7) are set. Big Island (8-8-1), the Bulldogs (8-8), Sight and Sound (5-11-2), Stratton (4-13) and Big Grassy (2-13) round out the league.
Eight of the nine RRDFL teams will play in the double-knockout playoff system starting next Tuesday (Aug. 13), meaning Stratton and Big Grassy will square off in a do-or-die game.
“In this league, home-field advantage means a lot,” said Big Grassy captain Bob Andy. “It’s going to be a tough climb. We’re just hoping to make it to playoffs and see how it goes.”
In weekend tournament play, the Decoy Rebels (Dryden) beat Rainy River in the ‘A’ final of the annual Pinewood Bears tournament. Stratton leapt over the host Bears, 7-6, in the ‘B’ final after a bases loaded single by Mitch Goliquer scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh.
Barwick, Sight and Sound, and Big Island also competed.
Meanwhile Big Grassy was the lone RRDFL representative a tournament in Brandon, finishing 2-2 in the 18-team ‘B’ division double-knockout event.
Rainy River’s invitational tournament will be held this weekend.