Mitch Calvert
With the all-star game commencing last night (see front section for results) and the playoffs just around the corner (beginning Aug. 11), the local Rainy River District Fastball League is officially heating up.
A few make-up games are still to be played, but there won’t be much jockeying for position heading into the playoffs with the standings all but decided.
The Barwick Blue Knights lead the pack at 15-3 followed by the Big Grassy Lightning (12-2-1).
Big Island, led by Jessie Tom’s league-leading eight homers, sits in third at 9-7-1.
The Fort Frances-based Sight & Sound Wolves sit tied in fourth at 8-9 with the Stratton Bobcats, but now have a one-two-three punch from the mound with the return of ace Bob Andy to complement current hurlers John Desaulniers and Marcel Pagee.
Rainy River advanced to last year’s championship game before falling to Barwick—and will be looking to rekindle some of that magic in the post-season after struggling to a 5-11 mark in the regular season.
Sabaskong is still looking for their first win after posting an 0-16 record to date.
But if last season’s surprise playoff upsets of Big Grassy and Sight & Sound are any indication, the post-season is a brand new ball game.
Big Grassy’s Jeff Morrison is again the frontrunner for the league’s best pitcher award after a dominating regular season that saw him go 12-2-1.
Barwick’s JJ Landry has partially taken the reins from long-time ace George Oltsher, and has flourished en route to a 9-3 record. Oltsher has split time with the youngster and posted up a 6-0 record of his own to give the Blue Knights a formidable pitching duo.
Stratton’s Rob McGinnis is trying to steal Tom’s “home-run king” crown, as he and Barwick’s Kevin Gemmell sit just one long bomb back of Tom with seven homers apiece on the campaign.
Rainy River’s Murray Armstrong is next with five dingers on the season.
The teams representing the league at last night’s all-star game here were as follows:
Team One
Pitcher—John Desaulniers (Sight & Sound) and JJ Landry (Barwick)
Catcher—Kevin Gemmell (Barwick)
First base—Derek McKinnon (Sight & Sound)
Second base—Chris Jack (Big Grassy)
Third base—Bill Copenace (Big Grassy)
Shortstop—Jessie Tom (Big Island)
Outfielders—Ted Heyens (Stratton), Kevin Copenace (Sabaskong), and Regan Arnould (Rainy River)
Team Two
Pitcher—Murray Armstrong (Rainy River) and Jeff Morrison (Big Grassy)
Catcher—Clayton “Beef” Windigo (Sight & Sound)
First base—Charlie Kelly (Sabaskong)
Second base—Cole Kaemingh (Sight & Sound)
Third base—Brad Wakefield (Barwick)
Shortstop—Rob McGinnis (Stratton)
Outfielders—Brendan Big George (Big Island), Marty Armstrong (Rainy River), and Ryan Kirkrude (Big Grassy)
